External Affairs Manager - South East / East of England

About the role

The Great Grid Upgrade is the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. Our infrastructure projects across England and Wales are helping to connect more affordable sources of home-grown and renewable energy to your homes and businesses.

As an External Affairs Manager, you'll lead communication, consultation and engagement activities on capital projects to help deliver projects effectively and efficiently and protect and enhance the reputation of National Grid.

In this role you can enjoy our hybrid working from office and home. You'll need to be based in the South East or East of England and flexible to travel throughout the regions. 

Key accountabilities

• Liaise with the project team, comms agency and key stakeholders to oversee and be responsible for ensuring the delivery of engagement that is compliant with Government legislation and processes, and is considered first class by stakeholders.
• Provide strategic advice and support to the project team including how project decisions impact the delivery of the wider programme deliverables, and the effect on National Grid’s reputation.
• Manage Community Relations Agencies, including finances, scope, quality of delivery and their performance.
• Develop and prepare consultation strategies and resources to engage with and influence external stakeholders, which align with other major projects and the broader NGET messages and work with the Regional External Affairs Manager to support regional advocacy programme.
• Represent National Grid in engagement activities/briefings with MPs, elected members, and parish councils in project briefings.
• Lead on behalf of the National Grid External Affairs team at public consultations.
• Media spokesperson on behalf of projects when needed.
• Remain current on the external environment and relevant legislation and engage with external stakeholder to have a positive impact on NGET where possible.
• Collaborate closely and effectively with the Lands, Planning and External Affairs Team, Corporate Affairs, Legal and project teams to deliver on the wider objectives of the business and needs of construction projects.
• Promote and ensure the enduring safety, health and well-being, and personal security of the team.

About you

• Proven experience in leading, managing and developing a high-performing professional stakeholder engagement and communications team.
• Proven track record in conducting hostile media interviews, defending controversial construction schemes (desirable).
• Proven track record in influencing key external stakeholders, such as government, local authorities, parish councils, environmental groups, NGOs, etc.
• Current, comprehensive knowledge and understanding of planning/consenting, including relevant legislation, and associated disciplines, energy project development and construction.
• Demonstrable willingness to challenge ways of working, seek and deliver efficiencies and effectively manage project costs.
• Competent in project management – strong planning, organisation and delivery / execution skills.
• Ability to write for a range of different audiences and stakeholders using different channels and platforms.
• Experience in contracting strategies and procurement seeing contracts through the end to end project life cycle.
• Drawing on analysis and highlight reports from the commercial teams to make decisions for financial control.
• Understanding of RIIO mechanisms and the way that National Grid delivers revenue under the regulatory framework.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent or significant directly relevant experience.
• Qualification and professional membership in town planning, environmental assessment, or related discipline desirable but not essential.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £60,000 – £75,000 – dependent on capability. 

As well as your base salary, you will receive a job requirement car, a bonus of up to 30% of your salary for stretch performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

About us

National Grid Strategic Infrastructure is a Business Unit created to propel our grid forward to deliver in 5 years, what has been achieved in the previous 30. By 2030 we aim to have 17 new major infrastructure projects live across England, Scotland and Wales.

Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people.

Our investment in Strategic Infrastructure via The Great Grid Upgrade will mean more home-grown power, greater energy security and a cleaner future.

Whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy.

More information

This role closes on 24 November 2025 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. 

#LI-SM1
#LI-HYBRID