Head of Policy

Water UK is the trade association representing the UK's water and wastewater companies. At a time of heightened public scrutiny, climate pressure and system-wide reform, they are seeking a Head of Resilience and Drought to help shape how the industry responds to some of its most complex and high-impact challenges.

This is a senior, high-profile role operating at the intersection of policy, operational response and strategic leadership. You will lead the organisation's crisis readiness and response capability, ensuring the industry can act collectively during high-impact events, while also developing a more coherent approach to resilience across the sector.

In this context, resilience refers to driving progress on mitigation of the industry's most significant strategic risks, including drought response, cyber security, power outages and chemical supply chains, rather than long-term water resource planning.

This role exists to bring a strategic lens to resilience, ensuring the industry is not only responding effectively to incidents but also influencing how resilience is defined, prioritised and delivered across the system.

You will play a central role in helping the industry:

Respond to high-impact events such as drought and supply disruption
Strengthen preparedness and coordination across water companies
Shape the long-term resilience agenda across government, regulators and stakeholders

Key responsibilities

Policy development - resilience readiness: Lead Water UK policy development and engagement for resilience matters and ensure delivery of the policies committed to in the government's white paper, A New Vision for Water.

Shape industry and government thinking on drought preparedness and response
Influence and improve key security, emergency and cyber resilience frameworks
Identify and address risks within critical supply chains (e.g. treatment chemicals)

Incident and risk management: Leading continuous improvement of the industry's approach to incident and risk management through:

Coordinate with water companies on national and cross-sector incidents
Act as a key interface with government and regulators during live events
Drive mitigation of key risks, including drought, cyber, power and supply chain issues
Oversee effective information sharing and governance on security risks

What we are looking for:

You will be a strategic thinker, with the ability to operate in complex, ambiguous environments where priorities are not always clearly defined.

Experience in policy development - developing recommendations for industry, government and regulators to improve public policy outcomes
Experience in incident management, risk management or resilience, ideally within regulated or infrastructure sectors
Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience working with senior stakeholders, government and regulators
Be comfortable working at senior level during high-pressure scenarios
Bring an interest in system-level challenges across regulated or infrastructure sectors
Desirable but not essential- Knowledge of water industry processes including resilience arrangements and experience of handling and interpreting data.

Package

Competitive salary

Discretionary bonus of up to 25%

Private medical insurance and dental coverage

27 working days' holiday, with the option to 'buy' more annual leave

Pension contribution - 6%

Life assurance from date of joining

Hybrid working basis with an expectation of 3 to 4 days a week in the office.

Why this role?

The UK water sector is undergoing fundamental change, driven by climate risk, public expectation and regulatory reform.

This role offers the opportunity to:

Influence how resilience is defined and delivered at a national level
Work on issues with direct, real-world impact
Shape both immediate response and long-term system change