Head of Economic Regulation

Head of Economic Regulation

• Shape the strategic approach to economic regulation at Tiaki Wai
• Play a critical role in building confidence in Tiaki Wai through good regulation
• Senior strategic leadership opportunity based in Petone

This is a full-time, permanent position of 40 hours per week.

The opportunity

As Head of Economic Regulation, you’ll lead the development and delivery of Tiaki Wai’s economic regulation strategy. You’ll hold the strategic relationship with the Commerce Commission, including leading significant regulatory submissions and processes.

You will help translate complex regulatory requirements to support both compliance and to help improve outcomes for consumers.

In this role your priorities will include:

• Shaping Tiaki Wai’s economic regulatory strategy to deliver sustainable, long-term community outcomes.
• Leading our strategic relationship with the Commerce Commission and other regulatory stakeholders.
• Leading our response to Commerce Commission consultation processes.
• Advising the Board and executive leaders on complex economic and regulatory matters.
• Helping build regulatory capability across investment, finance, planning and operational functions.

About you

To be successful in this role you will bring:

• Significant senior experience in the economic regulation of infrastructure or utility services, ideally within a Part 4 regulatory regime, with a combined 15+ years working in regulated environment.
• Experience leading regulatory strategy, submissions, determinations or major reviews.
• Credibility working directly with economic regulators, Boards and executive leaders.
• Strong knowledge of economic regulation, infrastructure investment and incentive frameworks.
• A relevant qualification in legal, economics, finance, public policy or a related discipline.

You’ll be an influential and commercially astute leader who can see the bigger picture. You understand that good economic regulation is about more than compliance to achieve value for customers and protecting the essential services communities rely on every day.

Benefits

At Tiaki Wai, our purpose extends beyond delivering great water services for the region; we foster a thriving community, support a diverse workforce, and offer supportive development opportunities. We genuinely care about your safety and wellbeing.

Our benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangements including up to 2 days working from home.
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including one paid wellbeing day annually.
• Formal and informal professional development opportunities.

For a full list of our employee benefits click here.

About us

Tiaki Wai is a council-owned organisation responsible for managing the delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services across Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Wellington.

We manage public-owned extensive water infrastructure and oversee the delivery of safe and reliable services for our communities. We focus on long-term investment, asset management, maintenance, and delivering major infrastructure projects that support public health, environmental protection, and regional growth.

Water is a precious taonga. At Tiaki Wai, we put care into every drop and are guided by our values of Integrity, Care, and Leadership. We work directly with water consumers and in partnership with councils and mana whenua to deliver better water outcomes for current and future generations.

Applications close: 17th November 2026

How to apply

For a full position description, or more information, please contact andrew.howard@tiakiwai.co.nz

To apply for the role, click on the ‘apply’ button or visit the Tiaki Wai Careers site. If you are a Tiaki Wai employee, please apply using your work email.

You must be legally entitled to work long-term in New Zealand or eligible to obtain a working visa.