Water Resources Communications and Stakeholder Officer

This key role will play a critical part in bringing technical, long-term water supply-demand strategies to life for the public and our stakeholders. Working closely with the Water Resources team, you will be responsible for the statutory consultation surrounding two of our key statutory plans - the Water Resources Management Plan and Drought Plan. You'll use your engagement skills to transform complex technical information into accessible, transparent, and engaging information for stakeholders, customers, and the media through various different channels.

Main responsibilities:

• Creating and implementing an integrated communications strategy to support delivery of the Drought Plan and Water Resources Management Plan objectives and their input into the Business Plan process.
• Translating technical information into engaging content for internal and external audiences.
• Producing Non-Technical summaries required for consultations.
• Devising and delivering statutory public consultations.
• Devising, managing and evaluating a programme of events for customers and stakeholders, promotional media, press activity and other communications.
• Organising and attending any workshops, community briefings, presentations, meetings and events in and out of normal office hours to assist with the successful delivery of the communication aspects of both plans.
• Developing high quality communications collateral including, but not limited to, briefings, press releases, presentations, exhibition materials and social media content.
• Working with internal stakeholders to agree priorities, key messages and the annual programme of events, meetings and other communications activities.
• Representing the business and working alongside our partners at Water Resources South East to support regional water resources and drought planning and engagement.
• Managing a range of suppliers and external parties to deliver the communications and events programme and statutory consultations, such as graphic designers, photographers, videographers and communications agencies.
• Briefing media spokespeople ahead of radio and TV interviews. Answering and responding to media calls during office hours, escalating where appropriate. Helping identify, write press releases and manage news stories for South East Water.
• Updating the South East Water website and social media content in particular when promoting news stories or during emergency incidents.
• Participating in the Communications out-of-hours service on a shared rota basis responding to media enquiries and assisting the management of crisis communications.

You’ll need:

• Degree-level qualification in a Communications, PR discipline and/or at least three years' relevant experience. A background in an environmental science discipline would be advantageous.
• Full driving licence.
• Adept at pivoting between multiple projects, sometimes with competing needs, to produce appropriate and high-quality communications outputs to deadline.
• A keen eye for detail and competent at drafting accurate customer and stakeholder communications materials required for a project or event, including, but not limited to; developing, managing and evaluating statutory consultations, communications plans and evaluations, briefing notes, statements, press releases, presentations, exhibition materials, translating complex information into non-technical documentation, articles, advertising, website copy, FAQs and social media content such as videos.
• Able to use a range of digital tools, including but not limited to, social media, email marketing/newsletter, website content management system and public relations management software.
• Experience of communications planning, event management, stakeholder engagement and media relations.
• Experience of successfully delivering statutory consultations as well as stakeholder engagement within an environmental context would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of water resources and the water, environmental and/or agricultural industry would be advantageous.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time. We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for. We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career’s website. It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water. Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks. If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package: up to £36,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)