Environment Communications Officer

South East Water; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Environment Communications Officer to combine communication skills with a scientific background. This role involves creating impactful campaigns to promote environmental initiatives and engaging stakeholders in meaningful ways. You will collaborate with diverse teams to deliver effective communication strategies and support water resource management. If you're ready to make a difference in the environmental sector and thrive in a hybrid working environment, this is the opportunity for you. Join a forward-thinking company and help shape the future of water management.

Benefits

Car Allowance

Flexible Working Hours

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Qualifications

• 3+ years in journalism or PR, agency or in-house.
• Degree-level qualification in communication or PR preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop campaigns to meet statutory targets with various teams.
• Engage farmers to adopt sustainable practices through support.

Skills

Journalism

Public Relations

Stakeholder Engagement

Media Relations

Digital Communications

Event Management

Education

Degree in Communication or PR

Scientific Background

Tools

Google Workspace

Social Media Platforms

Job description

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Environment Communications Officer

Apply remote type: Hybrid Working locations: Arlington, East Sussex; Farnborough; Snodland, Kent; time type: Full time; posted on: Posted Yesterday; job requisition id: JR100289

Summary:

Are you looking for a role that combines your communications skills with your scientific background and passion for the environment?

Can you create customer and stakeholder campaigns to promote our environmental work and create insightful engagement through collaboration?

Do you have sound experience as a communications officer?

If so, don’t miss this rare opportunity to join our communications team…

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

As an enthusiastic, creative, and adaptable Communications Officer, you’ll join our award-winning Communications team to develop and implement campaigns that support the delivery of our 25 Year Environment Plan, Water Industry National Environmental Programme (WINEP), and water resources management plans.

Perhaps you’re a public relations or communications professional wanting to dive into an exciting project; or someone with a scientific background looking to take your communications career in a new direction. Either way, you know how to engage with people across the social and political spectrum, and it’s that ability to build trusted relationships that will enable you to make a difference here.

You will be creating a mix of communication materials aimed at our stakeholders and customers, to highlight the various case studies and innovative works we’ve completed to achieve our environmental targets. Your natural interest in water quality and the local environment will allow you to bring to life the excellent work our teams are doing to balance both customer and environmental needs. Whether you come from a farming or agricultural background, or you have a degree in a scientific discipline, you understand our stakeholders and will create communication plans accordingly to suit the audience.

You will support our Environment and Water Resources colleagues in devising and executing communications plans and events that will drive positive change among land managers, owners, and other stakeholders within defined catchments. Therefore, communication experience in any company is crucial. You are comfortable liaising with Water Quality scientists and can convert technical information into easy-to-understand communication materials. You are happy to work from either our Arlington or Farnborough office, with a few days spent in our Snodland headquarters per month. The role is hybrid, but some fieldwork and event attendance are expected. A full, clean driving license is necessary. We provide a car allowance of £6,254.

You will also be part of the out-of-hours communications standby rota, responding proactively to media inquiries and assisting during emergencies.

This is an exciting time to join our team as we’re redefining our communications strategy, with opportunities to share new ideas and gain recognition for your skills in writing, media relations, digital communications, stakeholder engagement, and event management.

Main responsibilities:

1. Working with catchment advisors, ecologists, local planning authorities, and water teams to devise and deliver campaigns to meet statutory targets.
2. Supporting teams to change behaviors that protect water quality and quantity.
3. Encouraging farmers and landowners to adopt sustainable practices through support and funding.
4. Liaising with the Water Resources team on housing growth impacts and developing responses for planning processes.
5. Engaging with Local Planning Authorities.
6. Improving perceptions of environmental and water resource performance among stakeholders and the public.
7. Managing press inquiries and stakeholder messaging during incidents as part of the standby rota.

You'll need:

Experience / Skills / Qualifications

• At least three years’ experience in journalism or public relations/communications, agency or in-house.
• Experience in a water company is desirable but not required.
• Degree-level qualification in communication or PR, or relevant experience.
• A scientific background (education or work experience).
• Understanding of agriculture, farming, or environmental policies is highly desirable.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, media, filming, video editing, and social media, with confidence dealing with diverse audiences.
• Competency in Google Workspace and various communication platforms.
• Full driving license.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive.