Strategic Engagement Manager

Job Description

SP Energy Networks is seeking a Strategic Engagement Manager to lead high‑quality stakeholder engagement, local government engagement, communications, and government policy activity aligned to our Distribution strategy and the RIIO‑ED3 programme.

Working closely with the Head of Strategic Engagement & Government Policy, you will translate strategic direction into actionable delivery plans, ensuring credible, consistent, and well evidenced engagement across customers, communities, regulators, industry bodies, and government stakeholders.

This is a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the stakeholder engagement requirements for the ED3 Business Plan, including operational leadership of the SPEN & SP ENW Independent Stakeholder Group, a key regulatory governance element mandated by Ofgem.

What You'll Be Doing

• Deliver high‑quality stakeholder engagement, community engagement, communications, and government policy work aligned to SPEN's Distribution strategy and the RIIO‑ED3 programme.
• Support engagement and policy work to align to the delivery of SPEN's T3 programme.
• Translate strategic direction into actionable plans, ensuring credible, consistent and evidence‑based engagement across customers, communities, regulators, industry bodies and political stakeholders.
• Lead operational management of SPEN's Independent Stakeholder Groups, ensuring strong governance, briefing materials, evidence logs and engagement outputs.
• Provide expert political, policy, and regulatory insight to senior leaders, supporting decision‑making and external engagement priorities.
• Work across Strategic Engagement, Government Policy, Community Energy and ED3 Leadership teams to align messaging, reporting and ED3 Business Plan evidence.
• Track political, community and media developments across licence areas, escalating key risks and opportunities.
• Manage stakeholder‑related ED3 reporting, action tracking, dashboards and governance to support programme delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders, regulators, local authorities, community groups, industry bodies and major customers.
• Support ED3 engagement events, workshops and interventions, coordinating input from across SPEN and SP ENW.
• Travel regularly within the UK (Glasgow, Prenton, Manchester, London) to support engagement activity and ISG delivery.

What You'll Bring

• Significant experience in stakeholder engagement, external affairs, policy or communications, ideally within a regulated utility, infrastructure or government setting.
• Strong understanding of the Ofgem electricity distribution framework and wider UK energy policy landscape.
• Proven leadership and people management skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and support cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to translate complex issues into clear messaging, briefings and engagement materials.
• Experience designing and delivering stakeholder or political engagement strategies that support strategic outcomes.
• Strong organisational, programme management and governance capabilities, including handling reporting, risk management and cross‑team coordination.
• A degree in Policy/Politics, Economics, Engineering or a related discipline.
• A flexible, proactive and collaborative approach - including willingness to travel weekly during key phases of the ED3 programme.
• Energy, enthusiasm and credibility to operate in a high‑profile, fast‑paced regulatory environment.
• Desire to develop professionally within a leading UK energy network, contributing to a programme worth billions and supporting a once in a generation investment in our Distribution network and influencing the future our business.

What's in it for you

As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%.

At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action - our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world - today and tomorrow.

That's why our benefits include:

• 36 days annual leave
• Holiday Purchase - perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
• Share Schemes
• Payroll Giving and Charity Matched Funding
• Technology Vouchers - save more and spread the cost of your technology purchases
• Electric Vehicle Schemes - to help you transition to green/clean driving
• Cycle to Work scheme and Public Transport Season Ticket Loans
• Healthcare benefit options including: Dental Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan and annual Health Assessments
• Life Assurance (4x salary)
• Access to Savesmart financial wellbeing support
• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4000km of cables and lines that make-up the transmission network - connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It's a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland's ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we're taking it very seriously.

We're investing >£5.5 billion into our transmission network, directly supporting the rapid growth needed in renewable energy. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in.

We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected].

Mobility

Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country. If/when required, the Company will support the employee with the necessary Immigration requirements.