Head of Public Affairs

Exeter, England /Marketing and Communications /Permanent full-time At Pennon Group, we’re proud to be leading the way in the water and renewables industries. Alongside our subsidiaries - South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power - we’re committed to delivering a sustainable future of our region. Because we know that by continually driving up our standards today, we’ll build a better tomorrow for our communities. We currently have an opportunity available for a Head of Public Affairs to join our team and help bring our story to life. Working in either Exeter or Redhill, you will be joining us on a full-time basis, you will receive a salary of circa £75,000 to £85,000 plus benefits.

About the role

As Head of Public Affairs, you will play a key leadership role and will be accountable for delivering Pennon’s public affairs capabilities, building on a strategic public affairs function that supports and enhances the Group’s brands and increases its influence on policymaking. This is a great opportunity, as through a tailored public affairs programme, you will lead the team in working to enhance the value of Pennon’s businesses and making a direct contribution to Pennon’s strategic business objectives.

What you’ll be doing

• Deliver a public affairs function that will develop, manage and deliver a structured Public Affairs strategic plan (reflecting the company strategy, strategic objectives, policies and business activities) including a clear stakeholder map which supports high quality and inspiring programmes, campaigns and activities, providing a proactive and reactive service.
• Manage and deliver structured policy, public affairs and political relations function, programmes, and activities in order to build Pennon’s public affairs profile.
• In partnership with relevant Directors and senior management of Pennon and its subsidiaries, develop and implement strategic plans identifying and meeting the needs of key external stakeholders.
• Liaise, and manage relationships with political, senior internal and external stakeholders to establish appropriate Pennon position statements and key messages, and to ensure consistency and effectiveness in corporate and project communications.
• Manage, coordinate, and deliver consultation and public affairs initiatives supporting Pennon’s strategic goals and operational priority projects and activities.
• Provide clear measurements and benchmarks against which individual and team performance can be assessed ensuring that each employee had clear and achievable objectives and a development plan in place.
• Providing a key corporate service and business partner support by liaising with directors, senior colleagues, and colleagues across the business, and with key external stakeholders as appropriate to deliver the programmes and activities and achieve required results within established department and relevant corporate and programme budgets.
• Ensure public affairs programmes contribute to, and achieve, sometimes complex and long-term performance indicators and objectives and other relevant strategies and policy goals by identifying and mitigating against risks and outlining opportunities.

What we’re looking for

• Extensive knowledge of the UK political landscape and communications with politicians.
• Knowledge of UK devolved administrations and local government political cycles, policy priorities and mechanisms.
• Awareness of environmental infrastructure sector issues.
• Knowledge of lobbying protocol and ethical business governance and practice.
• Targeted and effective policy and public affairs experience including campaigning and programmes.
• Substantial professional experience within a similar public affairs role with demonstrable results.
• Experience of working for complex organisations and leading and managing geographically dispersed staff.
• Strong interpersonal and people management skills and excellent communicator, credible and able to influence at all levels.
• Diligent with a strong commitment to continually protecting and improving the reputation and profile of the company.
• Ability to manage and align projects with a good understanding of company priorities, capabilities and communications objectives.
• Ability to balance and prioritise complex workload, meeting sometimes complex performance targets and indicators.
• Good presentation skills and ability to enthuse and motivate others.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership, influence and strategic planning.
• Ability to identify, plan and execute effective campaigns working with colleagues on the Corporate Affairs steering Committee to ensure maximum impact.
• Driving licence, comfortable with extensive UK travel and some out of hours working (including forming part of out-of-hours press office function).

What’s in it for you

We know that the support and commitment of our staff is key to our success so you will receive the opportunity for ongoing support and development for a long-term career with us. We’re one of the largest companies in the South West and are proud to have been awarded Investors in People recognition. In return, we offer an excellent range of benefits including:

• A company car or cash for car allowance
• A company bonus
• Private Medical Insurance
• Competitive Contributory Pension
• Invest in Pennon through our employee Sharesave scheme
• Generous holiday allowance plus bank holidays, with an option to buy / sell leave offering you extra flexibility
• Take up to 26 weeks’ additional maternity leave
• Shared parental leave
• Look after your wellbeing through our Champion Health support platform
• Enjoy free eye tests and discounts on frames and lenses at Specsavers
• Enjoy access to thousands of deals and discounts on supermarkets, online retailer, travel, eating out, cinema, gyms and more through Perkbox

Closing date: 13th July 2025

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. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness. Our core values which are essential to our success are: Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on. Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way. Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.

We’re always pleased to hear from talented people. So if you have any questions about the opportunities that we have available, or if there’s anything else you’d like to know before you apply (or indeed during the application process), please don’t hesitate to send your details to our Talent Acquisition Team.