The Role

Community Relations Engagement & Advocacy Manager

Newbridge 

Contract – Maternity Leave Cover

Salary - €85,000 - €110,000 DOE

Our is looking for an experienced and passionate Community Relations & Advocacy Manager to join their team in Newbridge, providing maternity leave cover on a Specified Purpose Contract.

This is a high-profile opportunity for a communications and stakeholder engagement professional who thrives on building relationships, navigating complex community issues and helping to deliver major renewable energy infrastructure projects.

About the Role

You’ll lead community engagement activity across strategic projects, working closely with our Comms & Engagement, Corporate Affairs, Strategic Brand Comms and operational teams.

A key focus of the role will be ensuring communities and local stakeholders are kept informed, engaged and supported throughout the project lifecycle — from pre-planning and planning through to construction and operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement effective community engagement strategies and programmes to support the successful delivery of the company's strategic projects.
• Manage meaningful public consultation and community engagement throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Lead community liaison programmes and ensure engagement plans are delivered effectively and to agreed timelines.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local communities, landowners, stakeholders and other key partners.
• Provide expert advice on statutory obligations relating to communications and consultation for infrastructure development.
• Work with Corporate Affairs to develop proactive and reactive PR approaches for individual projects.
• Identify and manage communications risks and issues, working closely with internal teams to develop effective responses.
• Develop project-specific communications materials, presentations, displays and other engagement collateral.
• Support community events, public consultations, industry events and forums, including attendance outside normal working hours where required.
• Work with Strategic Brand Comms to ensure consistent, high-quality and on-brand communications across all project materials and channels.
• Monitor communications activity, KPIs, trends and performance, adapting plans where required.
• Collaborate with Internal Communications and Digital Marketing to showcase positive community relations and advocacy stories.
• Provide guidance and direction to community liaison resources, helping to prioritise workloads and deliver engagement objectives.
• Represent The company at relevant trade shows, industry events and forums, helping to strengthen our reputation and leadership in community engagement.
• Develop video and photography assets in collaboration with Strategic Brand Comms to support campaigns and engagement activities.

 

The Person

What We're Looking For

• A Level 8 Honours degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years’ experience managing community engagement on major infrastructure, renewable energy or other high-profile projects is desirable.
• Excellent project management, organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams.
• Strong verbal, written and media communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of community engagement, stakeholder consultation and land acquisition practices.
• Experience managing challenging or sensitive situations professionally and constructively.
• Strong stakeholder and reputation management experience.
• Excellent people management and team leadership skills.
• Strong analytical, planning and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience working within a planning system and/or energy policy environment.
• Experience in brand management and communications.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• A proactive, results-driven and adaptable approach.
• The flexibility to participate in community engagement activities outside normal working hours when required.

Desirable:

• Professional qualification in Project Management.
• Membership of, or affiliation with, the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII).
• Experience working with land-related agencies, agriculture or rural stakeholder environments.

 

The Package

€89,000 - €110,000

12 month Maternity Contract

If you’re an accomplished community engagement or communications professional who enjoys working with people, solving complex challenges and making things happen, we’d love to hear from you.