Data Analyst – Environmental Monitoring

Job Description

Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, is recruiting a Senior Associate Data Analyst to join the Environment Team within the RAPID & Environmental Planning Directorate. This role arrives at a transformative moment following the UK government’s ‘New Vision for Water’ White Paper. You will be at the heart of a bold new direction for the sector, helping to establish a collaborative regulatory body for England alongside the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England.

Key Requirements

• Technical Expertise: Advanced data analysis skills with a focus on maintaining and evolving technical infrastructures for environmental data.

• Domain Knowledge: Understanding of statutory obligations under the Environment Act, specifically regarding Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) and storm overflow performance.

• Communication: Ability to communicate complex technical evidence to diverse stakeholders, including government officials, water companies, and eNGOs.

• Data Tools: Proficiency in handling standardized data handling across the sector while integrating novel insights from open environment data.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to navigate differences in data approaches across the sector to provide development recommendations that align with Ofwat’s long-term objectives.

In this role, you will take ownership of the near real-time Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) solution, a critical tool for holding water companies accountable for storm overflow performance. Your day-to-day impact involves ensuring the integrity and evolution of the data pipelines that provide transparency to the public and regulators alike. You will analyze vast datasets from price reviews, business plans, and annual performance reports to drive evidence-based policy. Beyond technical maintenance, you will act as a strategic consultant, collaborating with other regulators to improve water resource management and water quality. This is a unique opportunity to shape the technical infrastructure of a new regulatory era, ensuring that data-driven insights lead to better outcomes for customers, communities, and the environment.

The EDM Regulatory Framework

Your work will directly support Ofwat’s mission to tackle long-term environmental challenges through data-driven regulation:

• Accountability: Providing near real-time insights into when and for how long storm overflows are operating.

• Standardization: Driving consistent data handling across all water companies in England and Wales.

• Continuous Water Quality: Serving as the technical lead for future developments in real-time water quality monitoring workstreams.

Why Join Ofwat?

• Shape the Future: Be part of the transition to a new, integrated regulatory body for the UK water sector.

• Meaningful Impact: Use your analytical skills to solve high-profile environmental issues like storm overflows and biodiversity loss.

• Flexible Excellence: Benefit from hybrid and flexible working patterns in our Birmingham or London offices.

• Professional Development: Gain exposure to executive-level policy development and work with world-leading environmental experts.

Diversity & The Public Sector

Ofwat is a non-ministerial government department committed to reflecting the diversity of the communities it regulates. In the UK Data and Environmental sectors, we aim to lead by example:

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