Stakeholder Engagement Lead

Costain Group; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure solutions company in the UK is seeking a Stakeholder Engagement Lead. This key member will produce and maintain the Stakeholder Management Plan, ensuring effective communication and engagement throughout the mobilisation and transition phases. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in stakeholder management, strong influencing skills, and a relevant degree in Business Management or a related field. The company offers a dynamic working environment focused on delivering long-term strategic value and social outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in stakeholder management on major programmes or complex organisations.
• Proven track record communicating with senior leaders, clients, and strategic partners.
• Ability to design and implement robust stakeholder frameworks and governance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Stakeholder Management Plan.
• Lead stakeholder engagement activities throughout mobilisation and transition phases.
• Track and report on stakeholder sentiment and engagement effectiveness.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication with senior leaders

Supply chain governance understanding

Social value frameworks knowledge

Strong influencing skills

Organisational skills

Education

Relevant degree in Business Management

Job description

The Stakeholder Engagement Lead will be a key member of the Sellafield IDP Contract Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The role is responsible for producing, owning, and briefing the Stakeholder Management Plan, which forms a critical input to the overarching Contract Communication Plan. The central focus of the position is to set the business up for success during the mobilisation and transition phase, ensuring a clear, future-facing strategy for stakeholder engagement as the programme moves into Business-as-Usual (BAU). The role will also support alignment with supply chain partners, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), contribute and support to social value commitments across the contract.

Responsibilities

• Develop, own, and maintain the Stakeholder Management Plan for the contract.
• Provide ongoing briefings and updates to the SLT and relevant governance boards.
• Ensure stakeholder planning is integrated into the wider Contract Communication Plan.
• Lead stakeholder engagement activities throughout mobilisation and transition phases. Take the leading role in the SRM process (both for the client process and our own internal process) ensuring consistent approach to supply chain stakeholder management.
• Establish frameworks, processes, and governance for long-term stakeholder engagement into BAU.
• Map and prioritise internal and external stakeholders, identifying risks, dependencies, and opportunities.
• Build long-term, trusted relationships with senior business leads, clients, executives, Lot 2 & 3 delivery Partners.
• Support stakeholder alignment with supply chain organisations to ensure coordinated delivery.
• Contribute to social value planning and ensure stakeholder engagement supports social value outcomes.
• Provide strategic advice and insight to SLT regarding stakeholder expectations and emerging issues.
• Track, measure, and report on stakeholder sentiment, engagement effectiveness, and communication outcomes.
• Oversee the creation of collateral, briefing materials, and engagement content for key stakeholder interactions.
• Support the development of business narratives and messaging during mobilisation and beyond.
• Champion a culture of proactive, transparent, and consistent communication across the contract organisation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Extensive experience in stakeholder management on major programmes, long‑term contracts, or complex organisations.
• Proven track record communicating with senior leaders, executives, clients, and strategic partners.
• Experience working with supply chain partners and understanding supply chain governance and interdependencies.
• Strong understanding of social value frameworks and the role of stakeholder engagement in delivering social outcomes.
• Strong understanding of mobilisation and transition phases within major business or operational programmes.
• Ability to design and implement robust stakeholder frameworks, processes, and governance.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing high‑quality plans and briefing materials.
• Strong influencing and relationship‑building skills at senior levels.
• Experience working within a highly regulated, technical, or government‑linked, environment (desirable).
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams.
• Ability to work under pressure and operate with discretion and emotional intelligence.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree in Business Management, Communications, Public Relations, Project Management, or a related field.
• Professional accreditation in stakeholder management, communications, project management, or similar (desirable).

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About Us

Costain helps to improve people’s lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK’s energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future‑shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do. Costain appreciate the time and effort taken when applying for one of our positions but, due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to provide individual feedback on candidates at application phase. We do share individual feedback following an interview.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.

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