Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Job Summary:

The DCO Stakeholder Engagement Manager supports the Senior DCO Engagement & Consultation Manager in planning and delivering stakeholder and community consultation for the Heathrow West DCO pre-application process. Acting as Deputy Lead, this role is the primary contact and leads engagement with Local Planning Authority elected officials, community groups, residents, businesses and non-governmental organizations. Core responsibilities include coordinating statutory and non-statutory consultation, ensuring compliance with Planning Act requirements, preparing materials, organizing meetings and events, and providing daily leadership to the engagement team. The position requires strong organizational skills and sound judgment in a complex, high-profile environment.

Major Responsibilities:

Consultation Delivery & Program Coordination

• Support the development and implementation of the DCO consultation strategy, ensuring alignment with project objectives and statutory requirements and consistency across stakeholder groups.
• Lead operational planning and execution of statutory and non-statutory community and public consultation activities.
• Coordinate community and public consultation activities with the Technical Consultation Project Manager to support consistent messaging and effective issues management.
• Translate strategic consultation requirements into comprehensive engagement plans, schedules, and delivery frameworks, adapting approaches as necessary to address stakeholder feedback and project developments.

Community/Public Consultation

• Lead engagement and be the main point of contact for Local Planning Authority elected representatives, community groups, residents, businesses, NGOs and the public.
• In consultation with the client and project leadership, prioritize community stakeholders and develop proportionate consultation approaches using both in-person and digital platforms.
• Collaborate with design and environment teams and their consultants to understand options and issues and to support preparation and delivery of stakeholder and public meetings, briefings and events.
• Identify and track key stakeholder issues and work with the Senior DCO Engagement Manager and project teams to manage and resolve.
• As required, submit relevant information obtained during consultations for the Pre-Application Issues Tracker, Lands and Registry Negotiation Tracker and Statements of Common Ground.
• Represent the project at consultation meetings, briefings and public events.
• Lead drafting and review of consultation materials, exhibition content, FAQs, and stakeholder briefings.
• Ensure technical accuracy while maintaining clarity and accessibility for public audiences.
• Support preparation of statutory notices and consultation documentation.
• Ensure document control, version management, and auditability of consultation materials.

Consultation Analysis & Reporting

• Support development of and oversee systems for capturing, tracking, and categorizing consultation feedback.
• Support qualitative and quantitative analysis of consultation responses.
• Ensure stakeholder feedback is clearly documented and appropriately addressed.
• Establish process for providing stakeholder and consultee feedback to technical teams and identifying how/if the feedback is utilized.
• Contribute to preparation of the Consultation Report, ensuring traceability between feedback received and project refinement.
• Maintain defensible records to support examination and potential legal scrutiny.
• Identify emerging stakeholder risks and sensitivities.
• Monitor stakeholder sentiment and local political dynamics.
• Develop response strategies and mitigation plans for consultation-related issues.
• Provide timely briefings to the Senior DCO Engagement & Consultation Manager on material risks.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, planning, public policy, social sciences, or related field and 10+ years delivering stakeholder engagement for major infrastructure or nationally significant projects, or 14+ years of relevant work experience.
• Experience supporting statutory consultation under the Planning Act 2008 or comparable regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to manage external consultants and coordinate multidisciplinary technical inputs.
• Experience in preparing consultation materials and contributing to formal Consultation Reports.
• Strong understanding of stakeholder mapping, engagement planning, and consultation data systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

Core Competencies

• Strong program coordination and organizational capability
• Stakeholder sensitivity and sound professional judgement
• Governance-focused with attention to statutory compliance
• Analytical and detail-oriented
• Collaborative and able to integrate cross-functional inputs
• Confident in stakeholder-facing environments

Other Requirements

• UK-based role requiring travel across Greater London and surrounding areas.
• Availability to attend evening and weekend consultation events as required.
• Ability to deputize for the Senior DCO Engagement & Consultation Manager when necessary

Bechtel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, disability, citizenship status (except as authorized by law), protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

We’re creating a space where all people, including those with disabilities, can advance their careers and optimize their possibilities through a fair and inclusive workplace. If reasonable adjustments are needed to apply for an open position, please contact us to ensure we can provide an environment where each and every candidate can thrive: accessta-sourcing@bechtel.com. Bechtel is a verified company with the Disability Confident Scheme.