Senior Engagement Manager – Capital Delivery and Strategic Plans

Closing Date

Senior Engagement Manager – Capital Delivery and Strategic Plans

Location: Hybrid working between our Durrington office and home, with travel across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent

Contract Type: 12-month fixed-term contract, with the potential to transition into a permanent role based on performance and business needs

Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday (some evening and weekend events may be required)

Salary: Competitive salary with excellent benefits

Help Shape the Future of Water Infrastructure and Strategic Planning in the South East

Southern Water is delivering one of the most ambitious infrastructure and environmental programmes in the UK water sector. Our AMP8 Business Plan outlines over £8 billion in investment between 2025 and 2030, including £3.3 billion in environmental projects. This is a pivotal moment for our organisation and the communities we serve.

We are looking for a Senior Engagement Manager to lead a newly created team responsible for the development, planning and delivery of stakeholder engagement across a wide range of programmes, from local construction projects to 'large gated' schemes valued at over £100 million, and the statutory planning processes that shape our long-term water and wastewater strategies.

This role is ideal for someone with deep expertise in consultation, communications and engagement, and a strong track record of working with senior stakeholders across government, regulatory bodies and industry.

Your Contribution

You will lead the design and delivery of inclusive, multi-channel engagement strategies that support both capital delivery and strategic planning. You will work closely with colleagues across Southern Water and with external partners to ensure our communications are proactive, consistent and accessible to all audiences.

You will also oversee the delivery of engagement and consultation activity for the development of our statutory plans, including the Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), Drought Plan and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP).

A Role with Long-Term Potential

While this is a fixed term position, we are committed to building a long-term partnership. This is a unique opportunity to shape and expand the role beyond its initial scope. We welcome individuals who are ready to bring their ideas, energy and expertise to help us evolve how we engage, communicate and collaborate across the region. If you are looking for a role where you can make a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.

Scope of the Role

• Lead stakeholder engagement planning for capital projects, from small local schemes to large, gated projects valued at over £100 million
• Oversee consultation and engagement activity for the preparation of our WRMP, DWMP and Drought Plan
• Collaborate with Capital Delivery, Operations, Asset Strategy, Customer Communications, Press Office, Public Affairs and other teams to ensure alignment and consistency
• Represent Southern Water in joint projects with other water companies and regional planning bodies
• Build trusted relationships with environmental organisations, local authorities, community groups and industry partners
• Support planning applications, draft regulatory submissions and host site tours and stakeholder events
• Provide expert counsel to senior leaders and project teams on stakeholder sensitivities and opportunities
• Manage external agencies and contractors to support delivery

Major Accountabilities

•  Lead stakeholder engagement for capital projects, including 'large gated' schemes valued over £100 million, ensuring strategic alignment and effective delivery across internal and external teams.

•  Oversee consultation activity for statutory plans including the Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), Drought Plan and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP), supporting regulatory submissions and public engagement.

•  Provide expert guidance to senior leaders and project teams using stakeholder mapping, local intelligence and insight to identify sensitivities and opportunities.

•  Collaborate across functions including Corporate Affairs, Capital Delivery, Asset Strategy and external partners to deliver consistent, inclusive and multi-channel communications.

•  Support reactive engagement and reputation management, including site visits, briefings and participation in the communications on-call rota.

What You Will Bring

Experience and Knowledge:

• Proven success in leading engagement strategies for complex infrastructure or environmental projects
• Experience delivering consultation and engagement activities, ideally in the planning process for infrastructure projects
• Understanding of stakeholder dynamics in government, utilities, construction and planning sectors
• Experience influencing senior internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and elected officials
• Ability to manage reputational risk and navigate sensitive issues with professionalism and empathy
• Experience leading teams or cross-functional projects
• Experience managing external partners or contractors

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, inclusive and engaging content
• Confident presenter and facilitator, adaptable to different audiences and settings
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills
• Resilient, empathetic and calm under pressure
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the future of water infrastructure and strategic planning in the South East. You will be part of a collaborative and purpose-driven team, working to deliver environmental and societal change. We value diverse perspectives and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

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