The Opportunity

Our Regulatory Advice team, part of the Stantec Advisory Services Group, has a significant track record of delivering impactful outcomes across the Water, Energy, and Infrastructure sectors. Our local and globally connected teams work with clients to help them drive performance and realise financial and social value from their assets. We do this by applying systems‑thinking within a collaborative working environment with clients’ teams and stakeholders, unlocking insights into asset performance and enabling informed, timely decisions that deliver value and promote sustainable outcomes.

Our success in supporting many of the UK’s main utility providers and major infrastructure developers brings continued opportunities for growth across our market sectors and disciplines. As part of our team’s overall growth, we are looking to recruit a Principal Consultant. This role can be based in several offices—including London, Reading, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh, or Bristol—with hybrid working that supports a great work‑life balance.

As a Principal Consultant within Regulatory Advice, you will lead the delivery of high‑impact regulatory advisory engagements for clients operating in regulated sectors, providing strategic, economic, and governance advice on regulatory frameworks, price controls, compliance obligations, incentives, and performance commitments. You will be accountable for engagement leadership, quality assurance, stakeholder management, and the guidance, mentoring, and development of less experienced team members, while contributing to business growth through thought leadership and proposal development. You will support our Client Service and Technical Directors with the development and delivery of programmes, projects, and technical outputs.

In return you will have the opportunity to progress your career, acquire new skills and professional qualifications, and work with numerous clients located across the UK.

About You

• Experience of working in a senior regulatory role primarily within the regulated water/energy sectors, with a track record of generating solutions to complex industry problems.
• Experience of price review/revenue‑setting processes (e.g., AMP cycles, multi‑year determinations).
• Familiarity with assurance standards and approaches (three lines of defence, internal controls, ISAE 3000, audit and evidence packs).
• Strong knowledge of regulation, policy, and strategy.
• Knowledge of cost modelling, benchmarking, or business case appraisal.
• Track record of winning work (proposal writing, account development, networking).
• Excellent written communication; ability to craft compelling, evidence‑led arguments suitable for regulator/board audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with credibility at senior levels.
• Proven project leadership: planning, resourcing, risk management, and delivery to deadlines.
• High analytical capability: interpreting financial/performance data, assessing trade‑offs, and forming recommendations.
• Track record of developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and mentoring talented individuals within our organisation.

Why join us?

We have the right environment and culture to provide flexibility, support, and work‑life balance that you need to succeed. We offer a great benefits package, including flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, a strong pension scheme, and a people‑oriented company culture.

If you are looking for a chance to further develop your career within a highly supportive organisation, delivering exceptional solutions for clients, we would love to hear from you.

#ukwater

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across six continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver, and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy, and prosperous communities. Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We address today’s challenges while keeping a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy, and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations, or any other condition of employment. Stantec complies with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world‑class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made, please contact [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.