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SalaryScotland has a reputation for a high quality water environment and you could be a key player in enhancing that reputation!
The quality of Scotland's Drinking Water is vital to its population and in this unique post of Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland, you will represent the interests of Scotland's people, regulating Scottish Water - the publicly owned water company in Scotland - as well as overseeing local authorities' regulation of private water supplies.
Using your skills and knowledge to drive improvements to the quality of Drinking Water and protect public health, you will work with a range of water industry stakeholders to protect and further improve the quality of Scotland’s Drinking Water Quality.
The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland is the independent regulator of Drinking Water Quality, regulating Scottish Water and having oversight of local authorities with regard to their Drinking Water Quality remit.
The Regulator is appointed by Scottish Ministers under Section 7 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 and is required to ensure that the Drinking Water Quality duties imposed on Scottish Water are complied with, and to supervise the enforcement by local authorities of their Drinking Water Quality duties.
The Regulator is also nominated by the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 as the competent authority for the water sector in Scotland.
Leading a small team of professional staff, you will operate independently of Scottish Ministers but will act as the Scottish Ministers' chief professional and technical adviser on matters related to Drinking Water Quality and act as a figurehead for Drinking Water Quality matters in Scotland.
This role offers an interesting, varied and unique opportunity to gain experience of regulating a public sector industry and one that impacts on every person living in Scotland. It will offer opportunities to engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the water sector.
- To engage with the water industry in Scotland at the highest levels, regulating Scottish Water, supervising local authorities' regulation of private water supplies, and driving continuous improvement in the quality of Scotland's Drinking Water.
- Monitor and ensure Scottish Water’s compliance with relevant Drinking Water Quality and NIS legislation.
- To develop and encourage work to improve the quality of private water supplies, providing technical guidance to Local Authorities, and driving a consistent approach to the management of the risk from these supplies across Scotland.
- Lead the DWQR team, offering support, challenge and empowerment so that they effectively deliver the required regulatory outcomes and continue their professional and personal development.
- To provide professional and technical advice to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Government on Drinking Water Quality issues and priorities.
- To ensure delivery of all necessary corporate activities including budget control and discharge of Public Body duties.
- To ensure that consumers are appropriately informed about the quality of Drinking Water supplied by Scottish Water and to assess consumer complaints when local procedures have been exhausted.
- To develop and support DWQR’s relationships with stakeholders and organisations with an interest in water supply.
Competencies:
Communications and Engagement
Leading Others
People Management
Analysis and Use of Evidence
Degree or equivalent qualification or professional experience, at a senior level, in a subject relevant to water supply, such as chemistry, engineering, microbiology or biology.
Membership of an appropriate professional body such as the Institute of Water or the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.
Essential Criteria:
1. A proven track record of making strategic and operational decisions within the water industry with a significant degree of autonomy.
2. Highly effective leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to quickly establish credibility, influence, and collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
3. Significant depth and breadth of experience of the water industry with particular emphasis on the regulation of water supplies and Drinking Water Quality.
4. Demonstrated ability to use analytical techniques and evidence to support decision making in a regulatory context.
Location: 5 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow, G2 8LU / Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ
This post is based in Glasgow/Edinburgh, with virtual and hybrid working being the current arrangement. The post will be offered on a location flexible basis, with occasional travel to Glasgow/Edinburgh.
Interview and Assessment: Dates to be confirmed
Minimum time in post:
You will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.
HOW TO APPLY & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
You must fully complete and submit an online application via the website before the closing date using evidence based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember, your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
Additional information:
The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
Scottish Government's ambition is to be a world leading, diverse employer where people can be themselves at work. We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot
As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.
Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
