Divisional External Affairs Manager

Persimmon plc; Thornaby-on-Tees; Remote; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Cover

Pension

Bonus

Benefits Platform

Diversity & Inclusion

Job summary

Persimmon Homes is seeking a Divisional External Affairs Manager in Thornaby (TS17) with regular travel across the region to lead stakeholder engagement, manage planning-related council and community relations, and shape external communications. The role collaborates with regional teams and senior leaders to protect and enhance reputation.

You’ll drive proactive PR, advise on political and reputational issues, and ensure consistent messaging across external affairs, press and internal comms in a

Qualifications

• Experience engaging with political, community or business stakeholders
• Background in public affairs, communications, PR or a political environment; this could include roles in local authorities, consultancies/agencies or working in an MP’s office
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proven ability to deliver proactive communications or PR opportunities
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and advising on approach
• Experience in a large or complex organisation would be advantageous

Responsibilities

• Organising and leading stakeholder engagement to support planning applications and engage councillors, MPs, officers and communities
• Responding to media enquiries and promoting positive stories
• Drafting clear, high-quality communications including press releases, briefings and stakeholder correspondence
• Advising senior colleagues on political, reputational and communications issues
• Monitoring political and policy developments to identify risks and opportunities
• Anticipating and helping manage reputational risks and ensuring consistency across channels

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Public affairs

Communications

PR

Strategic thinking

Job description

Job Title: Divisional External Affairs Manager

Location: Thornaby, TS17

Looking for a career where your ambition meets real opportunity? Join Persimmon Homes as Divisional 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 Divisional 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?

We are recruiting an External Affairs Manager to join our External Affairs team. This role can be based at any of our following offices: Newcastle, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham or Leeds - with regular travel across the region.

Reporting to the Head of External Affairs (Yorkshire & North East), you will work closely with Managing Directors and regional teams in a hands‑on role focused on managing reputation and building strong relationships with key stakeholders. You will play a central role in delivering our external affairs strategy across six operating businesses: leading engagement with councillors, MPs, officers, media and local communities.

This role would suit someone ready to step up into their first manager role, or an experienced external affairs or communications professional looking for broader responsibility.

What you’ll do as a Divisional External Affairs Manager

• Organising and leading stakeholder engagement to support planning applications; working directly with councillors, MPs, officers and local communities
• Responding to media enquiries, identifying proactive PR opportunities and promoting positive stories
• Drafting clear, high-quality communications including press releases, briefings and stakeholder correspondence
• Advising senior colleagues on political, reputational and communications issues
• Monitoring political and policy developments; identifying risks and opportunities
• Anticipating and helping manage reputational risks
• Ensuring consistent messaging across external affairs, press and internal communications

What experience do I need?

• Experience engaging with political, community or business stakeholders
• Background in public affairs, communications, PR or a political environment; this could include roles in local authorities, consultancies/agencies or working in an MP’s office
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proven ability to deliver proactive communications or PR opportunities
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and advising on approach
• Experience in a large or complex organisation would be advantageous