At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage stakeholder engagement and press activities to support our external affairs strategy.
- Company: Join Persimmon Homes, a leading UK housebuilder with a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy life cover, pension contributions, bonuses, and access to exclusive employee discounts.
- Other info: Flexible location across the Midlands with opportunities for frequent travel.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a role that celebrates your success and supports your growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in stakeholder engagement and PR, with strong attention to detail and multitasking skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
Looking for a career where your ambition meets real opportunity? Join Persimmon Homes as Division External Affairs Manager and step into a role where your success is celebrated, your growth supported, and your work truly matters.
Location: Flexible on location across the Midlands. We have offices in Birmingham, Studley, Leicester, Northampton and Telford.
Why Persimmon Homes? We’re one of the UK’s largest and most established housebuilders — FTSE 100 listed, with 29 regional offices and thousands of quality homes built every year. At Persimmon, we don’t just build homes — we build careers.
When you join us as Division External Affairs Manager, you’ll benefit from:
- 5* housebuilder - Be part of a company that consistently delivers quality homes and outstanding customer satisfaction
- Life Cover & Contributory Pension
- Bonus
- Employee Benefits Platform – giving you access to high-street discounts, wellbeing support, and more
- Committed to diversity, inclusion, and empowering your development
What is the role? The purpose of the role is to support the delivery of an external affairs strategy across our 5 operating businesses in the Central division. This will involve managing and sometimes leading on local stakeholder engagement and press activity while working closely with the Head of External Affairs, local Managing Directors and other senior management.
What you’ll do as a Division External Affairs Manager:
- You will be required to support and advise on key stakeholder and press relationships;
- Drafting press releases, letters and other appropriate communications to deliver our strategy;
- Organising stakeholder and press events;
- Understanding and identifying key political and policy issues and trends that impact Persimmon’s business;
- Ensuring Persimmon’s key messages are delivered to the right audiences in the correct manner. This is likely to include both briefing senior colleagues and in your own discussions with key stakeholders;
- Help ensure press, public affairs and internal communications messages are aligned. As well as helping to manage local press relations and co-ordinate with social media and internal communication colleagues;
- Frequent travel across the Central division as outlined above.
What experience do I need?
- Experience engaging with political and business stakeholders
- Previous experience in a press office or PR related role would be beneficial.
- High level of attention to detail
- Ability to work on multiple tasks at any one time and meet competing deadlines
- Proven record of generating positive, proactive press and PR stories
- Experience working in a large organisation would be advantageous
Divisional External Affairs Manager employer: Persimmon plc.
At Persimmon Homes, we pride ourselves on being one of the UK's leading housebuilders, offering a dynamic work environment where your contributions are valued and your career can flourish. With flexible locations across the Midlands, we provide a supportive culture that champions diversity and inclusion, alongside comprehensive benefits such as life cover, a contributory pension, and access to an employee benefits platform. Join us to not only build homes but also to build a rewarding career with ample opportunities for personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Divisional External Affairs Manager
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Persimmon plc.. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like Persimmon plc., can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research Persimmon plc. inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Divisional External Affairs Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Persimmon plc.. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Persimmon plc..
How to prepare for a job interview at Persimmon plc.
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
