Community and Stakeholder Manager

Downer Group; Greater Bendigo; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration and employee 

Career development and growth

Supportive and collaborative team envt

Regional impact in communities

Job summary

Downer Group in Victoria is seeking a Senior Community and Stakeholder Manager to lead community engagement, land access and Aboriginal engagement across a major power project.

You will guide the engagement plan, build partnerships with communities and clients, and manage a multidisciplinary team through the project lifecycle, ensuring coordination and compliance.

This senior role offers exposure, competitive remuneration, and career development within a supportive, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in communications, community engagement, social science, public relations or related discipline.
• 8–10 years experience in community engagement or stakeholder management.
• 3+ years leading engagement teams within major infrastructure or energy projects.
• Experience delivering engagement programs across diverse geographic settings.
• Experience managing Aboriginal engagement, land access and business impact programs.
• Strong leadership, coaching and performance management capability.
• Knowledge of community engagement best practice and IAP2 frameworks.
• Experience working at contractor and client interface.
• Current driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated delivery of community engagement, stakeholder relations and land access activities across project operations.
• Oversee the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Management Plan and lead a multidisciplinary engagement team.
• Interface with the client engagement team to coordinate activities and manage complex stakeholder matters.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Community engagement

Aboriginal engagement

Leadership

IAP2 frameworks

Driver's license

Education

Communications degree

Job description

The opportunity

Downer's Energy and Utilities business has an opportunity for an experienced Community and Stakeholder Manager to join our Power Projects team.

This senior leadership role will lead the integrated delivery of community engagement, stakeholder relations and land access activities across project operations. You will have operational accountability for the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Management Plan and lead a multidisciplinary engagement team spanning community engagement, land access and Aboriginal engagement.

As the key operational interface with our client's engagement team, you will build strong relationships, manage complex stakeholder matters and ensure engagement activities are coordinated, compliant and effectively delivered throughout the project lifecycle.

What we're looking for

• A tertiary qualification in communications, community engagement, social science, public relations or a related discipline
• A minimum of 8 to 10 years of experience in community engagement or stakeholder management
• At least 3 years of experience leading engagement teams within major infrastructure or energy projects
• Demonstrated experience delivering engagement programs across diverse geographic and community settings
• Experience managing Aboriginal engagement, land access and business impact programs
• Strong leadership, coaching and performance management capability
• Sound knowledge of community engagement best practice and IAP2 frameworks
• Experience working at the contractor and client interface
• Strong capability managing complex issues and multiple concurrent workstreams
• A current driver's licence

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on a landmark renewable energy project
• Relevant project uplifts and allowances where applicable
• Supportive and collaborative team environment
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Competitive remuneration and employee benefits
• The chance to make a positive impact in regional communities

About Energy & Utilities

Downer's Energy & Utilities business provides end to end facilities management and asset lifecycle support services for Australia's critical economic infrastructure. Operating across the future energy, power generation, oil and gas, industrial and water sectors, we work closely with our customers to optimise the reliability, efficiency and whole of life costs of their assets and facilities.

Through our commitment to excellence and our customers, our business supports the transition to a more sustainable future.

Downer is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels respected, valued and supported. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.