Engagement and Partnership Manager

The Engagement and Partnership Manager will support the Head of Emerging Talent and Skills and their teams as well as Resourcing, Learning and Development (L&D) in creating, monitoring, and delivering workforce renewal strategies.

They will translate strategic workforce planning data, business needs, and external factors into robust workforce renewal plans to build skills and capabilities over a 1–5-year period.

You will partner with the leadership team in resourcing, skills, and learning & development to implement workforce renewal strategies across the business. Serve as the primary point of contact, overseeing activities and collaborating closely with Heads of HR, business units, and various teams to ensure successful delivery of these strategies at Thames Water.

What you’ll be doing as an Engagement and Partnership Manager

• Develop, own, and coordinate a high-level roadmap for workforce renewal, working in partnership with business leaders and the HR partnering team.
• Suggest tailored solutions to the business from a suite of available options, understanding niche and unique requirements, and liaising with the wider Skills, Resourcing and L&D teams. Consider options to tap into external funding, provision, or hybrid solutions.
• Lead and hold cross-functional planning and progress meetings to ensure cohesive execution of workforce renewal strategies.
• Lead the coordination of communications across skills, resourcing, EDI, and L&D (Learning and Development) agendas. Work with internal and external communications teams to raise awareness, publicise activities, gain buy-in, and ensure colleagues at all levels understand the value of the offer.
• Work with leaders, EDI central teams, and Employee Resource Groups to lead, support, and deliver priorities within the EDI strategy from a project coordination perspective.
• Support and coordinate the Infrastructure Strategic Skills Forum to ensure the delivery of commitments and create reports to demonstrate progress.
• Suggest creative solutions to workforce renewal challenges and influence stakeholders at various levels of Thames Water to implement these solutions successfully.

Base Location: Reading - Hybrid

Working Pattern or hours: 36 Hours

What you should bring to the role

• Strong understanding of the difference between wants and needs, with the business acumen to challenge areas and ensure alignment with the skills strategy.
• Proven ability to ensure all processes are aligned with the skills, resources, EDI and L&D strategy.
• Good understanding and awareness of talent acquisition, training, inclusion, social mobility, apprenticeships, the external economic landscape, and learning.
• Excellent ability and experience in communicating and influencing at a senior level across the business and with stakeholders and partners to grow relationships and deliver results.
• Knowledge of workforce profiling data and how to translate this into action plans.
• Knowledge of working with HE and FE, government bodies/sector.
• Experience in recruitment, job brokerage and training.
• Understanding of community engagement, employability and adult learning.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary between £52,000 to £65,000 per annum.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Car Allowance.
• Annual Bonus.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job, and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference in millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. We aim to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.