Senior Engagement Manager – Capital Delivery and Strategic Plans

Overview

Lead stakeholder engagement for water infrastructure projects and strategic plans.

Key Responsibilities

• stakeholder engagement
• regulatory submissions
• consultation planning
• agency management
• capital projects
• strategic planning

Tasks

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. Support reactive engagement and reputation management, including site visits, briefings and participation in the communications on-call rota. 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. Collaborate across functions including Corporate Affairs, Capital Delivery, Asset Strategy and external partners to deliver consistent, inclusive and multi-channel communications. 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. 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). 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. Help Shape the Future of Water Infrastructure and Strategic Planning in the South East Provide expert guidance to senior leaders and project teams using stakeholder mapping, local intelligence and insight to identify sensitivities and opportunities. -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 -Lead stakeholder engagement planning for capital projects, from small local schemes to large, gated projects valued at over £100 million -Manage external agencies and contractors to support delivery -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

Requirements

• stakeholder management
• consultation
• engagement
• leadership
• communication
• risk management

What You Bring

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. -Proven success in leading engagement strategies for complex infrastructure or environmental projects -Resilient, empathetic and calm under pressure -Experience delivering consultation and engagement activities, ideally in the planning process for infrastructure projects -Organised and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines -Understanding of stakeholder dynamics in government, utilities, construction and planning sectors -Experience leading teams or cross-functional projects -Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, inclusive and engaging content -Excellent written and verbal communication skills -Strong relationship-building and influencing skills -Experience managing external partners or contractors -Ability to manage reputational risk and navigate sensitive issues with professionalism and empathy -Experience influencing senior internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and elected officials -Confident presenter and facilitator, adaptable to different audiences and settings

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Benefits

Location: Hybrid working between our Durrington office and home, with travel across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent Salary: Competitive salary with excellent benefits

About Southern Water

-Constructs reservoirs, pipelines, sewage treatment upgrades, and implements contingency measures like importing water during droughts. -Specializes in large-scale water infrastructure, operational delivery, and environmental engineering across the South East. -Notably fined for misreporting sewage spills; offers guided tours of Victorian sewers and public access to historic reservoirs.

Sector Specialisms