Senior Policy Advisor/Policy Inspector
| Posting date: | 05 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £42,665 to £46,675 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 January 2026 |
| Location: | Yorkshire And The Humber, UK |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 442670 |
Summary
The post holder will work with a variety of stakeholders to maintain good visibility of all policy and organisational changes and developments relevant to the Inspectorate’s work. The post holder will be expected to build a wide network across different Defra teams to ensure the Inspectorate is able to adapt new practices or feed into new initiatives at the right time. This will involve both external and internal stakeholder management to ensure an effective transfer of information and expertise between different teams. The post holder will also support the Inspectorate’s external communications including with the public and media. The candidate should show commitment to understanding the water industry and the ways in which the Inspectorate’s work fits into broader governmental priorities and initiatives.
Applicants with water industry experience and/or policy experience in a related field, are particularly welcome. Candidates with relevant industry experience may be eligible for a technical salary uplift on completion of their probationary period.
Responsibilities
Policy
Support and promote the development of new regulations and standards to protect public health.
Work with the Secretariat to support the establishment and functions of the Drinking Water Advisory Group. Work with Defra’s water quality team and Welsh Government to provide impact assessments and carbon assessments to support the adoption of new legislation, and ministerial submissions.
Engage with stakeholders, including water industry and regulators to gain consensus for policy changes and update Inspectorate guidance.
Engage with the Inspectors, Data Management Unit and Business Performance Unit, to support the work of the Inspectorate providing policy advice and wider government context as needed.
Propose, scope, and manage research to gather evidence where needed to support new standards and regulations.
Communications
Support communications function within the Inspectorate, assisting with enquiries, media handling, publications and the website.
Assist with the production of the Annual Chief Inspector’s Report to the ministers, and the quarterly reports to industry.
Support communications function, liaising with Defra comms, providing support during emergencies and to the Inspectorate.
Support the Business Performance Unit and the Information Scientist with enquiries and information requests.
Support website development and content.
Staff are employed based on working in London, but some homeworking and flexible arrangements are possible subject to prior agreement.
Applicants with water industry experience and/or policy experience in a related field, are particularly welcome. Candidates with relevant industry experience may be eligible for a technical salary uplift on completion of their probationary period.
Responsibilities
Policy
Support and promote the development of new regulations and standards to protect public health.
Work with the Secretariat to support the establishment and functions of the Drinking Water Advisory Group. Work with Defra’s water quality team and Welsh Government to provide impact assessments and carbon assessments to support the adoption of new legislation, and ministerial submissions.
Engage with stakeholders, including water industry and regulators to gain consensus for policy changes and update Inspectorate guidance.
Engage with the Inspectors, Data Management Unit and Business Performance Unit, to support the work of the Inspectorate providing policy advice and wider government context as needed.
Propose, scope, and manage research to gather evidence where needed to support new standards and regulations.
Communications
Support communications function within the Inspectorate, assisting with enquiries, media handling, publications and the website.
Assist with the production of the Annual Chief Inspector’s Report to the ministers, and the quarterly reports to industry.
Support communications function, liaising with Defra comms, providing support during emergencies and to the Inspectorate.
Support the Business Performance Unit and the Information Scientist with enquiries and information requests.
Support website development and content.
Staff are employed based on working in London, but some homeworking and flexible arrangements are possible subject to prior agreement.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.