Commercial Project Lead

Join Ofwat’s Major Projects Team as a Major Projects Commercial Lead
*Office Location: London (E14 4HD) or Birmingham (B5 4UA) with hybrid working*


We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales. Following the Independent Water Commission’s final report, the UK government has set out a bold new direction - one that brings together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.

We are working in collaboration with the government and other regulators to help establish a new body for England, combining our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England. While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.


We our looking for a Major Projects Commercial Lead to join our growing Major Projects Team at Principal level. The Major Projects Team is responsible for the oversight of the development, procurement, and delivery of the future pipeline of major infrastructure projects in the water sector in England and Wales. We work closely with RAPID (Regulator’s Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) on the early engagement on both water resources and wastewater planning.

You will have an important and valuable contribution to enable Ofwat to deliver on our goals and regulatory commitments. Leading on programmes, workstreams or projects, you will play a key role in not only delivering Ofwat's strategy, but also in the development of our approach across a £50bn Pipeline of Major Projects.

You will be proactive and respond flexibly to the needs of the organisation by facilitating the development and delivery of major water and wastewater infrastructure projects across England. This will primarily be completed through competitive delivery models such as Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) model or the Specified Infrastructure Projects Regulations (SIPR), as used in the delivery of the Thames Tideway Tunnel project. You will also interface with projects that have been approved through the RAPID (Regulator's Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) process.


A relevant professional qualification in commercial management (e.g. RICS) and/or substantial equivalent experience in key commercial roles on complex, high-value infrastructure projects or programmes.
# Proven track record in commercial management of major infrastructure projects.
# Significant experience leading cost estimating, benchmarking and commercial assurance for project costs, schedule and productivity.
# Experience of risk and opportunity management on major projects.
# We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture build on trust, flexibility, and collaboration.
~ Development Opportunities : Gain valuable experience and develop your skills in a supportive and dynamic setting.
~ Work-Life Balance : Enjoy the flexibility of working from home combined with the benefits of in person collaboration in our Birmingham and London offices.
~ Excellent employer pension contributions of nearly 29%.
~25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 with each year of service, plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave.
~ Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership.
~ Recognition vouchers scheme rewarding your hard work.
~ Generous shared parental leave and pay supporting your family life.