Principal Strategic Engagement and Social Value Specialist

Principal Strategic Engagement and Social Value Specialist – Permanent Full Time – Perth CBD

Step into a career-defining role at the forefront of WA’s energy transformation. As our Principal Strategic Engagement and Social Value Specialist, you will champion Western Power’s strategic engagement activities which will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of the Clean Energy Link – one of the state’s most significant transmission expansion initiatives.

In this influential position, you’ll drive high-impact strategic engagement ensuring our major transmission projects not only succeed technically, but also deliver meaningful social outcomes and strengthen Western Power’s reputation across the communities we serve.

Your Role in Action  

• Develop and drive social performance initiatives and strategies, aligned to the Social Performance and Approvals Framework, that support major infrastructure implementation, while delivering long-term positive outcomes to stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with strategic external stakeholders, including government agencies, industry, community groups, and other key influencers.
• Represent Western Power in high-level discussions, forums and working groups related to the engagement and social performance aspects of the transmission infrastructure projects.
• Collaborate with project teams to integrate social performance considerations into planning, design and execution phases. This includes, though is not limited to:
• Leading the assessment of social impacts of infrastructure projects through critical analysis and effective engagement of affected stakeholders.
• Identifying social performance criteria relevant for decision-making inputs on technical solutions to facilitate preliminary discussions on weighting or similar methodologies.
• Facilitating sessions with internal and external audiences to support transparent and objective options refinement and selection
• Provide high-level strategic advice senior leadership team and decision-makers on social performance initiatives, risks and opportunities.
• Evaluate and report on the project performance against the social performance metrics throughout the project lifecycle, noting the aim to build place-based acceptance for the project and protect it from risk.
• Drive the management cadence of monitoring, reporting and audits of the social impact assessment process through all phases of the investment governance project cycle. 
• Ensure effective communication, stakeholder management, organisational readiness, and adequate management of change impacts to enable program objectives to be achieved without unnecessary or unacceptable business disruption.
• Build and maintain a constructive and consultative working environment through open communication and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Advocate for and influence social performance outcomes within Western Power, including leading the internal change management for the Framework’s, and its associated initiatives’, implementation.
• Providing mentoring and coaching to others as required.

What Makes You a Great Fit 

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Engineering, Business Management, Economics, Project Management, Finance, or related discipline.
• Broad and deep knowledge and extensive experience in managing and delivering social performance programs in mining, construction and or infrastructure sector.
• Proactive, tenacious, and strong influencing - skills to drive successful delivery of results and meet stakeholder expectations.
• Extensive negotiation and relationship skills and the ability to communicate at all levels of the organisation including C Suite.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills including demonstrated ability to consult, guide and influence decision makers using appropriate authority.
• Extensive business acumen, analytical and problem-solving skills and exposure to risk management and governance processes.
• Demonstrated management of consultants, including project delivery, budgeting, and reporting.
• Significantly well-developed analytical skills required to be applied to complex organisational challenges and opportunities.
• Significant experienced in stakeholder management, including community engagement and stakeholder facilitation.
• Extensive demonstrated experience in external stakeholder and community engagement, including devising and executing on engagement strategies.

By joining Western Power, you will contribute to powering a cleaner energy future. We are dedicated to fostering career development and promoting a healthy work-life balance, empowering you to drive innovation as we develop a network that will serve the Western Australian community for generations. You will also benefit from a range of perks and opportunities, including: 

• Over 50% of our employment opportunities are driven by career progression.  
• Flexible work arrangements to support part time work, working hours and working from home arrangements. 
• The opportunity to purchase up to four weeks of additional leave per year. 
• Access to salary packaging, social club activities, and discounted health insurance and gym membership. 
• An award-winning employee recognition and benefits programme. 
• An innovative team culture that’s enabling the transition to renewable energy and decarbonisation.  
• In addition to standard leave, enjoy three wellness leave days each year.
• Access to end-of-trip facilities at our Perth office and South Metro Depot, perfect for cyclists.
• 22 weeks paid parental leave and 5 days of First Nations cultural leave to support family and cultural connections.

Applications close on 2 December 2025 

We value diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and LGBTQIA+ communities. As a WORK180-endorsed employer for women, we are proud of our commitment to inclusion. You can learn more about this through our Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. 

Learn more about Western Power here: About (westernpower.com.au) 

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