Head of Media Relations

Thames Water – Lead our story. Shape our reputation. We’re looking for an exceptional Head of Media Relations to set the strategic direction of our media activity and act as a key ambassador for Thames Water’s Communications function. This is a high-impact leadership role—ideal for someone with sharp strategic thinking, strong news instinct, financial acumen and the confidence to counsel senior leaders on complex issues.

What you’ll be doing as Head of Media Relations:

• Lead the media relations strategy and set a clear, compelling vision for the team.
• Ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to media engagement across the organisation.
• Drive a proactive media plan that supports our business priorities and long-term strategy.
• Manage and build Thames Water’s reputation across business, finance, political and national media.
• Lead the development of hyper-local digital communications to better engage our customers.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including the CEO and Executive team.
• Partner with Finance and Investor Relations to shape impactful results and performance communications.
• Act as a senior spokesperson for Thames Water.
• Develop a high-performing Media Relations team and embed best practices.

What you should bring to the role:

• A passion for the water and waste industry.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to see the bigger picture.
• Strong experience in planning, budgeting, and integrated stakeholder communications.
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders on sensitive and complex issues.
• Outstanding writing skills and the ability to simplify complex messages.
• Solid financial communications experience and understanding of listed environments.
• A track record of handling sensitive issues, crises, and incident response.
• Experience leading high-performing teams.
• Deep knowledge of media strategy, channels, and techniques.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and influence effectively at all levels.
• Strong budget management skills and a results-focused mindset.

What’s in it for you? Join us at a pivotal moment—where your ambition can truly shape the future. Step into a company that not only invests in your career but also champions your potential at every stage. With our bold transformation plan underway, there’s never been a more exciting time to be part of our journey.

Competitive salary £90,000 - £120,000 per annum, depending on experience. Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays) Car Allowance - £5,800. Annual Bonus Private Medical Health Care. Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution. Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year. Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of your and your family’s health and well-being, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Who are we? 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.

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.

Why choose us? 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.