Working for the DWI
Working for the Drinking Water Inspectorate is an opportunity for committed, self-motivated, organised, resourceful and flexible team workers to gain experience in a regulatory delivery unit responsible for drinking water quality in England and Wales.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is made up of an inclusive team of experienced technical Inspectors, as well as specialists within the Business Performance and Data Units. Together, staff within the Inspectorate work to maintain the highest drinking water quality in England and Wales.
Upon joining us, you will gain access to a wide range of learning and development offered by the Civil Service, an annual leave allowance which increases year on year from 25 up to 30 days, and a Civil Service pension. As an Inspector, you automatically become a member of the Civil Service Science Profession, which runs a range of training courses and a popular annual conference.
The Civil Service is committed to continuously increasing the diversity of its workforce and welcomes employees from all backgrounds and walks of life. The Inspectorate operates a flexible working pattern which includes home-working.
If you have any questions about any of the roles currently advertised or a more general question about working for the Inspectorate, please contact dwi.enquiries@defra.gov.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.
Latest job opportunities
Principal Inspector – Network and Information Systems (NIS)
Civil Service Jobs Reference No: 200773
The Network and Information Systems Regulations (2018) extended the original Drinking Water Supply regulations to include greater emphasis on the security and reliability of information systems which control drinking water production or delivery; and in particular the later day threat of cyber security.
The key management responsibility for a Principal Inspector (PI) will be to ensure, via a combination of Inspectors activity and their own, that drinking water companies take appropriate and proportional technical and organisational measures to manage risks posed to both the security of their network and information systems (used in the production or treatment of drinking water) as well as physical security of assets on which their essential service (drinking water) relies. Such a responsibility is pivotal for the relationship developed with each water company – the intent will be to develop a collaborative relationship. However, if a company does not engage to this effect, the resultant relationship will be adversarial and confrontational with the necessary use of Enforcement.
The Principal Inspector (PI) will manage a small team of Inspectors and the whole regulatory process of ensuring all 18 designated (for NIS purposes) water companies across England and Wales comply with the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018. The regulatory process requires the detailed understanding of significant complex operational dynamic systems which control the treatment/production of safe drinking water over multiple operational sites for up to several million consumers at all times.
To apply for this post, please use the following link to access the Civil Service website: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi
For any further information on the post, please contact the vacancy manager, Suzanne Calmels, on 0300 068 6400 or at: dwi.enquiries@defra.gov.uk
Closing date: 29 May 2022 at 23:55
Data Officer
Civil Service Jobs Reference No: 205972
We are searching for a Data Officer with a passion for data, enthusiasm for innovative IT solutions and the drive to work in an organisation serving the public, to work in our small Data Management Unit at the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is one of three independent regulators of the water industry in England and Wales. The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and exercises legal powers for the regulation of the quality of drinking water supplied by water companies in England and Wales. Additionally, the Inspectorate receives data relating to public supplies from English and Welsh Local Authorities. The jobholder would be part of a small busy team of five that provides data support to approximately 45 technical and administrative staff.
Data Officers report to the Data Manager and carry out the processing of data submitted by water supply companies and local authorities in England and Wales. Other tasks include database management, the production of maps and resolving general data issues.
To apply for this post, please use the following link to access the Civil Service website: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi
For any further information on the post, please contact the vacancy manager, Suzanne Calmels, on 0300 068 6400 or at: dwi.enquiries@defra.gov.uk
Closing date: 5 June 2022 at 23:55
Principal Inspector (2 Posts)
Civil Service Jobs Reference No: 206010
The Inspectorate is seeking two Principal Inspectors to support the Senior Management Team (SMT) in the delivery of the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s vision and strategic objectives. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the independent regulator of drinking water quality in England and Wales. Established by Parliament in 1990, the strategic objective is to protect public health and maintain public confidence by securing safe and clean drinking water, now and for future generations.
The powers and duties under which the Inspectorate operates are established in legislation and are wide-ranging, covering all aspects of the quality and sufficiency of water together with duties in regard of network and information systems of public water supplies as delegated by the Secretary of State and Welsh ministers. Statutory duties in relation to private supplies for the provision of technical advice to local authorities and the authority of appeal are provided on behalf of the Secretary of State and Welsh ministers.
The Inspectorate produces its own independent reports for ministers in both England and Wales; reporting on the operational performance of the water companies that it regulates in both countries, and on the performance of local authorities in their duties with respect to private water supplies. These cover assessment of the results of monitoring of drinking water supplied by the water companies’ month by month; investigation of notified events; and site visits and meetings with companies to audit technical operating practices, procedures and policies for compliance with regulation and enforcement notices. In addition to the statutory function, further non-statutory functions are provided, including an evidence programme; consumer and media advice on information about drinking water safety and regulation as well as the running of an independent website.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate recovers its costs from the industry which it regulates, but operates as a business unit within Defra’s Floods and Water Directorate. The Directorate has formal responsibility for sponsoring the Inspectorate in Defra.
To apply for this post, please use the following link to access the Civil Service website: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi
For any further information on the post, please contact the vacancy manager, Suzanne Calmels, on 0300 068 6400 or at: dwi.enquiries@defra.gov.uk
Closing date: 12 June 2022 at 23:55