Local Engagement Manager

The Local Engagement Manager position, based in Reading, leads political and stakeholder outreach across London for Pertemps Thames Water. This full-time role offers a competitive salary between £42,000 and £50,000, dependent on experience. Joining a three-person London engagement team, you will develop and deliver a targeted programme of communication with MPs, councillors, and other key figures within an allocated area. Responsibilities include managing stakeholder enquiries, ensuring representation at essential meetings, and identifying avenues to build support for the company’s turnaround strategy and AMP8 investment programme.

This role is central to strengthening organisational reputation and supporting the successful delivery of strategic priorities.

• 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

Monday to Friday 36 hours a week with participation in an out of hours rota on a 1-in-10-week basis.

• Occasional travel to Thames Water sites and incident locations

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…