Corporate Affairs Advisor – 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water: 

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience (£36,897 - £46,120) 
• A company car through company car lease scheme
• Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution) 
• Development opportunities in line with the Corporate Affairs Advisor Role progression plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day! 
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary 
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.  
• Retail savings scheme  
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more! 

Location: West Yorkshire / Hybrid Working (1 day in the office a week – Bradford – Relocating to Leeds Summer 2026)

Work type: 12 Month Fixed Term Contract. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Corporate Affairs Advisor to join the Corporate Affairs team Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do:

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity. 

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Corporate Affairs function are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.  

The Corporate Affairs Advisor will join the Yorkshire Water Corporate Affairs team and play a key role in achieving the company's Public Affairs objectives by taking a leading role in responding to all reactive casework queries raised by Members of Parliament, Councillors and Parish Councils, amongst others when required. Working alongside the Corporate Affairs team, the Corporate Affairs Advisor will manage relationships with key regional stakeholders and work with internal and externally stakeholders to resolve complex and/or high-profile complaints. The role also entails working with the company's other communications teams to manage the company's reputation, including managing stakeholder and media communications during crisis incidents. For this reason, the successful candidate will be required to join the communications standby rota. 

Where you fit in:

As our Corporate Affairs Advisor you will:

• Handle and resolve high-profile casework from external stakeholders, enhancing the company's reputation.
• Communicate upcoming investment and partnership working projects with relevant stakeholders and attend events about such projects with our customer team as needed. 
• Seek opportunities to improve the corporate reputation through effective casework management and resolution.
• Attend meetings with key regional stakeholders to resolve casework issues and build strong relationships.
• Report on incoming casework, identify key trends, and take proactive measures to mitigate risks.
• Advocate for outcomes that protect the company's reputation and resolve cases effectively.
• Demonstrate knowledge of national and regional political structures and legislative processes.
• Engage with stakeholders, maintaining high political awareness and understanding of the changing political landscape.
• Stay informed about key media and political issues related to Yorkshire Water and the wider industry.
• Attends incident management meetings and provides out-of-hours standby cover as part of a rota and acts as a company spokesman when appropriate
• Proactively engage with business areas to build relationships and provide "expert" advice and support for proactive communications.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Someone who thrives in fast paced environments and can confidently lead on complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues. 
• A natural relationship builder who earns the trust of politicians, senior leaders, and key stakeholders through clear communication and strong judgement. 
• Highly organised, able to juggle multiple priorities while staying calm, focused, and solutionsd riven. 
• Experienced in developing engagement or communication strategies that strengthen stakeholder confidence and support organisational goals. 
• Knowledgeable about the UK parliamentary process and political landscape, with the ability to apply insight in realw orld situations. 
• Strong influencing skills and confidence working with senior stakeholders. 
• Excellent judgement in politically sensitive situations. 
• A strong clear, adaptable written and verbal communication style. 

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?    

If you’ve got experience in Corporate Affairs and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.    

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.
 All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible. 

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.