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There has never been a more exciting time to join Southern Water as we work to deliver a greener, more resilient future. As we invest in our infrastructure and environmental performance, we’re strengthening our relationships with the communities and institutions we serve—and public affairs is at the heart of that mission.
Job Overview
Our Public Affairs and Stakeholder Team manages relationships with local and national government and civil society to support our operations across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent. The Public Affairs team plays a critical role in Southern Water’s transformational journey, working closely with the CEO and Exec Leadership Teams to help to develop mutually beneficial relationships with a range of influential stakeholders in government, parliament and beyond.
As Public Affairs Manager, you will play a vital role in shaping how Southern Water engages with the political and public landscape. At the heart of this role is the ability to build and nurture trusted relationships—with MPs, government officials, and other influential stakeholders—ensuring that our organisation is seen as a credible, responsive, and collaborative partner.
Reporting to the Senior Public Affairs Manager, you will help position Southern Water as a proactive voice in regional and national conversations, supporting our ability to influence policy, respond to external challenges, and deliver on our commitments to customers and the environment. Through thoughtful engagement and strategic insight, you will help the business anticipate risks, seize opportunities, and make informed decisions that reflect the needs and expectations of the communities we serve.
Day to day, you will:
Take ownership of key political relationships
Support the delivery of high-impact public affairs projects, campaigns and engagement
Help shape policy positions that reflect business priorities and public expectations
Provide political insight and briefings to inform strategic decisions
Prepare senior leaders for stakeholder meetings with tailored briefings and support
Play a key role in strengthening Southern Water’s reputation and external influence
This role is central to how we build understanding, foster transparency, and strengthen our reputation. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, providing them with the tools and intelligence they need to engage effectively, while ensuring that political and stakeholder perspectives are embedded in our thinking and actions. It’s a dynamic, outward-facing role that combines diplomacy, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to public value.
About You
You’ll bring strong experience in public affairs, government relations, or political engagement.
You will come from another in house role, an agency, the civil service or parliament, and experience within a regulated or complex environment is a bonus, but not a requirement.
You’ll be politically astute, an excellent communicator, and confident working with senior stakeholders.
You’ll have a strong grasp of the UK political landscape and a proactive, solutions-focused approach to stakeholder engagement.
Experience managing casework, preparing briefings, and translating political developments into business insight will be key to your success in this role.
Above all, you’ll be collaborative, organised, and motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Package
This role will be full time Monday to Friday, with one day a week at our Durrington HQ. For the rest of the week, we have further offices across Hampshire, Susex and Kent, or you can work from home. You will be expected to travel regularly to our operational sites for stakeholder meetings and visits, and to attend meetings both around the region and in London.
We are offering an annual salary of £45,000 to £60,000 depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:
Company and performance-related bonus
Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution
£400 per month car allowance on top of salary
Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary
Health benefits through a Cash Plan
Two paid community volunteering days a year
25 days annual holiday
Occupational health service
Stars Reward benefits offering discounts and savings on several products and experiences
Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
We offer competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
Join our Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.
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