Industry Engagement Lead

Davidson; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Davidson is partnering with Iberdrola Australia on the VNI West Project, seeking an Industry Engagement Lead to build relationships with regional businesses and industry bodies across western Victoria. The role focuses on identifying local capability, connecting suppliers with opportunities and delivering lasting regional benefits.

Based across the VNI West corridor with regular travel, you will work closely with procurement, contractors and stakeholders to maximise local content and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience building trusted relationships across business, government and community.
• Experience working with regional councils or development bodies.
• Knowledge of local content and supplier engagement.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with local businesses, suppliers, industry associations and regional stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to increase local supplier participation across the project supply chain.
• Work with procurement and project teams to maximise local content outcomes.
• Connect local businesses with upcoming project opportunities and supplier engagement activities.
• Facilitate industry briefings, supplier forums and networking events.
• Support workforce participation initiatives, including apprenticeships, traineeships and skills development opportunities.
• Collaborate with local councils, Regional Development Victoria, training providers and government agencies to strengthen regional capability.
• Partner with Traditional Owner engagement teams to support First Nations business and workforce participation.
• Monitor and report on local participation outcomes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Skills

Relationship building

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Facilitation

Community engagement

Job description

About the Company

Davidson is proud to be partnering with Iberdrola Australia on the VNI West Project - a nationally significant transmission project supporting Australia's clean energy transition.

Backed by one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, VNI West will strengthen the national electricity grid while creating long-term opportunities for regional businesses, suppliers, workers and communities across western Victoria.

We're now seeking a Industry Engagement Lead to help ensure local businesses are well positioned to participate in and benefit from the project.

The role can be based anywhere across the VNI West project corridor, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Hamilton, Ararat or surrounding regional locations, with regular travel throughout western and central Victoria.

About the Role

Reporting to the General Manager - Engagement and Social Impact, you'll be responsible for building strong relationships with regional businesses, industry associations, government and project partners to maximise local industry participation.

Working closely with procurement teams, contractors and key stakeholders, you'll identify local capability, connect suppliers with project opportunities and help deliver lasting economic outcomes for regional communities.

Success in this role will come from building trusted relationships, understanding regional business capability and turning strategy into practical outcomes that support local industry, workforce development and community benefit.

The role can be based anywhere across the VNI West project corridor, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Hamilton, Ararat or surrounding regional locations, with regular travel throughout western and central Victoria.

What you’ll be doing

• Build strong relationships with local businesses, suppliers, industry associations and regional stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to increase local supplier participation across the project supply chain.
• Work with procurement and project teams to maximise local content outcomes.
• Connect local businesses with upcoming project opportunities and supplier engagement activities.
• Facilitate industry briefings, supplier forums and networking events.
• Support workforce participation initiatives, including apprenticeships, traineeships and skills development opportunities.
• Collaborate with local councils, Regional Development Victoria, training providers and government agencies to strengthen regional capability.
• Partner with Traditional Owner engagement teams to support First Nations business and workforce participation.
• Monitor and report on local participation outcomes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring

We’re interested in people who have built careers supporting regional communities, businesses and industry.

You may come from backgrounds such as:

• Regional or economic development
• Local government
• Regional Development Victoria or Regional Development Australia
• Procurement or supplier engagement
• Industry capability or local content
• Major infrastructure or renewable energy
• Business development or investment attraction

You’ll also bring:

• Demonstrated experience building trusted relationships across business, government and community.
• An understanding of local content, supplier engagement or regional economic development.
• Experience working across multiple stakeholder groups to deliver practical outcomes.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• A collaborative, pragmatic and community-focused approach.

Why join VNI West?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the economic legacy of one of Victoria's most significant infrastructure projects.

You’ll join a globally recognised renewable energy organisation committed to creating long-term benefits for regional communities while working alongside a collaborative and highly engaged project team.

Want to know more about Davidson? Visit www.davidsonwp.com