External Communications Manager in Birmingham

At Severn Trent, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re in the top 5% of utility companies worldwide when it comes to employee engagement and ranked as a Top 50 UK Employer on Glassdoor. Join us in making a positive impact on the environment and our communities, while being valued and supported in a truly inclusive workplace.

As our External Communications Manager – Consumer, you’ll take the lead in defining and delivering a powerful Consumer PR strategy that raises Severn Trent’s profile and builds trust with our customers. You’ll be the creative force behind consumer campaigns, building integrated plans across PR, media and influencer activity and social media that feel timely, engaging and distinctive.

You’ll be part of a proactive, energetic press office, reacting quickly to live issues, shaping our media responses, and bringing a digital‑first mindset to how we navigate breaking stories. A natural relationship‑builder, you’ll develop strong connections with journalists, editors and producers across print, broadcast and online, using those relationships to land compelling stories that cut through.

You’ll ensure everything we share reflects our strategy and speaks meaningfully to the communities we serve, from sourcing and briefing influencers, to developing content calendars, to delivering brand‑level and hyper‑local social media activity. You’ll also bring our major moments to life, organising events, producing media toolkits and briefing materials, preparing spokespeople for broadcast interviews and ensuring every interaction we have with the media and influencers is polished, confident and well‑judged.

A key part of your role will be using data smartly: tracking sentiment and coverage, analysing campaign performance, and sharing insights that help shape future direction. And because this role is so connected to the wider business, you’ll work closely with central planning, integrated marketing, regional comms and internal comms to ensure our activity is joined‑up, well‑timed and endlessly creative.

You’ll be a trusted partner to senior stakeholders, a calm hand in high‑pressure moments, and the person who spots opportunities, crafts talked‑about stories, and lands them in front of the right audiences, from front‑page splashes to viral videos to impactful events.

We’re a tight‑knit, fast‑moving team that thrives on collaboration, curiosity and creativity. Every day is different here and we love that. We move quickly, respond thoughtfully, and roll up our sleeves to support one another, no matter the task. Storytelling sits at the heart of everything we do and we plan our content in a coordinated way so that every audience sees a clear, consistent and compelling narrative.

Pressure doesn’t faze us, we stay calm, focused and solutions‑oriented, even when the spotlight is bright. We listen to our audiences, trust our data, and use insights to continuously evolve our approach. And above all, we work openly and collaboratively sharing learnings, co‑creating ideas, and ensuring every channel and campaign feels connected, strategic and true to our brand.

We’re looking for someone who brings a blend of creativity, strategic thinking and strong media instincts, someone who understands the power of storytelling and knows how to translate complex topics into clear, engaging narratives for consumer audiences. You’ll have significant experience working in a busy media environment and will feel confident handling national enquiries, pitching to journalists and coaching senior leaders to shine in high‑profile moments.

You’ll be a natural collaborator, able to build trust quickly and work effectively across a large, complex organisation. Organised and ambitious, you’ll enjoy managing multiple projects at pace and seeing campaigns through from insight to execution to evaluation. You’ll be passionate about delivery and landing impactful communications that is talked about.

Your writing will be engaging, adaptable and distinctive, whether you’re crafting a speech, drafting an article or shaping long‑form content. You’ll bring a customer and community‑focussed mindset to every campaign, understanding how to measure success and using data to guide decisions. A passion for PR and social media, curiosity about new trends and channels, and a willingness to think differently will be essential. And if you bring an understanding of the regulatory landscape we operate in as well as strong political awareness that’s an added advantage. Above all, you’ll be positive, proactive and eager to make a real impact.

Benefits:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,225, which is subject to eligibility)
• Family‑friendly policies (including a year off fully paid maternity and adoption leave)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our Academy
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Two paid volunteering days per year

What’s Next? We can’t wait to hear from you! Before you apply, you’ll need an updated copy of your CV and about five minutes to spare. We’ll always let you know the outcome of your application after the closing date - so keep an eye on your phone and emails. And if this has sparked your curiosity, and you’re wanting to find out even more, search on social media or view us on Glassdoor.