Community Relations and Stakeholder Officer

Overview

In this role you will coordinate relationships between infrastructure projects in the Northwest Windermere programme and external stakeholders, including the public, authorities and client. You will support the delivery of communications and stakeholder engagement plans, help run public information activities, and ensure consistent engagement across project teams. The position sits within a large, multi-project water infrastructure portfolio delivering AMP8/AMP9 schemes for United Utilities. You will play a key role in social value activities and stakeholder issue resolution, contributing to successful project delivery and community alignment.

Responsibilities

• Attend project and framework meetings to provide input and support
• Develop and deliver communications and stakeholder engagement plans
• Establish and cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Assist with client communications and public consultation materials
• Proactively communicate with customers, respond to enquiries within regulatory timeframes
• Organise exhibitions, drop-in sessions and meetings (online/in-person)
• Manage dissemination of up-to-date information between delivery teams and external parties
• Liaise with local authorities, councillors, MPs, land agents and other statutory stakeholders
• Ensure site branding and signage complies with guidelines; conduct site audits
• Maintain project trackers, engagement plans and log interactions
• Produce information sheets and internal communications
• Contribute to KPI reporting and project progress reports
• Support social value activities and relate to community partners
• Organise volunteering, STEM visits, work experience, and other social value activities
• Assist with social value data reporting to client and Costain Group

Key requirements

• Proven experience in community engagement, stakeholder management, public affairs, communications or similar
• Experience working on projects with multiple stakeholders
• Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement principles and community relations
• Experience developing and implementing stakeholder engagement plans
• Experience managing sensitive or challenging stakeholder issues and resolving conflicts
• Experience engaging with local authorities, councillors, MPs, community groups, residents, businesses, landowners and statutory organisations
• Experience supporting consultations, public information events, community meetings and stakeholder briefings
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams (project, construction, engineering, environmental, communications, commercial)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Collaborative
• Adaptive
• Problem-solving
• Stakeholder engagement planning
• Public consultation materials
• Social value delivery and reporting

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