Local Engagement Manager

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.

• 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

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.

• 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…