Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Principal Inspector (Network and Information Systems)
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Job Summary
The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the independent regulator of drinking water quality in England and Wales. Established by Parliament in 1990, its strategic objective is to protect public health and maintain public confidence by securing safe, sufficient and clean drinking water, now and for future generations.
The Network and Information Systems Regulations (2018) extend 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.
Job Description
The key management responsibility for a Principal Inspector (PI) will be to ensure, via a combination of Inspectors’ and Performance Analysts’ 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) rely. Such a responsibility is pivotal for the relationship developed with each water company – the intent will be to develop a collaborative relationship. The PI will be responsible for escalating any failure or likely failure to enforcement action as appropriate.
The PI will manage a small team of Inspectors and Performance Analysts to ensure all designated (for NIS purposes) water companies across England and Wales comply with the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018. The regulatory process requires 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.
Management support and leadership will be required from the PI for the small team of Performance Analysts and Inspectors taking a supervisory approach to regulation which includes evaluating technical information about the operation and monitoring of network information systems (Information Technology and Operational Technology) for the production and continuous supply of drinking water. This also includes regular liaison with companies, and informed decisions on improvement plans, based on evidence.
The PI will be responsible for ensuring all water companies in scope are compliant or on a path to compliance, with the regulations through the work of their Inspectors. The technical information, including the receipt of Incident reports, will require audit and assessment against the regulatory requirements, which will also require company site visits to inspect/audit a variety of drinking water production and distribution processes and their management and control. Where necessary, guidance may be required to help a company understand or implement the most appropriate controls to have in place, which may include support for the correct interpretation of regulatory requirements.
The key deliverable will be to ensure that each water company is considering the ‘big picture’ relating to network information systems and physical security, and how their regulatory responsibilities result in a strategy to ensure compliance. The PI will ensure that Inspectors have a clear understanding of the required outcome for water companies to enable Inspectors to enforce effectively. The enforcement process involves an escalatory process of formal requests (notices) for information, to further notices to legally require system improvement, to penalty notices for non-compliance of up to £17m. The PI has complete autonomy for information and improvement notices but will need to justify and escalate any penalty notice and communicate effectively with Senior Management in order to influence the outcome.
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The PI also has outward facing responsibilities of engaging with other key stakeholders such as other Competent Authorities, advisory Government departments, Defra security and senior Defra staff. The role is to either receive knowledge or advice regarding security issues (and then to decide on any required action), or to inform or make recommendations for forward strategy.
In addition, all the Inspectorate’s PIs form the Management Team for the day-to-day management of all the Inspectorate’s staff. The NIS PI will fulfil these duties, which include appraising the Management Team of activity and developments within the NIS and security areas. The Management Team support all activity areas so there will be an expectation that the NIS PI has a working knowledge of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016, and the Water Industry Act 1991. The PI will also be responsible for producing an annual report on company performance and Inspectorate activity for Ministers in both England and Wales
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.
Person Specification
Post-graduate experience of cyber security, knowledge of water treatment process and the water industry and experience of regulation.
Responsibilities:
- To be responsible for delivery of the regulation of the NIS Regulations and working together with the Management Team to deliver the operations of the Inspectorate.
- Operational delivery on a national basis (England and Wales);
- Delivery of overall business and strategic objectives set by SMT;
- Staff management including work allocation, rotation, training, performance and welfare;
- Engagement with the regulated industry, and other key participants when delivering objectives;
- On-site liaison, audits and inspections;
- Enforcement activities and decisions;
- Support the SMT in the operational delivery of the Inspectorate’s strategy;
- Responsibility for performance reporting to the SMT.
More Generally You Will Be Expected To:
- Establish and maintain effective and appropriate professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
- Manage resources efficiently and effectively, constantly seeking improved methods of working, ensuring that any new or amended processes are formally captured and disseminated throughout the Inspectorate;
- Contribute to the style, direction and reputation of the Inspectorate including the production of the Chief Inspector’s reports covering England and Wales;
- Familiarisation with NIS regulations and any upcoming legislation (including the Cyber Security and Resilience Act) and how the law may be interpreted and enforcement applied;
- Understanding of internal IT systems and development and innovation of emerging technologies;
- Knowledge and interpretation of data collated by the Inspectorate;
- Understand and support the Inspectorate’s cost recovery process;
- Familiarity and compliance with Defra procedures with regard staff management, finance and procurement.
Licenses:
As travelling is an integral part of the job, often to areas not served by public transport, you should have a valid driving licence.
Qualifications:
The post holder will be expected to have qualification in cyber security.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
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- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
Alongside your salary of £67,730, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £19,621 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:
- A name-blind (anonymous) CV with details of your full job history, experience and qualifications.
- 2 x Behaviour Statements (250 word max).
- Personal Statement. Please use the Personal Statement (750 word max) to set out your reasons for applying for the role of a Principal Inspector. Please detail your experience and explain how your current skills are transferrable.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to an interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, strengths and a written exercise. The written exercise needs no prior preparation and is used to measure an applicant's experience in the water industry.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Interviews will be held in person, in London.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Developed Vetting (DV) is a requirement for this role. Please note you must have resided in the UK for the last 10 years to be eligible for DV clearance. If DV clearance is not already held, the application process must commence upon appointment.
Further Information
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the
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