Public Affairs Advisor - Fixed Term Contract

What you’ll be responsible for

As one of Wales’ anchor companies, Welsh Water has an extensive, social, economic and environmental footprint across the communities it serves. This role is about promoting the work we do by adopting  a proactive approach to relationship building and identifying opportunities to work with key stakeholders and decision makers. This will help us deliver the objectives in our business plans and long-term vision (Welsh Water 2050) which are closely aligned with the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government. 

 
The post-holder will play a key role in developing our company's interaction with elected politicians, their staff and other stakeholders in the sector, fostering key relationships with them and ensuring that they are aware of our position in key areas of policy while also offering a clear point of contact to escalate issues and concerns.

 
The role will involve the production of targeted briefings, arranging meetings and events (at a local authority level, the Senedd and also Westminster) while ensuring  that the company is represented appropriately.
You will be required to:

 
•    Lead and deliver our public affairs strategy, through political relationship building, political briefings, responses to Senedd and Parliamentary enquiries and managing our election/party conference activity
•    Lead on political engagement activity to deliver our agreed messages and priorities within clear frameworks
•    Recommend appropriate approaches for effective engagement to raise awareness and strengthen our reputation with key policy makers and decision-makers
•    Engage with senior managers within the company to understand their challenges and identify opportunities to help develop government policy accordingly
•    Manage the company’s contact database with all elected politicians and use this to inform and drive our public affairs strategy 
•    Represent Welsh Water to external audiences such as professional networks and other influential forums as our key adviser at Cardiff Bay and Westminster
•    Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of relevant industry and environmental issues and our policies and positions
•    Manage any external research and reputational surveys commissioned with relevant agencies 
•    Monitor and report on Senedd and Westminster proceedings and committees
•    Horizon scan for upcoming policy developments and activities and maintain a public affairs schedule
•    Maintain contact and networks with other public affairs professionals within Wales 
•    The post holder will also be part of the Welsh Water Press Office and will be required to be part of the on-call rota while also supporting colleagues during any operational incidents which impact the services we provide
•    Contribute to the wider Communications Plan and participate in reviewing progress and implementation regularly

Who you’ll work with

•    Communication team colleagues
•    Key external influencers and stakeholders
•    Directors
•    Heads of Service

About you

Essential:

•    Proven influencing skills, including the ability to analyse and interpret complex information and frame to resonate with senior political audiences
•    First-class written and verbal communication skills
•    Strong analytical skills to make strategic risk-based decisions within a large complex organisation
•    Excellent organisation and planning skills to respond quickly but professionally to the demands of the fast moving political, policy and media agendas
•    Appreciation of the political, regulator, business and consumer arenas affecting Wales
•    First class network-building skills and excellent record in building rapport and credibility with senior managers, journalists, commentators  
•    Confidence in utilising new communication technologies
 

Desirable:

•    Education to a degree level OR proven work experience related to this field
•    Excellent interpersonal skills with confidence to engage internal and external departments
•    Knowledge in the measurement and evaluation of outputs and outcomes
•    Ability to communicate effectively in Welsh

Good to know

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact: Gwyddno.Dafydd@dwrcymru.com

Benefits

As well as a market competitive salary, 33 days annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

 
•             Variable pay schemes (your salary band will remain the same, but performance depending, you could receive an incremental within-band increase and a yearly incentive)
•             Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year
•             Enhanced employer pension contributions – Up to 11% employer contributions
•             Free Mortgage Brokering Services 
•             Enhanced family friendly policies
•             Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
•             Gym and fitness discounts as well as high street shopping
•             Cycle to work scheme
•             Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops
•             Car-leasing scheme and free on-site parking at all sites
•             Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service
•             An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family
•             Many more can be found here!  

 
 
Whilst also working for a not-for profit company that truly cares about earning the trust of customers everyday, and about looking after our beautiful environment
 
 
Please note, we may close this role sooner if required. We may also extend the original closing date depending on interest.
 
Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business. For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.

Who we are

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.

To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision.  This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them.  The security of our people, assets and information is key to us, so we are looking for people who understand and comply with the company’s required security objectives.

We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work. 

To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve.

In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.