Third Party Liaison Lead

JN Bentley; Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mott MacDonald Bentley is seeking a skilled Third-Party Liaison Lead in Manchester to coordinate stakeholder engagement for United Utilities Framework. You will manage communications, consultations and planning support with Local Authorities, landowners and planners.

The role focuses on delivering compliant engagement strategies, minimising customer concerns, and ensuring project success through collaborative, multi-disciplinary teamwork across the North West.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in stakeholder and community engagement, preferably within large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Understanding of statutory EIA planning requirements, regulatory frameworks and stakeholder consultation best practices.
• Proven ability to implement stakeholder engagement plans that align with organisational frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience translating technical detail into appropriate external communications.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate engagement with project stakeholders across local authorities, statutory and non-statutory bodies, communities and other parties.
• Develop and deliver project-specific stakeholder engagement activities and ensure alignment with strategies.
• Identify drivers to support relationship building and issue resolution.
• Conduct stakeholder identification and mapping to categorize stakeholders by influence, interest and impact.
• Identify reputational risks and implement proactive engagement strategies.
• Manage stakeholder tools (CRM, GIS) for tracking and reporting.
• Serve as first point of contact for queries, concerns and complaints with professional responses.
• Support and deliver effective consultation activities to maximise participation.
• Prepare detailed reports meeting statutory requirements and documenting feedback.
• Monitor sentiment and provide early warnings of potential opposition.
• Collaborate with technical leads to address conflicts and resolve issues.
• Stay updated on best practices and regulatory changes.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Project coordination

Conflict resolution

Tools

CRM

GIS mapping

Job description

Mott MacDonald Bentley is a fully integrated design and build business, combining the design expertise of Mott MacDonald with the contracting experience of JN Bentley. Operating across the water, energy and environment sectors throughout the UK, we deliver innovative infrastructure solutions from concept through to commissioning.

With an annual turnover exceeding £600 million, we have established ourselves as a leader within the industry. Our sustained growth and strong business performance create an exciting environment for ambitious professionals seeking to develop and progress their careers.

We have recently been named a partner on United Utilities's AMP8 framework, extending our long-standing relationship for at least the next five years. This partnership will be responsible for delivering over £3 billion of major infrastructure investment across the North West of England.

As Third-Party Liaison Lead you will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive range of communication and engagement activities for our United Utilities Framework. You will have a proven track record in delivering stakeholder engagement, communications and consultation strategies within a complex stakeholder landscape. Ultimately, this role will play a critical part in supporting the planning and consenting process, while ensuring a positive impact on community engagement, minimising customer complaints, and fostering long-term project success. It is a key role in which you will liaise with external parties including Local Authorities, land owners and planners.

It is essential that this role works effectively in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary project environment and align all communications and engagement activities drawing on best practice and statutory requirements.

• Coordinate engagement with project stakeholders across local authorities, statutory and non-statutory bodies (including environment & technical organisations), communities and other parties to establish strong working relationships.
• Successfully develop and deliver project specific stakeholder engagement activities, ensuring alignment with established strategies and framework
• An understanding of, and ability to quickly and effectively identify, third party drivers to assist in relationship building, issue resolution and maximising value opportunities.
• Conduct stakeholder identification and mapping to categorise stakeholders based on influence, interest and impact.
• Identify potential reputational risks and issues and implement proactive engagement using a range of techniques and approaches tailored to the target audience.
• Utilise stakeholder management tools (e.g. CRM, GIS mapping) for engagement tracking, trends, emerging risks and opportunities.
• Act as the first point of contact for stakeholder queries, concerns and complaints, ensuring timely, professional, and empathetic responses.
• Apply lessons learned and adjust plans as needed to improve future engagement.
• Support and deliver effective consultation activities, such as workshops, exhibitions, virtual events, site visits to enhance stakeholder engagement and to maximise participation.
• Prepare detailed reports that meet the statutory requirements and document stakeholder feedback.
• Monitor stakeholder sentiment and provide early warnings of potential project opposition.
• Collaborate with technical leads to address conflicts and resolve stakeholder issues effectively.
• Stay updated on industry best practice and regulatory changes to refine engagement approaches.

You will be able to demonstrate

• Proven experience in stakeholder and community engagement, preferably within large-scale infrastructure projects
• Understanding of the statutory EIA planning requirements, regulatory frameworks and stakeholder consultation best practices.
• Proven ability to implement stakeholder engagement plans that align with organisational frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience translating technical detail into appropriate, relevant and agreed communications for external audiences
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Experience managing sensitive stakeholder issues and conflict resolution
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail

What’s In It For You

Alongside our significant training and development investment, bespoke progression plan and support to achieve professional chartership, we offer a wide range of financial, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits that you can tailor to your needs.

To view our full range of benefits, please see the Bentley benefits brochure attached.