At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead corporate communications and enhance the reputation of Pennon Group.
- Company: Join a leading UK water company committed to sustainability and community engagement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, private healthcare, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-profile role that shapes public perception and drives change.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in communications and proven media relations expertise required.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
At Pennon Group, we're proud to serve communities while protecting the environment. Together with our subsidiaries, South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power, we're leading the way in water and renewables.
We're proud to be recognised as a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals include lowering our carbon footprint, planting 300,000 trees, restoring peatlands, and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.
As Director of Communications, you will own and lead Group corporate communications across Pennon and its operating businesses, ensuring clear, consistent and effective external communications that support business priorities and strengthen corporate reputation.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and delivering communications strategies that enhance reputation and support organisational priorities.
- Leading proactive and reactive media relations activity, including ownership of the media office and newsroom operation.
- Personally managing high-profile, complex and reputation-sensitive media issues.
- Leading communications during major incidents, crises and operational events.
- Providing expert communications counsel and constructive challenge to Executive leaders and senior stakeholders.
- Leading communications planning and delivery for major corporate announcements, campaigns and business milestones.
- Driving the development and delivery of Pennon's digital and social media strategy.
- Owning and developing the Pennon corporate website as a key communications platform.
- Leading community communications and community relations activities across Pennon's operating areas.
- Overseeing executive media briefing, preparation and support for interviews, events and significant announcements.
- Leading communications monitoring, insight and evaluation to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Building, leading and developing a high-performing communications team.
- Working collaboratively across Public Affairs, Customer, Regulation, Sustainability, Legal and Operational teams.
As a critical leadership role within the organisation, the Director of Communications will also maintain effective out-of-hours communications and incident response capability.
About You
You will bring significant senior leadership experience in corporate communications, media relations or reputation management within a large and complex organisation.
What Will Motivate You
- Leading a communications function that plays a critical role in protecting and enhancing organisational reputation.
- Combining strategic leadership with active involvement in communications delivery and execution.
- Managing complex communications challenges in a dynamic and high-profile operating environment.
- Building trusted relationships with senior leaders while providing expert advice and challenge.
- Developing innovative digital and social media approaches that improve audience engagement.
- Leading, coaching and developing talented communications professionals.
Essential Experience
- Senior communications leadership experience.
- Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
- Demonstrable media relations expertise.
- Proven crisis, incident and issues-management capability.
- Strong leadership and people development skills.
- Strong digital and social media expertise.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a high-profile communications function at the centre of reputation management, stakeholder engagement and corporate leadership.
If you are an influential communications leader with the credibility, resilience and strategic capability to protect and enhance reputation in a complex, high-profile environment, we'd love to hear from you.
As our Director of Communications, you'll benefit from a comprehensive package that includes:
- Competitive Salary
- Company Car or Car Allowance
- Performance Bonus Scheme
- Pension Scheme
- Private Healthcare Benefits
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Employee Discount Programme
- Generous Annual Leave Entitlement
Closing Date: 14th September 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the on-boarding process.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid
- Be You
- Be the Future
Director of Communications in Exeter employer: Pennon Group
At Pennon Group, we offer a dynamic work environment where our In-House Legal Counsel can thrive while making a meaningful impact on communities and the environment. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our supportive culture and opportunities for professional development, all set against the backdrop of our leadership in the UK water sector. Join us in driving purpose and innovation as we work towards a sustainable future.
