Divisional External Affairs Manager

Persimmon plc; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5* housebuilder

Life Cover

Contributory Pension

Bonus

Employee Benefits Platform

Diversity & Inclusion

Job summary

Persimmon Homes is seeking a Division External Affairs Manager to lead external affairs across its seven operating businesses in the Eastern Counties division. The role involves managing local stakeholder engagement and press activity in collaboration with the Head of External Affairs and senior leaders.

You will draft press releases, organise events, monitor political and policy trends, and ensure key messages are aligned across press, public affairs, and internal comms.

Qualifications

• Experience engaging with political and business stakeholders.
• Previous experience in a press office or PR role would be beneficial.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Proven record of generating positive, proactive press and PR stories.
• Experience working in a large organisation would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support and advise on key stakeholder and press relationships.
• Draft press releases, letters and other communications to deliver our strategy.
• Organise stakeholder and press events.
• Identify political and policy issues that impact Persimmon’s business.
• Ensure key messages are delivered to the right audiences and briefing senior colleagues as needed.
• Coordinate with social media and internal communications colleagues to align messages.
• Travel frequently across the Central division as needed.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Press/PR experience

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking

Proactive press stories

Large organisation experience

Job description

Job Title: Division External Affairs Manager

Location: Maidstone, ME15. However, we’re flexible on location across the South East of England. We also have offices in Witham, Maidstone, Norwich and Suffolk.

Looking for a career where your ambition meets real opportunity? Join Persimmon Homes as Division External Affairs Manager and step into a role where your success is celebrated, your growth supported, and your work truly matters.

Why Persimmon Homes?

We’re one of the UK’s largest and most established housebuilders — FTSE 100 listed, with 29 regional offices and thousands of quality homes built every year.

At Persimmon, we don’t just build homes — we build careers. When you join us as Division External Affairs Manager, you’ll benefit from:

• 5* housebuilder - Be part of a company that consistently delivers quality homes and outstanding customer satisfaction
• Life Cover & Contributory Pension
• Bonus
• Employee Benefits Platform – giving you access to high-street discounts, wellbeing support, and more
• Committed to diversity, inclusion, and empowering your development

What is the role?

The purpose of the role is to support the delivery of an external affairs strategy across our 7 operating businesses in the Eastern Counties division. This will involve managing and sometimes leading on local stakeholder engagement and press activity while working closely with the Head of External Affairs, local Managing Directors and other senior management.

What you’ll do as a Division External Affairs Manager

• You will be required to support and advise on key stakeholder and press relationships;
• Drafting press releases, letters and other appropriate communications to deliver our strategy;
• Organising stakeholder and press events;
• Understanding and identifying key political and policy issues and trends that impact Persimmon’s business;
• Ensuring Persimmon’s key messages are delivered to the right audiences in the correct manner. This is likely to include both briefing senior colleagues and in your own discussions with key stakeholders;
• Help ensure press, public affairs and internal communications messages are aligned. As well as helping to manage local press relations and co-ordinate with social media and internal communication colleagues.
• Frequent travel across the Central division as outlined above.

What experience do I need?

• Experience engaging with political and business stakeholders
• Previous experience in a press office or PR related role would be beneficial.
• High level of attention to detail
• Ability to work on multiple tasks at any one time and meet competing deadlines
• Proven record of generating positive, proactive press and PR stories
• Experience working in a large organisation would be advantageous