Senior Associate Economists, Cost Assessment

As a Senior Associate Economist, you will play a role in developing our approach to setting expenditure allowances at the next price review, including related policy development. You will work closely with principals, other senior associates, and graduate associates, and collaborate across teams.

Join Ofwat’s Price Review as a Senior Associate Economists, Cost Assessment

The cost assessment team plays a pivotal part in shaping the next price review, setting expenditure allowances, and developing policy in areas such as incentive design and improvements to the regulatory framework.

• Engage with stakeholders across the sector, including water companies, other regulators, and internal teams.
• Work with colleagues to ensure robust, evidence-based recommendations for expenditure allowances.
• Support the development of our approach to setting expenditure allowances at the next price review, drawing on lessons from PR24 and the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission (IWC).
• Contribute to policy development in areas such as incentive design, cost benchmarking, and wider improvements to the regulatory framework.

• Undergraduate degree (or higher) in economics, a numeric discipline, or another relevant field.
• Lead criterion 1: Experience of applying economics in a regulator, competition authority, consultancy or regulated company, with a strong interest in and aptitude for economic regulation.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver projects in a complex stakeholder environment and at pace.
• Lead criterion 2: Advanced problem-solving skills, drawing on technical knowledge and both quantitative (including econometrics) and qualitative techniques to address complex issues.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, demonstrated by influencing and building relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complex analysis clearly and confidently to non-technical audiences.

This is an exciting time to join the team, with many opportunities to learn, develop, and shape the future of economic regulation, ultimately improving outcomes for customers and the environment. The opportunity also provides an opportunity to work in a supportive, collaborative team with opportunities for professional growth.

*Office Location: London (E14 4HD) or Birmingham (B5 4UA) with hybrid working*

• People Centric: Our people are at the heart of Ofwat and everything we do - we ensure all voices are heard and treat each other with respect; you'll be given the autonomy and the support to do your role in the best way.
• Development Opportunities: Gain valuable experience and develop your skills in a supportive and dynamic setting.
• Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
• Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership.
• Generous shared parental leave and pay supporting your family life.
• Excellent employer pension contributions.
• Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
• 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 with each year of service, plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave.
• Recognition vouchers scheme rewarding your hard work.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home combined with the benefits of in person collaboration in our Birmingham and London offices.
• Innovative Work Environment: We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture build on trust, flexibility, and collaboration.