Press Office Manager

Business Unit : Human Resources

Division : HR CO Communications

Pay Grade Level : Level 2 - Technical Expert

Post end date : 06-Feb-26

Salary Range : Competitive

Role Type : Full Time Contract

Secondment length : NA

Recruiter : Daniel McCormack

Manager Name : Joy Doyle

Our people and culture are the heart of our success. That's why we're dedicated to nurturing and growing talent from within, offering our people the chance to expand their skills and explore new career paths.

Whether you're aiming for a promotion or considering a lateral move to a different department, we encourage and support your journey. If you're enthusiastic about learning, eager to advance, and ready to make a significant impact, we want you to take the next step in your career with us.

Join us in our mission to create a sustainable and supportive future for everyone. Let's make great things happen together, because we do more, because we care.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

We’re looking for a talented and driven Press Office Manager to join our External Communications team and play a central role in shaping Severn Trent’s reputation across the region and nationally.

As part of a FTSE 100 business with a strong community focus, you’ll help ensure that our press office operates with industry-leading excellence and a customer-first mindset.

Working closely with teams across the organisation you’ll help translate priorities into meaningful, strategic communications that build trust, increase understanding, and enhance engagement with media and stakeholders.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

In this role, you’ll take the lead in strengthening Severn Trent’s reputation through strategic, proactive, and responsive communications. You’ll champion the company’s achievements, promoting thought leadership and industry-leading performance to a wide range of stakeholders. This includes implementing key elements of our Corporate Communications strategy, from media relations and external events to high-impact digital storytelling across our social channels.

You’ll work closely with senior leaders and subject-matter experts to raise the profile of major programmes, shaping narratives that resonate externally. With a strong understanding of business priorities, you’ll develop and deliver an overarching press office plan, setting clear objectives, monitoring progress, and ensuring the team delivers against its goals.

Operational excellence is a key part of this role. You will design and continuously refine the processes that keep the press office running efficiently from triage and escalation procedures to briefing protocols and quality controls.

You will also oversee the development and maintenance of a living library of resources, including rolling briefs, Q&As, crisis playbooks, factsheets, and case studies, ensuring our messaging is consistent and clear.

Innovation is central to how we work, and you’ll help embed new technologies including responsible use of AI, to improve efficiency and accuracy. This will include introducing tools for rap

id drafting, sentiment analysis, workflow automation, and coverage classification, supported by clear editorial standards and governance.

You will also play a crucial role in our media response during operational incidents. Acting as the face of the press office, you’ll serve as the first point of contact for media enquiries, handling national, regional, trade, and specialist press under tight deadlines. During incidents, you’ll manage communications with speed and empathy, ensuring clear and accurate information is shared to get timely information to customers. You’ll also work closely with senior executives and technical experts, coaching them on media engagement and public speaking.

Campaign planning and reporting will also sit within your remit. You will shape strategic campaigns aligned to the corporate strategy, create compelling news stories, and turn complex information into accessible and engaging content, whether through articles, speeches, op-eds, blogs or video scripts. You’ll also ensure the impact of this work is measured effectively.

Finally, you’ll support the wider team by being hot on the news agenda, being responsive to trends and opportunities and sharing best practice to drive high performance.

How We Work

Our team works at pace, with a strong focus on collaboration, customer-first thinking, and high-quality delivery. We embrace digital-first storytelling, data-led decision making, and continuous improvement, while also ensuring we can respond swiftly and calmly in high-pressure situations. Innovation, including the responsible use of AI is encouraged, and we’re always looking for new ways to communicate more effectively and efficiently.

No two days are alike, and the variety of work means flexibility, clear communication, and strong judgement are essential.

WHAT WE'ER LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for an experienced communications professional who thrives in busy, high-profile media environments. You’ll be confident shaping strategy, managing complex issues, and responding under pressure with clarity and composure. You’ll enjoy landing compelling news stories and features, building trusted relationships at all levels, and acting as a visible, proactive representative of the press office. Above all, you’ll bring the judgement, energy, and ambition needed to help deliver a best-in-class communications function.

You’ll bring a strong foundation in PR, journalism, or communications or equivalent senior-level experience in managing corporate reputation and media relations. You’ll have significant experience operating in a fast-paced press office environment, responding to national media enquiries and managing complex and sensitive issues to

tight deadlines.

You’ll be someone who can design and deliver corporate communications strategies, turning complex topics into clear and engaging stories. You’ll be confident planning and executing campaigns with measurable results, drawing insight from data and research to shape external messaging. Strong operational discipline is important, including experience managing tools, subscriptions, and team processes.

The role requires excellent influence and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leaders in a complex, matrixed organisation. A positive, can‑do attitude is essential, along with a commitment to high-quality, on-time delivery.

HOW WE’LL REWARD AND CARE FOR YOU IN RETURN

Benefits

It's not just a job; it's a career. We offer benefits that reward great work and award-winning training to help you reach your potential. Plus, you'll contribute to the environment and community too. Here are some of our favourites:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,225, which is subject to eligibility)

Family-friendly policies (including a year off fully paid maternity and adoption leave)

Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)

Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent plc shares at a discounted rate

Dedicated training and development with our Academy

Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers

Two paid volunteering days per year

What’s Next

We can't wait to hear from you!

Before you apply, you’ll need an updated copy of your CV and about five minutes to spare. We’ll always let you know the outcome of your application after the closing date - so keep an eye on your phone and emails.

And if this has sparked your curiosity, and you're wanting to find out even more, search on social media or view us on Glassdoor.