Community Engagement Manager

The Community Engagement Manager will lead Green GEN Cymru's engagement with communities and local stakeholders across our portfolio of grid infrastructure projects. Reporting to the Head of External Affairs, the role is responsible for building trusted relationships with local communities, local authorities, elected members, community organisations and regional partners, ensuring stakeholders have meaningful opportunities to understand, influence and engage with our projects throughout their lifecycle.

Working closely with colleagues across External Affairs, Consents and Development, the role will develop and deliver engagement strategies, monitor stakeholder sentiment and ensure local insight informs project development and decision-making. The role plays a key part in protecting and enhancing Green GEN Cymru's reputation and social licence to operate. Statutory consultation with technical consultees and planning authorities in their role as consenting authorities remains the responsibility of the Consents Team. This role complements that activity by leading wider community, political and institutional engagement.

• Develop and deliver stakeholder and community engagement strategies across Green GEN Cymru's project portfolio.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with local authorities, councillors, community councils, community groups, community energy organisations and wider local stakeholders.
• Act as Green GEN Cymru's principal community representative, maintaining a visible presence within project areas throughout the development lifecycle.
• Plan and deliver engagement activities including exhibitions, workshops, stakeholder forums, drop-in events, briefings and community meetings.
• Work alongside the Head of External Affairs to develop engagement plans for politically sensitive projects and issues.
• Gather, analyse and communicate stakeholder feedback, ensuring local insight informs business decision-making.
• Work closely with the Consents Team to coordinate engagement with statutory consultees.
• Support the development of community benefit initiatives, local partnerships and opportunities to maximise social value.
• Monitor community and stakeholder sentiment, identifying emerging issues and reputational risks and recommending appropriate action.
• Manage external engagement consultants and specialist advisers where required.

Knowledge & Skills

• Proven experience of building and maintaining trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including local authorities, elected members, community councils, community groups, community energy organisations, businesses and residents.
• Good understanding of the Welsh political landscape and local government structures.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with diverse audiences.
• Strong presentation, facilitation and public speaking skills.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to prepare reports, briefings, presentations and engagement materials for different audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple projects and geographical locations.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Resilient, adaptable and able to respond positively in a fast-moving project environment.
• Ability to analyse stakeholder feedback and translate insight into practical recommendations.
• Hold a full UK driving licence and be willing to travel across Wales (and nationally if required)
• Proficient IT skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS project.
• Welsh language skills would be an advantage (Desirable).
• A working understanding of the UK planning and consenting process, sufficient to explain projects confidently to stakeholders and work effectively alongside the Consents Team(Desirable).
  
  

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience of planning and delivering stakeholder and community engagement programmes, events and consultations.
• Experience of managing external consultants, agencies or suppliers.
• Demonstrable experience in community engagement, stakeholder engagement, external affairs, communications, public affairs or a related discipline.
• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful stakeholder and community engagement strategies for complex projects or programmes.
• Experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with local authorities, elected members, community councils, community organisations, businesses and other key stakeholders.
• Experience of planning, organising and facilitating public engagement events, stakeholder meetings, workshops and exhibitions.
• Experience of working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and coordinating inputs from internal colleagues, consultants and external partners.
• Experience of identifying, managing and mitigating stakeholder and reputational risks.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in Communications, Public Relations, Public Affairs.
• Experience of working on nationally significant infrastructure, renewable energy or utility projects (Desirable).
• Experience using stakeholder management or CRM systems (Desirable).