At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders to support major water infrastructure projects.
- Company: Join Anglian Water, a purpose-driven company focused on environmental and social prosperity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, private healthcare, flexible working, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while shaping long-term relationships.
- Qualifications: Experience in stakeholder engagement and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with opportunities for career progression.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: East or West Anglian Water region (field-based with hybrid working)
Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum depending on experience
Permanent Full-time - 37 hours, with flexibility for part time
About the role
At Anglian Water, our purpose is to bring environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve through our commitment to Love Every Drop. With an £11bn investment programme planned for AMP8, we’re delivering some of the most significant water infrastructure projects in the UK - and strong, trusted relationships sit at the heart of making that happen.
We’re looking for a Relationship Lead to act as the strategic point of contact for stakeholder engagement across either the East or West of our region. This is a newly created role, designed to strengthen how we engage with landowners, communities, local authorities and partners as we deliver major capital programmes.
You’ll be the "eyes and ears" on the ground - building trust, understanding local priorities, identifying risks and opportunities, and ensuring stakeholder insight directly informs project delivery and decision-making.
If you’re excited by the idea of shaping long-term relationships while supporting nationally significant infrastructure, this is a chance to make a genuine impact.
What you’ll be doing
- Regional relationship management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local authorities, parish councils, community groups, businesses and other key stakeholders across your allocated area.
- Own stakeholder relationships within the region, ensuring regular, meaningful engagement.
- Act as a local intelligence lead, identifying emerging issues, sensitivities and opportunities.
- Maintain a clear understanding of all capital projects in your area, including timelines, impacts and engagement needs.
- Provide relationship and engagement insight to project teams to support effective delivery.
- Attend project meetings and escalate risks, issues and opportunities where appropriate.
- Develop and deliver stakeholder engagement plans aligned to programme and corporate priorities.
- Support consultations, forums, community liaison activity and wider corporate engagement.
- Create tailored engagement materials including presentations, briefings and other communication materials.
- Organise and facilitate engagement activities such as workshops, public meetings and stakeholder briefings.
- Work closely with Brand & Communications colleagues to align engagement and communications activity.
- Capture stakeholder insight and feedback to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Identify and manage local risks and constraints that could impact delivery or reputation.
- Record and analyse engagement activity, feedback and outcomes, ensuring robust reporting and data compliance.
- Contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement across stakeholder engagement practices.
What you’ll need
- Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, relationship management, public affairs or community liaison.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to engage diverse audiences.
- Ability to manage relationships independently across a defined geographic area.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
- Experience supporting capital delivery or major infrastructure programmes.
- Knowledge of statutory engagement processes (e.g. planning or consent-led projects).
- Understanding of the water industry or local government landscape.
Why join Anglian Water?
We’re proud to offer a supportive, flexible and purpose-led working environment. Our benefits include:
- Competitive salary and annual performance bonus
- Private healthcare and wellbeing support
- 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (with the option to buy more)
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Ongoing learning, development and career progression opportunities
- The chance to work on projects that make a real difference to communities and the environment
Inclusion at Anglian Water
Inclusion is for everyone and we are an equal opportunity employer, which means we’ll consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes, and we’re committed to creating an environment where all our colleagues feel they belong.
Closing date: 12th February 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 23rd February 2026
Relationship Lead employer: Anglian Water Services
Contact Detail:
Anglian Water Services Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Relationship Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Anglian Water's projects, values, and community engagement efforts. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend local events or forums related to water management and infrastructure. Meeting people in the industry can open doors and give you insights that are invaluable during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Relationship Lead. Highlight your stakeholder engagement skills and how you've built trust in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Anglian Water and contributing to their mission of Love Every Drop.
We think you need these skills to ace Relationship Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Audience: Before you start writing, take a moment to understand who you're addressing. Tailor your application to resonate with Anglian Water's mission of environmental and social prosperity. Show us that you get what they’re about!
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase your experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of Relationship Lead, so don’t hold back on those relevant examples!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your strengths.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Anglian Water Services
✨Know Your Stakeholders
Before the interview, research the key stakeholders in the East or West Anglian Water region. Understand their priorities and concerns, as this will help you demonstrate your ability to build strong relationships and engage effectively with diverse audiences.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that highlight your experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully navigated challenges and built trust with local authorities and community groups.
✨Understand Capital Projects
Familiarise yourself with the major capital projects currently underway in the region. Being able to discuss these projects and their impacts will show your commitment to understanding the role and its responsibilities, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Engagement Planning Skills
Think about how you would develop and deliver stakeholder engagement plans. Be prepared to share your ideas on how to create tailored engagement materials and facilitate activities like workshops or public meetings, as this is crucial for the role.