External Affairs Manager - South East / East of England

You'll be at the forefront of some of the UK's most high-profile infrastructure projects, leading strategic engagement at every stage:

• Lead stakeholder engagement and consultation across major capital projects.
• Shape project strategy, advising on reputational, political and community impacts.
• Design and deliver consultation strategies that influence outcomes and build trust.
• Represent National Grid externally - with MPs, local authorities, communities and the media.
• Lead public-facing consultations and events, often on complex or sensitive developments.
• Manage agencies and partners, ensuring high-quality delivery and value for money.
• Navigate the external environment, staying ahead of policy, legislation and stakeholder dynamics.
• Collaborate across teams including Land, Planning, Legal and Corporate Affairs to deliver joined-up outcomes on construction projects.
  
  You're a natural leader, experienced in building and inspiring high-performing stakeholder engagement and communications teams.
• You know how to influence at the highest levels, building trusted relationships with government, local authorities, NGOs and communities.
• You thrive in high-profile, complex environments, confidently managing sensitive issues and, ideally, media engagement.
• You bring a strong understanding of planning, consenting and large-scale infrastructure delivery, and how to navigate complex legislation.
• You're highly organised and outcomes-focused, with the ability to prioritise, adapt and deliver at pace.
• You're an exceptional communicator, able to shape compelling messages that land with diverse audiences across multiple channels.
• You combine commercial awareness with delivery excellence, managing budgets, agencies and contracts end-to-end.
• You're confident in challenging constructively, driving smarter ways of working and making informed, balanced decisions.
• You understand the regulatory landscape (e.g. RIIO) and how it shapes delivery and stakeholder expectations.
• Degree qualified (or equivalent experience), with relevant professional membership a plus.
  
  The Great Grid Upgrade is the largest transformation of the electricity network in generations - connecting cleaner, home-grown energy and helping power the UK's journey to Net Zero. But delivering this change isn't just about infrastructure - it's about people, communities, and trust.
As an External Affairs Manager, you'll lead how we engage with the world around us - shaping the narrative, building relationships, and ensuring our projects are understood, supported, and delivered successfully. This is your opportunity to play a key role in projects that truly matter - helping to deliver the infrastructure that will power the UK's future. You'll join a collaborative, purpose-driven team, working at the intersection of infrastructure, policy and community engagement. We offer hybrid working, with the expectation you'll be based in the South East or East of England and willing to travel to offices/project sites 2-3 days per week across the region. Apply now and help shape the future of energy - and how we engage with the communities we serve., National Grid Strategic Infrastructure is a Business Unit created to propel our grid forward to deliver in 5 years, what has been achieved in the previous 30. By 2030 we aim to have 17 new major infrastructure projects live across England, Scotland and Wales. Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we're thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. Our investment in Strategic Infrastructure via The Great Grid Upgrade will mean more home-grown power, greater energy security and a cleaner future. Whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you'll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy.

A competitive salary between £60,000 - £75,000 - dependent on capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a job requirement car, a bonus of up to 30% of your salary for stretch performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.