Job Description

Can you deliver a strategy to deliver interesting content across multiple channels?

Would you like to become our brand ambassador for the Broad Oak Reservoir Project?

If so, then you'll want to learn more about this opportunity...

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for

This role offers an exciting chance for an experienced Communications and / or Stakeholder Manager to execute an engagement and communications strategy for this major investment project.

When built, the Broad Oak reservoir will hold about 5 billion litres of water, supplying 22 million litres of water a day to East Kent and surrounding areas. This is the first reservoir to be built in the UK since the early '90s, with the local community and stakeholders very supportive of the development. The reservoir is expected to be completed by 2035 and will ensure a reliable water supply for the growing population in the South East of England.

As the Communications and Engagement manager, you will oversee all communication needs and work to enhance the project's brand reputation. This includes managing customer and stakeholder campaigns, organising events, and serving as the main point of contact for media and external stakeholders. The role requires the ability to juggle various project components and confidence interacting with press, media, and stakeholders. You can simplify complicated information and make it accessible and interesting for a variety of public and internal audiences.

This is perfect if you're highly enthusiastic about creating a positive change in the environment and local communities, offering the opportunity to serve as the lead representative for this exciting transformation in the South East region.

You'll grow a career with a meaningful purpose. Be you, belong and be valued.

Come to work to be safe, valued, and trusted. We'll encourage you to create and pursue new opportunities for personal growth. A place to be the real you, build deeper connections and enjoy a sense of belonging. Be invested in helping us to create a sustainable water supply for now, and in the future.

What will you be accountable for?

Develop and implement a multi-channel customer, community, and stakeholder communications strategy. To review and develop additional resourcing requirements to enable successful Broad Oak customer and stakeholder communications from 2026 onwards. Be adept at pivoting between multiple projects, sometimes with competing needs, to produce appropriate and high-quality communications outputs to deadline. Become the go-to person for all customer, stakeholder, media, and colleague communications for the Broad Oak reservoir project. Display a keen ownership of all communications across the project by immersing themselves in the challenges of the development - creating communication solutions that overcome those challenges. Develop a deep understanding of the Broad Oak and wider east Kent community. Identify, create, and manage stakeholder engagement groups ensuring engagement aligns with our engagement commitments. Ensure engagement is legally compliant and aligns with pre-planning application requirements. Be the key contact for all political stakeholder groups as well as other key interest parties and individual stakeholders. Work collaboratively with senior managers within South East Water, key leads within Atkins, WSP and Dalcour Maclaren, and the communications team Provide high quality insight to the project team to inform project design. Competent in drafting accurate customer and stakeholder communications materials required for a project or event, including, but not limited to; communications plans and evaluations, briefing notes, statements, press releases, presentations, exhibition materials, articles, advertising, website copy, FAQs, and social media content such as videos. Competent in turning complex information into appropriate and easy to understand materials for public consumption. Keen to learn, develop as well as try new ideas and communications methods as they arise. Competent at identifying potential risks to company reputation and have confidence in raising these with appropriate managers. Identify opportunities for positive media coverage, crafting press releases, arranging media events, managing interviews, and briefing spokespeople. Be responsible for organising, managing, and attending a range of in-person and / or virtual community and stakeholder events which engage our audiences' evolving concerns about the project. Confident at liaising with designers, photographers, videographers, and other contractors to achieve desired outcomes when creating PR materials and arranging events.

What do you bring to the role?

Substantial experience in designing and implementing multi-channel customer, stakeholder, and media communications strategies. Experience in managing multi-layered stakeholder relationships. Experience in developing, managing, and evaluating public/strategic/planning consultations. Excellent business and marketing acumen. Ability to create engaging content, delivering through multiple channels (including, but not limited to); in-person events, emails, social media posts, press and blogs. Ability to strategize and think about the larger brand image. The ability to pivot at short notice to overcome unexpected challenges. In time, the ability to lead and develop a successful communications team. In-depth knowledge of all PR channels, such as newspapers, magazines, and TV networks. Interpersonal skills and creativity. Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

What can you expect from us?

Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution. 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, 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. Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.

Everyone needs water, South East Water welcomes

everyone.

We understand that the communities we serve are made up of different types of people. We believe that creativity comes from having diverse perspectives, rather than everyone being the same. That's why we are excited about promoting inclusivity in terms of age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and identity. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and fair treatment to everyone throughout the recruitment process, employment, and advancement at South East Water.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career's website. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role. 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.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 51,051.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Snodland ME6 5AH