Director of Data

Ofwat

Hybrid based at the London &/or Birmingham Offices

  • Location Hybrid based at the London &/or Birmingham Offices
  • Sector Regulation & Professional Standards, IT
  • Client Ofwat
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration Up to £110k plus benefits
  • Reference GSe126858
  • Closing Date Monday 17 November 2025 (8.55am)

The water sector is entering a new chapter. 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.

Ofwat is 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. We’re also continuing to engage with the Welsh Government to support future decisions for Wales.

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.

The role

This is a pivotal leadership role on a two-year fixed-term contract, offering the opportunity to shape how Ofwat uses data as a true strategic asset. Leading the Data Strategy team you will set clear strategic direction, inspire and empower your people, and deliver meaningful change.

You will take ownership of Programme Ocean, guiding it through to successful completion, embedding new platforms and processes, and raising data maturity across the organisation. This means leading internal transformation -strengthening governance, building skills and capability - and ensuring data becomes an everyday tool for insight and decision-making. At the same time, you’ll play an external role working collaboratively with government, fellow regulators, and water companies to shape a more open and effective regulatory ecosystem.

The role will see you drive a culture of smarter working with data, helping Ofwat move from legacy systems to modern platforms, enhanced data management, robust governance and actionable analysis. It demands strong leadership, excellent stakeholder engagement, and the ability to deliver near-term priorities while keeping a clear eye on longer-term strategic vision for the industry. It is central to preparing Ofwat for the formation of a new regulator in England, capable of leveraging data as a strategic enabler across policy, performance and engagement.

Key deliverables

In this role you will be expected to:

  • Programme Ocean Delivery – Take ownership of Ofwat’s data modernisation programme, overseeing migration from legacy systems to Microsoft Fabric and ensuring implementation is successfully completed and embedded.
  • Data Collection & Quality Assurance – Oversee the secure collection, validation, and integration of regulatory data to maintain accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Data Sharing – Champion data-sharing agreements with industry bodies, government agencies, and regulated entities while ensuring security and transparency in line with internal governance. This includes delivery of our policy approach to Open Data and the broader water sector open data maturity.
  • Digital Transformation – work collaboratively with the IT function (and lead from a data and modelling perspective) to positively contribute to the continued automation and digital transformation of regulatory insight and reporting 
  • Data Governance & Compliance – Lead the team to develop and implement a robust data governance framework, ensuring compliance with GDPR, FOI, and sector-specific regulations. This includes delivery of our data strategy.
  • Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement – Define the team’s KPIs, track compliance trends, and refine data policies to enhance regulatory effectiveness.
  • People Leadership & Development – Build and lead a high-performing data team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning while ensuring staff have the skills and support needed to deliver regulatory priorities.

Ofwat is an agile working environment, so you can expect opportunities to support other directorates and to move around the organisation as work priorities shift.

Professional requirements - Essential criteria

To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge.

Experience, skills and knowledge

  1. Leadership in Data Transformation - Extensive experience leading complex data modernisation and transformation programmes, with a proven track record of delivering sustainable change and embedding data-driven decision-making.
  2. Strategic Influence & Delivery - Demonstrable ability to engage and influence boards and senior leadership, advising on data strategy and policy, and translating strategic objectives into operational delivery with measurable outcomes.
  3. People Leadership & Culture - Proven experience building and leading high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams, fostering inclusivity, collaboration, and continuous learning, and driving cultural change towards smarter, more effective use of data.
  4. Governance, Risk & Compliance - Strong background in establishing and embedding robust data governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks, including GDPR, FOI, and other regulatory requirements.
  5. Data Platforms & Analytics - Strategic oversight of modern data platforms, analytics, and emerging technologies (e.g. Microsoft Fabric, cloud, AI/ML, open data) and their application to organisational effectiveness.
  6. Communication & Engagement - Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to convey complex and technical information clearly and persuasively to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

Attributes

Attributes as per Ofwat’s Framework for Success for Director Grade. You can read more about our attributes here.

7. Champion and leader of change
8. Delivers Outcomes
9. Promotes collaboration
10. Builds the team

For a confidential discussion about the role and to find out more about the application process, please do contact our recruitment advisers at GatenbySanderson who will be delighted to speak with you

Email: OfwatData@gatenbysanderson.com Or call Katherine O’Donnell (Senior Researcher) on 07570 654500 or Sarah Luxford (Partner) on 07812 150386

Should you have any queries about the application process, please contact Toria.Lorman-Connolly on 0113 205 6062 or Toria.Lorman-Connolly@Gatenbysanderson.com

Closing date for all applications is Monday 17th November 2025 at 08:55

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