Principal Inspector
| Posting date: | 31 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £56,375 to £62,830 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 January 2026 |
| Location: | SW England, UK |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 442244 |
Summary
Each Principal Inspector leads a team of Inspectors, data and support staff with strong academic, technical, scientific, engineering and practical backgrounds in the water and allied industries. The Inspectorate’s technical and support staff includes experts in network and information systems, data management, information and knowledge management and business administration (including HR, recruitment and finance).
Each of the teams are involved in the delivery of one or more of the Inspectorate’s drinking water regulatory processes including: water quality event investigation, drinking water quality compliance assessment, risk based technical audit, the approval of products and processes, the improvement of public and private supplies, fit for purpose regulations and drinking water standards and public reporting .
As a Principal Inspector you will need to demonstrate leadership skills with managerial experience and an excellent track record in the execution of the technical tasks carried out by Inspectors. In addition to being responsible for the performance of your own team, Principal Inspectors are collectively responsible for the development of staff and the effective prioritisation and allocation of resources to deliver the Inspectorate’s strategic objectives.
Principal Inspectors work under the direction of a Deputy Chief Inspector, however, there is a high degree of autonomy of decision making within the context of the Inspectorate’s policies and procedures. Principal Inspectors are responsible for managing the relationship between the Inspectorate and one or more stakeholder at national level and for communicating the policies and decisions of the Inspectorate. As ambassadors of the Inspectorate, Principal Inspectors are expected to identify and deliver change through the use of project management so as to maintain the credibility of the regulatory regime and ensure that the Inspectorate remains a leading proponent of better regulation.
The work requires a proven level of expertise in all aspects of drinking water supply and the provision of sound advice. The post holder must be able to work collaboratively, be inclusive and be able to work within the context of the respective Government policies.
Each of the teams are involved in the delivery of one or more of the Inspectorate’s drinking water regulatory processes including: water quality event investigation, drinking water quality compliance assessment, risk based technical audit, the approval of products and processes, the improvement of public and private supplies, fit for purpose regulations and drinking water standards and public reporting .
As a Principal Inspector you will need to demonstrate leadership skills with managerial experience and an excellent track record in the execution of the technical tasks carried out by Inspectors. In addition to being responsible for the performance of your own team, Principal Inspectors are collectively responsible for the development of staff and the effective prioritisation and allocation of resources to deliver the Inspectorate’s strategic objectives.
Principal Inspectors work under the direction of a Deputy Chief Inspector, however, there is a high degree of autonomy of decision making within the context of the Inspectorate’s policies and procedures. Principal Inspectors are responsible for managing the relationship between the Inspectorate and one or more stakeholder at national level and for communicating the policies and decisions of the Inspectorate. As ambassadors of the Inspectorate, Principal Inspectors are expected to identify and deliver change through the use of project management so as to maintain the credibility of the regulatory regime and ensure that the Inspectorate remains a leading proponent of better regulation.
The work requires a proven level of expertise in all aspects of drinking water supply and the provision of sound advice. The post holder must be able to work collaboratively, be inclusive and be able to work within the context of the respective Government policies.
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