Director - DCO Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Reports to: Senior Director
Location: UK London
Employment Type: Full-time
Role Overview
A leading infrastructure and advisory organisation is seeking a strategic and experienced Director - DCO Communications & Stakeholder Engagement to lead communications, consultation, and stakeholder engagement activities across Development Consent Order (DCO) and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Reporting to the Senior Director, this role will support the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects through effective stakeholder management, public consultation, strategic communications, and reputational risk management.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead communications and stakeholder engagement strategies across DCO/NSIP projects.
- Manage relationships with local authorities, statutory consultees, government bodies, community groups, landowners, and project partners.
- Oversee public consultation programmes, exhibitions, and engagement activities in line with Planning Act 2008 requirements.
- Develop consultation materials, stakeholder communications, briefings, and reports.
- Advise project teams and senior leadership on stakeholder risks, political sensitivities, and reputational issues.
- Support DCO submissions through effective consultation reporting and stakeholder management.
- Work collaboratively with planning, land, engineering, environmental, and legal teams.
Required Experience
- Significant experience in stakeholder engagement, communications, public affairs, or infrastructure planning.
- Strong understanding of UK DCO / NSIP processes and statutory consultation requirements.
- Experience delivering stakeholder engagement strategies for major infrastructure or development projects.
- Excellent communication, relationship management, and organisational skills.
- Ability to manage complex and high-profile stakeholder environments.
Preferred Background
- Experience within infrastructure sectors such as energy, transport, utilities, rail, water, or aviation is advantageous.
Key Skills
Strategic communications
Stakeholder engagement
Public consultation
Reputational risk management
Political awareness
Relationship management
Project coordination
Opportunity
This is an opportunity to play a key role in delivering nationally significant infrastructure projects that support long-term growth and community development across the UK.
