Manager (Water - London)

Frontier Economics is an economics consultancy that tackles the big questions facing governments, businesses and society. We help our clients to analyse and understand their markets and to formulate strategies based on sound economics. The methods and models we use are often complex, but our advice is always succinct, clear and honest.

The company has grown rapidly since it was founded over 25 years ago and currently has around 500 staff working across nine European offices (Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Dublin, London, Madrid, Paris and Prague). The company is employee-owned and has a strong culture of openness and employee engagement.

The Water Practice

The water sector is under increasing pressure – from climate change and shifting regulatory expectations to rising investment needs. Our clients rely on deep industry expertise to navigate these challenges and ensure continued service delivery.

Economic regulation is becoming more complex, covering everything from price reviews and retail benchmarking to bulk supply pricing, compliance, financial resilience, and affordability. Effective regulation also demands alignment with long-term planning and delivery frameworks. To meet this growing need, we're expanding our expertise and are looking for experienced individuals to join our Water Practice.

The Role

As a senior water specialist you will need the experience, capabilities and expertise to manage the work of project teams across the full range of our expertise. This will be for both private and public sector clients and often in relation to high profile industry issues such as price reviews, regulatory reform, enforcement actions and related litigation.

You can also expect to play a leading role in building our integrated cost benchmarking, cost assessment and investment appraisal capability working across regulated network industries. This may in time also lead to opportunities for you to scope and manage projects and workstreams outside of water, e.g. in energy networks.

Your project work is likely to be predominantly UK based, but you may be part of project teams working for clients across Europe, and some travel may be necessary. Some of our most recent work in the area includes:

• Assisting companies in responding to Ofwat’s draft cost assessment and outcomes decisions;
• Price review appeal decisions and ongoing support for the subsequent appeals;
• Due diligence work for potential water sector investors;
• Support for government reviews of the sector;
• Assessing the affordability impacts of company decisions.

How You Will Make an Impact

As a senior water specialist you will be responsible for the long-term sustainability and success of Frontier. As a key contact in the practice, you will enjoy a wide and diverse role working with people collaboratively across the Firm. While individual contributions may evolve with their careers, there is an ongoing expectation to consistently exhibit competence in five key areas:

• Intellectual Leadership

You will play a key role in ensuring Frontier delivers robust, high-quality analysis that positions us at the forefront of our field. This includes shaping the scope of work with clients, drawing on both internal expertise and external input, and ensuring outputs are credible, insightful, and able to withstand scrutiny.

• Consulting Skills

You will lead internal teams to deliver high-quality, timely, and impactful advice. This involves effective project management, clear communication, and strong client engagement. You will also support team development, staff well-being, and mentoring.

• Client Relationships

You’ll be responsible for building and maintaining strong, strategic relationships with current and prospective clients. This includes deepening your understanding of their wider needs, driving business development activity, and supporting the growth of the practice and firm in line with Frontier’s values.

• Developing Self and Others

As a role model, you’ll help foster a culture of learning, inclusion, and motivation. You’ll support the development of colleagues at all levels and ensure mentoring and Career Development Reviews (CDRs) are delivered with honesty, fairness, and integrity.

• Internal Leadership

You will contribute to Frontier’s long-term success by supporting internal initiatives and promoting our values. This includes strong financial stewardship, active engagement in firm-wide priorities, and clear communication of policies and processes as a senior leader.

Your Skills and Background

We’re looking for economists who combine strong technical skills with clear communication and sound judgement. You’ll have the expertise to tackle complex economic questions, the confidence to influence clients and colleagues, and the drive to deliver high-quality work on time. You’ll also be a team player who supports and motivates others, helping us deliver practical insights and real impact for our clients.

Essential skills and experience

• Expertise in Water Economics, with several years of experience at an economics consultancy, within a water company or at a regulator. Ideally this will be combined with wider understanding of the UK water industry including its long-term planning frameworks, operations, assets and future investment needs.
• Excellent communication skills that are tailored to your audience and the credibility to influence a wide range of people.
• Strong project management skills; able to motivate teams and manage multiple projects effectively.
• Commercial awareness and good judgement to identify practical, value-adding solutions that are aligned with the client’s willingness to pay
• Strong data skills, he ability to accurately scope and then manage the delivery of high-quality work, including analytical work with large data sets, where appropriate using statistical tools such as R and/or Stata to generate meaningful insights.

The Benefits of Joining Our Team

At Frontier Economics, we are entirely employee-owned, meaning every team member has a voice in shaping the company’s future. Our collaborative culture encourages innovation, open dialogue, and shared success. Our stimulating and thought-provoking projects are complemented by a supportive and dynamic work environment, designed to help you thrive and grow. We also offer:

• Hybrid Working: Employees are expected to work in the office at least two days a week, with flexibility for remote work.
• Holiday Entitlement: 28 days of annual leave, plus public holidays, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days of holiday per year.
• Parental Pay: Enhanced parental pay of up to 2 months of full pay and bonus for primary carers.
• Learning & Development: Extensive L&D opportunities, including Career Development Reviews with support from a dedicated Mentor.
• Private Health Insurance: Fully covered AXA health insurance with optional family coverage (partners' premiums and taxes paid by the employee; children included at no extra cost). Additional cover (e.g., optical, dental) can be added at the employee's expense.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Free, confidential support for work-life balance, health, family issues, or job-related challenges, available for you and your immediate family members.
• Income Protection Insurance – All employees are covered by Frontier’s Group Income Protection Scheme for long-term illness or disability.
• Life Insurance – Company-funded Group Life Assurance Scheme, covering all permanent employees from their start date.
• Cross-Office Travel & Secondments – Opportunities for secondments to different offices or practices to expand skills and experience

Should you have any questions or would like any additional information please email [email protected].

We are open to full time & part time applicants.

Frontier Economics is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. We are determined that everyone has an equal chance to join us and progress their career with Frontier. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms. Read more about our incentives here.