External Communications Officer

South East Water; Snodland; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension

5 weeks holiday + bank holidays

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking an External Communications Officer to support the External Communications Manager and help shape how the world sees the company. You’ll identify fresh media opportunities and draft engaging press releases to highlight our commitment to customers.

You’ll coordinate outputs across multiple projects, turning complex information into accessible materials, and manage community and stakeholder events with a proactive communications approach.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in a communication or PR related discipline or relevant experience.
• Full driving licence.
• At least three years’ experience in journalism or public relations/communications, agency or in-house.
• Experience in media relations, press office management, relationship building, and media training.
• Ability to turn complex information into clear communications for public consumption and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support the External Communications Manager to deliver the Turning the Tide strategy and rebuild the company’s reputation.
• Produce high-quality communications outputs to deadlines across multiple projects.
• Draft customer, media and stakeholder materials including press releases, statements, and presentations.
• Turn complex information into accessible materials for public consumption.
• Identify opportunities for positive media coverage and arrange media events.
• Organise and attend in-person and virtual community and stakeholder events.
• Participate in out-of-hours crisis communications on a shared rota.

Skills

Media relations

Press office management

Copywriting

Strategic communications planning

Crisis communications

Stakeholder relationships

Media monitoring

Briefing development

Public speaking

Event coordination

Education

Degree in communications or PR

Job description

Summary

As our External Communications Officer, you’ll help shape how the world sees South East Water. Supporting our External Communications Manager, you’ll help us stay consistent and proactive in everything we do. Whether you’re identifying fresh media opportunities or drafting engaging press releases, your goal will be to create impactful coverage that highlights our commitment to our customers. It’s a chance to use your PR skills to make a positive, visible difference!

Main responsibilities

• Support the External Communications Manager in the delivery of the Turning the Tide strategy, rebuilding South East Water’s reputation amongst its customers and stakeholders.
• Be adept at pivoting between multiple projects, sometimes with competing needs, to produce appropriate and high quality communications outputs to deadline.
• Competent in drafting accurate customer, media and stakeholder communications materials required for a project or event, including, but not limited to; communications plans and evaluations, briefing notes, statements, press releases, presentations, exhibition materials, articles, advertising, website copy, FAQs and social media content such as videos.
• Competent in turning complex information into appropriate and easy to understand materials for public consumption.
• Keen to learn, develop as well as try new ideas and communications methods as they arise.
• Competent at identifying potential risks to company reputation and have confidence in raising these with appropriate managers.
• Identify opportunities for positive media coverage, crafting press releases, arranging media events, managing interviews and briefing spokespeople.
• Be responsible for organising, managing and attending a range of in-person and virtual community and stakeholder events which open our audiences’ eyes to water.
• Be part of the Communications out-of-hours service on a shared rota basis (approximately one in four weeks) where you’ll help manage crisis communications both in and out of office hours, escalating where appropriate.
• Confident at liaising with designers, photographers, videographers and other contractors to achieve desired outcomes when creating communications materials and arranging events.

You’ll need

Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• Degree-level qualification in a communication or PR related discipline or relevant experience.
• Full driving licence.
• At least three years’ experience in either a field related to journalism (newspaper/online/TV/radio) or public relations/communications, either agency or in-house.
• Media relations, press office management, relationship building, media monitoring & optimisation, media interview management, statement & briefing development, media training, presentation/briefing skills, strategic communications planning, copywriting, proofreading, creative input & ideation, quality control, campaign execution, crisis communications.
• A working experience and knowledge of the media, together with the ability to deal confidently with customers and stakeholders is essential. Social media skills would be desirable.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.
• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package

Up to £40,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)