Strategic Engagement Lead

## Strategic Engagement Lead Apply:
Warwick, CV34 6DA
:
Full time:
Posted Yesterday:
End Date:
October 28, 2026 (12 days left to apply):
JR101055
** About the Role
** Great Britain’s electricity system is undergoing an ambitious and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, greener system that serves consumers now and for generations to come.

The National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) are looking for a Strategic Engagement Lead, to work closely with the Head of Wales and Head of Engagement for Strategic Projects. The Strategic Engagement Lead will play a critical leadership role in shaping and driving stakeholder engagement across Strategic Energy Planning and wider organisational priorities. Working closely with the Head of Wales and Head of Engagement for Strategic Projects, the role will lead complex cross-programme engagement activity, own senior stakeholder outcomes, and design frameworks, governance and insight mechanisms that improve engagement maturity across SEP and NESO.

The postholder will provide subject matter leadership, anticipate and mitigate strategic engagement risks, lead direct or virtual teams where required, and act as a trusted senior adviser on high-profile and sensitive stakeholder matters.
** Key Accountabilities
** 1. Strategic Stakeholder Engagement Lead and drive the design, implementation and continuous improvement of a strategic stakeholder engagement framework aligned to organisational priorities, strategic programmes and measurable engagement outcomes.

Own and drive stakeholder architecture across the portfolio, including segmentation, prioritisation, relationship planning and governance, ensuring engagement is coordinated, insight-led and focused on areas of greatest strategic value and risk.

Act as a senior strategic adviser and representative for the Head of Wales and Head of Engagement for Strategic Projects, leading high-profile and sensitive relationships and ensuring consistent, credible and influential engagement across internal and external audiences.

Lead complex engagement programmes and cross-programme activity through direct or virtual team leadership, ensuring workshops, forums, consultations and events deliver strategic influence, improve stakeholder confidence and avoid duplication.
2. Relationship Management Build and sustain an extensive network of senior internal and external stakeholders, using influence and credibility to shape decision-making and support strategic delivery.

Lead relationship management across complex stakeholder environments, balancing competing interests and ensuring consistent, organisation-wide engagement approaches.

Anticipate stakeholder sentiment, emerging issues and strategic risks, intervening early to mitigate risk and protect trust, confidence and delivery outcomes.
3. Strategic Alignment & Delivery Lead significant and complex cross-programme engagement activity, ensuring engagement approaches are sequenced, integrated and aligned to business priorities, delivery milestones and strategic outputs.

Operate with a system-level perspective, connecting engagement insight across programmes and translating it into actions that improve planning, delivery and decision-making.

Own and drive wider engagement outcomes, ensuring stakeholder feedback demonstrably shapes strategic direction, programme development and organisational priorities.
4. Communication & Influence Lead the development of strategic communications, executive briefings and high-impact materials that support senior decision-making, stakeholder confidence and programme influence.

Represent NESO in senior forums, governance groups and external settings, acting with authority and credibility on complex, sensitive or high-profile matters.

Influence senior stakeholders through evidence-based insight, strategic judgement and clear recommendations, and act within delegated authority where appropriate.
5. Governance & Reporting Create and embed engagement governance frameworks, systems and standards that improve consistency, coordination, sequencing, reporting and risk oversight across SEP and wider NESO activity.

Establish robust mechanisms for tracking, evaluating and reporting engagement outcomes, including trust, confidence, stakeholder insight and behavioural indicators.

Proactively identify and mitigate engagement risks with strategic implications, escalating issues where appropriate and ensuring mitigation plans are in place.

Provide SME leadership and coaching to L6/L7…