Senior Stakeholder Manager

East West Rail Company; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK infrastructure development firm is seeking a Stakeholder Engagement Manager to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders along the rail route. The role involves proactive engagement, managing community conversations, and ensuring stakeholder satisfaction. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in stakeholder management within large projects, excellent communication skills, and the ability to develop engagement strategies. This position offers a competitive benefits package and a flexible working environment.

Benefits

Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution

36 days holiday a year

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Access to a range of benefits on Perkbox

Awards for performance

Learning and development programmes

Flexible working opportunities

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Exceptional IT tools

Qualifications

• Proven experience in stakeholder management, preferably in large infrastructure projects.
• Experience in developing and implementing stakeholder engagement plans.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement strategies across various route sections.
• Oversee external engagement and manage Local Representative Groups.
• Prepare stakeholder communications, including reports and presentations.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Negotiation abilities

Job description

East West Rail is an infrastructure programme linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way. East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

Role Summary

This role will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders along the route, ensuring their interests are considered and addressed throughout the Programme. This role involves proactive engagement, issue resolution, and collaboration with internal teams to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and support.

Develop and lead the coordination and delivery of stakeholder engagement strategies and activities across the Eastern/Western/Central section of the EWR route, to:

• Develop trusting relationships with stakeholders ranging from members of the public, Parish Councils, LA Councillors, Landowners, Businesses as well as with both elected and non-elected stakeholders where appropriate.
• Present EWR Co as a responsible business in all that we do, engaging with local people and having effective two-way conversations.

Manage engagement within the business to support the above outcomes, and dotted-line interests in a range of workstreams, by:

• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with the relevant Area Managers.
• Oversee external engagement across the business including, and not limited to, the delivery and design focus areas of the business.
• Oversee the strategic direction of stakeholder engagement towards securing a Development Consent Order.
• Work closely with teams across External Engagement including Policy, Legacy & Community & Political relations.
• Manage Local Representative Groups across the Eastern/Western/Central section of the route.
• Manage Community Conversations across the Eastern/Western/Central section of the route.

Plan all engagement activities to align with the various stages of impact in the Eastern/Western/Central section of the route, including Construction phases where applicable.

Regular engagement activity including:

• Monitoring stakeholder concerns and issues, providing timely and effective responses.
• Coordinating and attending stakeholder meetings, briefings, and events.
• Prepare stakeholder communications, including reports, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Provide regular updates to the Head of Engagement on stakeholder engagement activities and issues.

Experience, Skills and Abilities

• Proven experience in stakeholder management, preferably within a large infrastructure project.
• Experience in developing and implementing stakeholder engagement plans.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

What we offer

• Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution
• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a range of benefits on the Perkbox platform
• On-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development programmes
• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Exceptional IT tools

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style.

Diversity and Inclusion

To discover the best solutions, it’s important we embrace diversity of thought. That’s why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.

We are open to secondments through the Rail Industry Talent Exchange Programme.