Public Affairs, Policy and Engagement Manager

*About The Role
Public Affairs, Policy and Engagement Manager
Permanent – Full Time (flexible working arrangements will be considered)
Salary – Circa £75,000 + Excellent Benefits + Bonus
Location: Pity Me, Durham (with travel to NWG sites)*
Please note this role attracts a standby rota

*About The Role*
Are you passionate about building lasting partnerships and engaging with people? We have a rare and exciting opportunity to join our Corporate Affairs team as a Public Affairs, Policy and Engagement Manager, working with colleagues to support the delivery of NWG's vision and business plan through expert knowledge, strategic advice, building and maintaining critical relationships and delivering creative communications on all aspects of Public Affairs and stakeholder management, nationally and regionally.

We're looking for you to provide expert technical advice and creative solutions across all areas of Public Affairs and stakeholder management to help influence key policy areas, communicate NWG's core vision and values and manage reputation. You'll be steering the delivery of the Public Affairs and stakeholder management strategy across NWG, identifying key issues and priorities, build critical relationships and develop a suite of communications activity and tactics to maximise engagement.

As part of the role, you'll also have accountability for NWG's partnerships, sponsorships, strategic engagement forums and engagement strategy. To support this, you'll be working with appropriate technical leads both inside and outside the business, collaboratively delivering an annual plan of effective and coordinated customer engagement events and activities.

You'll be providing briefings and proactive advice to our Executive Leadership Team and Senior Managers about key Public Affairs issues for NWG; including guidance on emerging and developing areas of policy interest, along with identifying key influencers and stakeholders in Public Affairs and broader external stakeholder areas that NWG should build and maintain relationships with.

*About You*
We're looking for you to be passionate about what we do here at NWG and about building lasting partnerships and engaging with people. You'll have proven experience of public affairs role at a senior level in a large organisation, along with experience of managing a complex range of diverse and sensitive stakeholders at a senior level.

Due to the nature of the role, you'll have proven communication campaign co-ordination and delivery to timeline and budget experience, along with the experience of managing a varied stakeholder portfolio, providing secretariat and co-ordinator role at Board level and experience of management of external agencies.

We're looking for you to have excellent interpersonal skills and ability to manage sensitive and complex issues, along with being a strong communicator. You'll be able to lead, inspire and motivate a team by clarifying goals and focussing on targets and goals. So strong organisational and people management skills, with the ability to plan, prioritise and delegate are key to being successful.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you, so apply now using "apply now" button.

Due to the travel requirements of this role the successful candidate requires a full UK Driving Licence

Interviews will take place week commencing 24 November

Here at Northumbrian Water/Essex & Suffolk Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.
Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.
We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.
Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment
NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.
*About Us*
Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we're committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.

We're aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we'd encourage you to apply

*NWG At a Glance:
Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.
We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.
We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.
Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services.*
To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.

*Our Benefits*
We're a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our 'Tap Into' benefits include:

• Generous holiday entitlement starting at 28 days plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. There's also the option to buy or sell holidays.
• Company pension scheme, where we'll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 11%.
• Free access to local attractions.
• Private medical
• A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
• Award winning 'Living Well' wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
• Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
• Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
• Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we'll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.

*About Us*
NWG (Northumbrian Water Group) provides water and sewerage services to 2.7 million people in the North East of England as Northumbrian Water, and water services to 1.5 million people in the South East of England as Essex & Suffolk Water.

We are proud to serve our customers and we're committed to delivering great service, putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.