Project Engagement Lead

Salary - Competitive

Work Type - Hybrid

Job Location - Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP

Role Type - Permanent

Employment Type - Full Time

Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week

This is a role where no two days are the same. You’ll be right at the heart of the conversation representing United Utilities in some of the most important discussions about water resources in the North West. You’ll be part of a team that values openness, innovation, and collaboration, and you’ll have the opportunity to shape the way we engage with stakeholders for years to come.

We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

Benefits

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Up to 10.5% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
• Best Doctors
• Salary Finance
• Wealth at Work courses
• Deals and discounts
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Mental health first aiders
• ShareBuy
• MORE Choices flexible benefits
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Job Purpose

Shaping conversations. Building trust. Protecting our reputation.

At United Utilities, we’re committed to delivering a stronger, greener, healthier North West. But delivering major projects from new water resources to drought plans depends on more than engineering expertise. It relies on strong relationships, clear communication, and the ability to bring people with us on the journey.

That’s where you come in.

Working with the Head of Regional Engagement, Area Engagement Leads, and Project Teams, you’ll lead the stakeholder management approach for some of our most high-profile and high-impact programmes, including Strategic Resource Options (SROs), DPC Procurement, Water Resources Management Plans, Drought Plans and Drainage Wastewater Management Plans.

Your role will be to build trust, protect our reputation, and ensure our projects can be delivered smoothly even when the conversations are challenging. Whether engaging with local authorities, landowners, internal stakeholders, or community groups, you’ll have the gravitas to influence, the tact to defuse tension, and the skill to find common ground.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Owning the stakeholder management approach for your portfolio of projects, ensuring best practice principles are followed across the business.
• Building, developing, and maintaining strong working relationships with external stakeholders and internal colleagues.
• Leading stakeholder identification, mapping, and relationship analysis for your projects.
• Developing and delivering engagement plans that provide consistent, clear, and timely information.
• Proactively and reactively visiting stakeholders to understand and resolve issues.
• Advising project teams and senior leaders on stakeholder and community activities.
• Bringing the voice of stakeholders and communities into project delivery, helping to shape better outcomes.

Technical Skills & Experience

• Proven experience planning and delivering stakeholder engagement in complex, high-profile projects.
• Gravitas and confidence to lead difficult conversations and negotiate positive outcomes.
• Ability to manage multiple agendas in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt your style for different audiences.
• Strong relationship-building skills, both internally and externally.
• Understanding of capital project delivery and the potential impacts on communities.
• Resilience, professionalism, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.