Local Engagement Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26 days

Generous pension scheme

Performance-related pay

Benefits package including health and

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited is seeking a Local Engagement Manager to lead stakeholder engagement across London, coordinating responses and building strong political relationships. The hybrid role is based in Reading with occasional travel to sites and incident locations, supporting the company’s turnaround and AMP8 investment programme.

You will advise senior leaders, manage stakeholder inquiries, and ensure preparedness for key public meetings while collaborating across teams in a regulated

Qualifications

• Significant experience engaging with stakeholders, particularly within local government.
• Experience of external engagement in a regulated sector with understanding of the external environment

Responsibilities

• Coordinate responses to political stakeholders and customer inquiries, via letters, meetings or site visits.
• Build and expand political relationships across London and with MPs, councillors and others.
• Advise senior leaders on stakeholder engagement and prepare for key public meetings.
• Keep stakeholders informed during major incidents and follow up communications, including scrutiny meetings.
• Travel to Thames Water sites and incident locations as needed.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Local government engagement

Executive advisory

Written & verbal communication

Relationship building

Collaboration

Political structures understanding

Job description

The purpose of the role is to lead and deliver political and stakeholder engagement activities across London, strengthening the company's reputation, building positive relationships with key stakeholders, and supporting the successful delivery of its strategic priorities.

As one of a three-person London engagement team, the role will take responsibility for developing and delivering a targeted programme of engagement with MPs, councillors and other key stakeholders across an allocated area of London. This will include managing and responding to stakeholder enquiries, ensuring appropriate representation at key meetings and forums, and identifying opportunities to raise awareness of and build support for the company's turnaround plan and AMP8 investment programme.

The role will play an important part in maintaining strong relationships with political and community stakeholders, anticipating emerging issues and ensuring the company is well positioned to communicate its priorities, investment and progress across London.

What you'll be doing as a Local Engagement Manager

• When political stakeholders approach the business with queries or customer casework, coordinate the response, either by responding directly or arranging a response from the appropriate business unit. This may take the form of letters, a meeting or a site visit, depending on what is most appropriate.
• Build upon existing and identify new political relationships
• Provide advice and direction on stakeholder engagement to senior leaders and other SLT and Executive members
• Act as the critical link when preparing for key public meetings to ensure everyone attending is as prepared as possible.
• During a major incident in patch, this role will be responsible for keeping stakeholders informed and answering any questions. It will also take a leading role in the follow-up communications, such as attending scrutiny meetings and preparing reports.
• Dealing with incoming contacts from political stakeholders across London
• Working with colleagues informing political stakeholders on information campaigns

Base location - Hybrid - Clear Water Court Reading

Working pattern - Monday to Friday 36 hours a week with participation in an out of hours rota on a 1-in-10-week basis.

Necessary requirements for the role - Occasional travel to Thames Water sites and incident locations

• Significant experience engaging with stakeholders, particularly within local government.
• Experience of external engagement in a regulated sector, coupled with a strong understanding of our external environment and the positions of key stakeholders
• Experience advising colleagues, up to and including at Executive level, on successful engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including writing for a variety of channels and audiences and presenting to internal and external audiences
• The ability to build strong relationships and challenge accepted approaches
• Effective collaboration and the ability to work well with others from diverse disciplines.
• Understanding of political structures and the regulated sector

Extra qualities that would be a great fit for our team:

• Experience working in communications or stakeholder engagement in the water sector.
• Experience of media relations and/or incident/crisis communications.
• Experience of representing an organisation in formal political hearings.
• Use of social media in an in-house context.
• Knowledge and understanding of regulated sectors and/or environmental and sustainability issues.

We're the UK's largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It's a big job and we've got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you'll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you're looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people's lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we'll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We're committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that's extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we're here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you'll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It's also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

• Competitive salary from £42,000 to £50,000 per annum depending on experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family's health and wellbeing, and your finances - from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.