Stakeholder & Landowner Relationships Team Leader

Western Power is committed to building strong relationships with our stakeholders and landowners. Our commitment to effective engagement helps us advocate for better outcomes, enhances our reputation, and supports our social license to operate.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Stakeholder & Landowner Relationships Team Leader to join us on a permanent full-time basis. This role leads a team of landowner and stakeholder engagement professionals who manage Western Power’s relationships with local governments, Development Commissions and Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The team also provides strategic advice on community sentiment and priorities, landowner services and land access issues.

You will develop and oversee stakeholder strategies and engagement plans that align with Western Power’s business objectives with a focus on identifying and minimising risks, and ensuring positive ongoing relationships with your managed stakeholders. You will also work with a broad internal network of business leaders and subject matter experts.

Your Role in Action  

• Lead the implementation of Western Power’s stakeholder framework and relationship management strategy
• Provide specialist advice and services to the organisation on:
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Stakeholder and community sentiment and priorities
• Identification and mitigation of social risks
• Landowner engagement, land access, and land acquisition.
• Be accountable for the Local Government relationship strategy, including understanding and managing the unique needs of regional and metro Local Governments, and advocating on their behalf.
• Provide advice on, and help mitigate, complex and contentious stakeholder and landowner issues.
• Develop and deliver stakeholder and landowner communications materials and ensure consistent messaging.
• Manage consultants and suppliers to deliver services and research on behalf of Western Power, and support procurement processes.
• Develop and implement stakeholder and landowner engagement plans for infrastructure projects.
• Understand Western Power’s legal and regulatory obligations related to land access and technical standards regarding substation, tower, and transmission line designs to ensure advice to internal and external stakeholders is consistent with Western Power’s legal obligations and technical capabilities.
• Management and delivery of engagement during crisis and emergency events including regional travel.

 What Makes You a Great Fit 

• Tertiary qualification in Communications, Social Sciences, Community Engagement or related discipline
• Qualifications in, or extensive experience/understanding of, IAP2
• Extensive expertise and demonstrated experience in stakeholder relationship management and/or landowner engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in applying best practice stakeholder and/or landowner engagement in the context of large infrastructure projects.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to build collaborative working partnerships and proven conflict resolution experience.
• Demonstrated experience in leading a professional team to achieve business goals in a positive and motivating manner.

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 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.
• 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 Wednesday, 27 November at 5.00pm.

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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