At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead political and stakeholder engagement activities across London to strengthen company reputation.
- Company: Join the UK's largest water and wastewater company, making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous annual leave, pension scheme, and health benefits.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and meaningful career opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that impacts millions while promoting sustainability.
- Qualifications: Experience in stakeholder engagement, excellent communication skills, and political understanding.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 50000 £ per year.
Job title Local Engagement Manager Ref 45856 Division Strategy & External Affairs Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 36 Salary Competitive salary from £42,000 to £50,000 per annum depending on experience.
Job grade B Closing date 21/09/2026
The purpose of the role is to lead and deliver political and stakeholder engagement activities across London, strengthening the company’s reputation, building positive relationships with key stakeholders, and supporting the successful delivery of its strategic priorities.
As one of a three-person London engagement team, the role will take responsibility for developing and delivering a targeted programme of engagement with MPs, councillors and other key stakeholders across an allocated area of London.
This will include managing and responding to stakeholder enquiries, ensuring appropriate representation at key meetings and forums, and identifying opportunities to raise awareness of and build support for the company’s turnaround plan and AMP8 investment programme.
The role will play an important part in maintaining strong relationships with political and community stakeholders, anticipating emerging issues and ensuring the company is well positioned to communicate its priorities, investment and progress across London.
- What you’ll be doing as a Local Engagement Manager
- When political stakeholders approach the business with queries or customer casework, coordinate the response, either by responding directly or arranging a response from the appropriate business unit.
This may take the form of letters, a meeting or a site visit, depending on what is most appropriate.
- Build upon existing and identify new political relationships
- Provide advice and direction on stakeholder engagement to senior leaders and other SLT and Executive members
- Act as the critical link when preparing for key public meetings to ensure everyone attending is as prepared as possible.
- During a major incident in patch, this role will be responsible for keeping stakeholders informed and answering any questions.
It will also take a leading role in the follow-up communications, such as attending scrutiny meetings and preparing reports.
- Dealing with incoming contacts from political stakeholders across London
- Working with colleagues informing political stakeholders on information campaigns
Working pattern – Monday to Friday 36 hours a week with participation in an out of hours rota on a 1-in-10-week basis.
Necessary requirements for the role – Occasional travel to Thames Water sites and incident locations
What you should bring to the role
To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need is
- Significant experience engaging with stakeholders, particularly within local government.
- Experience of external engagement in a regulated sector, coupled with a strong understanding of our external environment and the positions of key stakeholders
- Experience advising colleagues, up to and including at Executive level, on successful engagement.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including writing for a variety of channels and audiences and presenting to internal and external audiences
- The ability to build strong relationships and challenge accepted approaches
- Effective collaboration and the ability to work well with others from diverse disciplines.
- Understanding of political structures and the regulated sector
Extra qualities that would be a great fit for our team
- Experience working in communications or stakeholder engagement in the water sector.
- Experience of media relations and/or incident/crisis communications.
- Experience of representing an organisation in formal political hearings.
- Use of social media in an in-house context.
- Knowledge and understanding of regulated sectors and/or environmental and sustainability issues.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary from £42,000 to £50,000 per annum depending on experience.
- Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
- Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)
Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets.
We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive.
It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same.
As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.
Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.
Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.
We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work.
We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process .
If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support .
When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers.
As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador.
Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience.
It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.
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Local Engagement Manager in Reading employer: Thames Water Utilities Limited
Thames Water Utilities Limited is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the Thames Valley region where you can make a real difference in public health. With a strong commitment to employee development, we provide comprehensive training and growth opportunities, alongside a supportive team culture that values collaboration and innovation. Our flexible shift patterns and focus on community impact make this role not only rewarding but also uniquely fulfilling.
Contact Details:
Thames Water Utilities Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Local Engagement Manager in Reading
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We think you need these skills to ace Local Engagement Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
Showcase Your Knowledge of the Sector:When you’re applying for a government role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of the current political landscape and public policies. Consider including articles you've written or relevant projects that underline your capability to engage with these concepts effectively.
Tailor Your CV to Reflect Core Competencies:Government positions often require a clear demonstration of competencies such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Try to structure your CV to highlight these skills, using specific examples of how you’ve applied them in past experiences, ideally with quantifiable outcomes where possible.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell your story and convey your passion for public service. Discuss why you want to work for Thames Water Utilities Limited and how your values align with their mission. Be genuine and let your enthusiasm shine through—this can really set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water Utilities Limited
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with Thames Water Utilities Limited, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
✨Highlight Teamwork and Collaboration
The government sector thrives on collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully worked in diverse teams or involved stakeholders in your projects. Show us how you bring people together to get a common goal achieved – that's what public service is all about!
✨Prepare Real-Life Examples
Craft a few STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories that demonstrate your experience in similar roles. Whether it’s a project that made a difference in the community or a challenging situation you managed, be ready to express how your skills and experiences make you a valuable asset for Thames Water Utilities Limited.
