Senior Public Affairs Manager - £70,000 - Worthing Hybrid

Senior Public Affairs Manager - £70,000 - Worthing (Hybrid) + £400 Car allowance PM

Our utilities client is currently seeking a Senior Public Affairs Manager in their offices in Worthing. As a senior member of the public affairs team, you'll play a critical role in the creation and delivery of the over-arching strategy to influence key policy-makers and political stakeholders, communicating the company's progress and helping to build and defend its reputation as transparent customer-focused business wholly committed to its turnaround and associated internal cultural change.

You will work closely with the rest of the function, especially the regional stakeholder engagement team which focuses on Hants/IoW, Sussex and Kent. Your role will require plenty of collaboration with Strategy and Regulatory Affairs, and with our Customer function. You will have a high degree of visibility and frequent interaction with the CEO and members of the Exec Committee, guiding their proactive and reactive engagement with MPs, ministers, opposition parties, policy-makers, government officials, trade bodies, think tanks and political influencers.

Responsibilities:

• Play pivotal role in development and execution of the public affairs strategy, prioritising our engagement with key stakeholders and deputising for the Head of Public Affairs when needed.
• Support the Head of Public Affairs in advising the leadership team on external matters to ensure the company is aware of changing political, regulatory and legislative environments. Contribute proactively to plans to mitigate risks in our operating environment
• Oversee internal forums and develop collaborative working practices to ensure a co-ordinated company approach to working with government, regulators and external bodies
• Through structured engagement with key parties in Westminster and Whitehall, land consistent and engaging messaging that is aligned to stakeholder priorities and strengthens corporate reputation
• Work closely with regional stakeholder managers to ensure that inter-linking local, regional and national issues are approached in a co-ordinated way
• Develop key materials such as political briefings for the leadership team, letters to key stakeholders and external speeches and presentations
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with key officials and politicians. Build collaborative relationships among regulators, the third sector, and industry bodies
• Manage 1 x Public Affairs Manager and 1 x graduate management trainee (1 day per week with team)
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships across the business to ensure good flows of information, strong inter-team collaboration and co-ordinated engagement and communication
• Manage working relationship with public affairs agency and ensure value for money through the service we receive
• Work in partnership with key colleagues in the business and function to support the development of proactive public affairs strategies and plans that are integrated with the broader external affairs strategy, driving improvement in the company's reputation, and helping embed effective stakeholder engagement across the business

About you:

• Knowledge of UK Government and regulatory / political landscape, policy and regulatory processes
• Knowledge of the water industry or other regulated business sectors
• Driving licence
• Degree or equivalent in Politics, Communications, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Journalism, or a related field
• Public Affairs CPD or qualification
• Demonstrable expertise in managing public affairs at national and regional level
• Experience and knowledge of working with government bodies and similar, managing senior relationships - ideally with DEFRA, Ofwat, the Environment Agency, CCW, DWI; well-developed networks
• Experience of delivering integrated communications plans to foster positive stakeholder relationships
• Experience of working in energy, water or another regulated sector
• Knowledge and understanding of policy focuses and familiarity with major political parties' view of the water industry at a national level

Does this opportunity excite you? Please do send me your CV today! All roles are subject to a DBS and credit check.

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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