Community Liaison Officer – Full Time – Basingstoke

Catering; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Catering in the United Kingdom is seeking a Community Engagement Officer to support electricity infrastructure projects across Southern England. You will develop and deliver engagement strategies, act as the voice of the community, and ensure open dialogue with communities and external organisations.

The role focuses on building trusted relationships, managing concerns, and identifying opportunities for collaboration to ensure successful project delivery.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Experience engaging with communities, local businesses and public bodies.
• Ability to identify issues in advance and respond to conflicts.
• Strong relationship-building in sensitive situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across platforms.
• Public speaking with confidence.
• Strong organizational and time management, works independently.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement engagement strategies to communicate with key stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with external stakeholders including public bodies and community groups.
• Identify reputational risks and opportunities for local collaboration to support project delivery.
• Provide clear, accessible information to communities affected by infrastructure works.
• Represent the project at public meetings, events and briefings as the main community contact.
• Respond to community concerns and feedback to build support for delivery.
• Collaborate with project managers and corporate affairs teams (media, public affairs, policy, communications, brand).
• Prepare regular summaries of engagement activity and key issues for internal reporting.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Community relations

Public speaking

Communication skills

Time management

Job description

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Community Engagement Officer to support the delivery of electricity infrastructure projects across Southern England. This role is vital in helping projects progress positively through planning and into delivery by ensuring open and meaningful dialogue with the communities and stakeholders they affect.

You will be responsible for creating and delivering strategies that promote effective communication, consultation and engagement with local people and external organisations. Working as a key part of the project team, you will act as the voice of the community, ensuring that concerns are addressed, opportunities for collaboration are explored and trust is built at every stage.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement engagement strategies to communicate effectively with individuals and groups essential to project success
• Establish and maintain trusted relationships with external stakeholders including members of the public, local authorities, elected representatives and community groups
• Identify and manage reputational risks, find opportunities for local collaboration and work to deliver positive outcomes for all involved
• Provide clear, timely and accessible information to communities affected by infrastructure works, ensuring they understand the nature and impact of projects in their area
• Represent the project at public meetings, events and briefings, acting as a main point of contact for community engagement
• Respond to community concerns and feedback, helping to resolve issues and strengthen support for project delivery
• Work closely with project managers and colleagues in corporate affairs, including those involved in media, public affairs, policy, communications and brand
• Support internal reporting by preparing regular summaries of engagement activity, feedback received and key issues raised

What We Are Looking For

• A proven track record of developing and delivering stakeholder engagement strategies that achieve favourable outcomes
• Experience of engaging with communities, local businesses and public bodies, preferably within the renewables or infrastructure sectors
• The ability to identify potential issues in advance and respond effectively to manage concerns or conflicts as they arise
• A strong ability to build trusted relationships and navigate complex or sensitive situations to find solutions
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience of using various platforms such as websites, social media, printed materials, presentations and community events
• The confidence to speak in public and represent projects in formal and informal settings
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently with minimal supervision

Salary: £42000 – £50000/annum plus vehicle

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire