Senior Community Benefits Manager

Viridor; Runcorn; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Viridor is seeking a Senior Community Benefits Manager for the Runcorn ERF to embed the facility within surrounding communities and deliver social value programs. You will lead local engagement, manage stakeholders including authorities, schools and businesses, coordinate visits and events, and monitor public sentiment to maximise local support and safe, responsible operations.

The role requires travel to Viridor sites and collaboration with ESG/External Affairs teams to measure social value.

Qualifications

• Good knowledge of heath, safety and wellbeing and equality requirements for public visits to operational sites.
• Understanding of social license to operate
• Knowledge of stakeholder mapping
• Ability to design and manage community investment and benefits strategy
• Knowledge of waste industry and / or environmental services
• Working knowledge of local authorities and/or business environment.
• Working knowledge of relevant Waste Management and Environmental Legislation
• Working knowledge of support service organisations for SMEs, SE, employability, training, education

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of a local community engagement plan, and support Viridor’s understanding of local community concerns
• Develop and maintain a stakeholder database, ensuring regular communication with individuals, local groups, business, education providers and others; and drive local support for the facility.
• Build and nurture positive relationships with the public, agreed stakeholders, community organisations and others.
• Promote, coordinate and run public visits, community events, and education programs, including administration, health & safety, and reporting requirements (under TOMs framework).
• Represent Viridor as community ambassador at external events, conferences and stakeholder meetings.
• Liaise with the Client Authority and support Contract Managers in delivering services and maximising the delivery of social value across the community.
• Support the uptake and administration of WeShare fund across the site.
• Support the administration of the Runcorn Environment Fund, managed in partnership with Halton Borough Council.
• Monitor local media and social media for mentions of Viridor and the energy from waste sector and escalate to the central External Affairs team.
• Support the coordination of communications, PR and media relations to enhance Viridor’s local profile and reputation.
• Support the ESG team to monitor and measure the social value impact of the local site and support the regular local sentiment assessments.
• Be flexible to travel to other Viridor sites, stakeholder locations and events, including some outside of normal working hours.

Skills

Public speaking

Community liaison

Social media post drafting

Issues and grievance management

Crisis recovery

Excellent communicator

Resilient

Microsoft Office

Stakeholder liaison

Time management

Event management

PR, communications, media relations

Education

A level/Higher grade or equivalent

Job description

Our Vision is to be the UK’s leading innovator of resource recovery and recycling, transforming waste for a climate-positive future.

Viridor has a redefined purpose, a bold Vision, and an ambitious, market-leading strategy. We are investing in the future, and we need a talented team with exceptional people, who believe in each other, to help us build a world where nothing goes to waste.

We have an exciting new opportunity to join the Viridor team as Senior Community Benefits Manager at our Runcorn ERF facility. The Senior Community Benefits Manager plays a pivotal role in embedding Runcorn Energy Recovery Facility (the ERF) within the Runcorn, Frodsham, Widnes and surrounding communities. This site-based role is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with local community and key internal and external stakeholder in order to deliver successful community engagement and social value programs. This role acts as key point of contact for public engagement and liaison.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and delivery of a local community engagement plan, and support Viridor’s understanding of local community concerns
• Develop and maintain a stakeholder database, ensuring regular communication with individuals, local groups, business, education providers and others; and drive local support for the facility.
• Build and nurture positive relationships with the public, agreed stakeholders, community organisations and others.
• Promote, coordinate and run public visits, community events, and education programs, including administration, health & safety, and reporting requirements (under TOMs framework).
• Represent Viridor as community ambassador at external events, conferences and stakeholder meetings.
• Liaise with the Client Authority and support Contract Managers in delivering services and maximising the delivery of social value across the community.
• Support the uptake and administration of WeShare fund across the site.
• Support the administration of the Runcorn Environment Fund, managed in partnership with Halton Borough Council.
• Monitor local media and social media for mentions of Viridor and the energy from waste sector and escalateto the central External Affairs team.
• Support the coordination of communications, PR and media relations to enhance Viridor’s local profile and reputation.
• Support the ESG team to monitor and measure the social value impact of the local site and support the regular local sentiment assessments.
• Be flexible to travel to other Viridor sites, stakeholder locations and events, including some outside of normal working hours.

Knowledge

• Good knowledge of heath, safety and wellbeing and equality requirements for public visits to operational sites
• Understanding of social license to operate
• Knowledge of stakeholder mapping
• Ability to design and manage community investment and benefits strategy
• Knowledge of waste industry and / or environmental services
• Working knowledge of local authorities and/or business environment.
• Working knowledge of relevant Waste Management and Environmental Legislation
• Working knowledge of support service organisations for SMEs, SE, employability, training, education

Skills

• Public speaking, community liaison and social media post drafting
• Issues and grievance management
• Crisis recovery and reputation rebuilding
• Excellent communicator, credible and able to engage people at all levels.
• Resilient, self-motivated and enthusiastic
• Diligent with a strong commitment to continually raising the profile and reputation of the company
• Computer literate and able to use Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to liaise internal and external customers, regulators and the general public
• Ability to juggle ever changing priorities and remain calm under pressure
• Ability to work a part of a team and on own initiative
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Strong organisational, time management and administration skill
• Event management
• Experience in PR, communications, media relations

Experience

• Experience with building trust in a challenging environment.
• Experience with reputation rebuilding
• Experience with delivering social value programs
• Experience with managing large stakeholder groups with multiple priorities
• Experience of organising public events
• Experience with delivering presentations to all ages including school visits and public and private sector

Qualifications

• Full UK driving license
• appropriate level of education – A level/Higher grade or equivalent
• TOMs framework training
• qualification in customer service, media relations

We are a Great Place to Work

There has never been a more exciting time to work at Viridor. Following the acquisition of the business by the global private equity firm, KKR, the core business has been reshaped to focus on our leading UK Energy from Waste portfolio.

What can we offer you?

In addition to a competitive salary we have a host of company benefits available to you when you join - take a look at our Rewards and Benefits.

As an equal opportunities' employer, Viridor is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.