Technical Policy Advisor

Job Description

Water Technical Policy Advisor

• Working hours - Full time 37 hours per week (flexible working arrangements including part time will be considered)
• Fixed Term Contract or Secondment - 2 years
• Salary - from £46,874 to £55,146 (depending on experience)
• Location - hybrid working with office location at Washington, Tyne and Wear and Pity Me, County Durham

At Northumbrian Water, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Every day, we provide essential water and wastewater services to millions of people, and we are committed to delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable services while supporting our communities and protecting the environment. By focusing on the outcomes that matter most to our customers, we are also working towards our ambition to be the National Leader in sustainable water and wastewater services.

We are building a dedicated team to create our PR29 business plan, which will set out what we will deliver for customers and the environment, and the investment needed to achieve it, between 2030 and 2035. We are recruiting a number of key roles to join this team, offering an exciting opportunity to work with colleagues across Northumbrian Water, influence important decisions and help develop an ambitious and compelling plan that delivers lasting value for our customers and communities.

About The Role

We have new opportunities for Technical Policy Advisors. Reporting to the Wastewater/Water Strategic Planning Manager, you will support the development of strategies and plans for PR29 including supporting technical strategies, detailing intervention options and benefits to deliver on our business objectives.

The role will also involve horizon scanning for innovative solutions, technical research outputs and advances in technologies that support the efficient delivery of our business objectives and ambitious goals.

You will undertake analysis of capital and operational interventions in meeting our medium and long-term planning objectives and support the strategic planning team through administration of technical documentation, data gathering and analysis.

You will build and maintain relationships with the right internal and external stakeholders in the development of strategies and plans so they are supported, endorsed and actionable by operations, investment delivery teams and partners, and ensuring robust governance is applied.

About You

If you have experience of developing technical reports and an awareness of the operation of the UK water industry regulatory framework, we would love to hear from you!

You will also have an awareness of the utility industry and external factors that can influence including political, economic, social, and technological issues and an awareness of asset management and strategic planning in asset-based organisations.

You can analyse and understand data sourced from multiple systems to provide evidence base for decisions and actions. You take ownership of personal professional development and have

organisational skills to manage multiple projects and resilience to deliver deadlines in pressurised environments.

You will have strong communication and influencing skills working with both external stakeholders and internal stakeholders including peers, senior leaders and team members.

We will be hosting an Open Evening session to learn more about PR29 roles at our Northumbria House office in Pity Me, Durham on Tuesday 10th November 2026. Please register your interest at: recruitment@nwl.co.uk

Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment.

This role has also been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test.

Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.

Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.