Stakeholder Management Associate in Edinburgh

Ocean Winds is a leading developer operator of offshore wind projects in Scotland and is playing a leading role in tackling climate change and supporting energy security. Ocean Winds is looking for a Stakeholder Management Associate to play an important role in growing the profile and reputation of Ocean Winds (OW), and its projects, in the UK. The post holder will organise and manage arrangements for events and external communications to enable the objectives of OW. The role will also cover supporting skills development initiatives and contributing to initiatives to promote local content in the projects.

The successful candidate will work closely with other staff in the External Affairs and Policy team and be proactive in their communications across the OW team and with relevant external parties. The role’s main responsibilities will cover supporting delivery of the aims and work plans of the External Affairs and Policy unit of Ocean Winds in the UK and Ireland by enabling the implementation of stakeholder management and communications plans for projects and wider OW activities, particularly around communications, events, skills and supply chain development.

• Act as a champion for OW and its projects amongst relevant stakeholders.
• Build a solid understanding of offshore wind farm development, construction and operation, onshore and offshore, to allow you to provide information to local communities as appropriate.
• Represent Ocean Winds at trade association meetings, working groups, industry events and bilateral stakeholder meetings.

• Support the development and implementation of project stakeholder engagement and communication strategies and plans.
• Maintain stakeholder mapping in the regions that OW is active in the UK.
• Compile briefing materials and technical notes for the wider OW team.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation and trackers for advocacy and stakeholder engagement, events, communications, budgets and payments.
• Collect, analyse, and use data to identify opportunities to improve the relationship between the business and stakeholders, and achieve the stakeholder engagement objectives.

• Contribute to and maintain external communications plan covering planned press releases and social media posts.
• Track media coverage and summarise analysis for weekly External Affairs and Policy meetings.
• Arrange and attend PR events as required.
• Maintain project websites, including where relevant in liaison with 3rd party contractors.
• Produce or procure high quality materials in support of project events and communication initiatives, such as newsletters, videos, merchandise, presentations and branding materials.

• Map relevant third-party events that may be relevant to the objectives of OW and its projects.
• Undertake arrangements around agreed 3rd party events including agreed package of sponsorship, payments, arranging support contractors, drafting communications, co-ordinating travel and accommodation of OW team, maximising speaker opportunities and securing relevant OW speakers, attend events and act as internal co-ordinator for OW presence.
• Liaise with project teams, including within the External Affairs unit, to identify year-ahead plans for internally organised events.
• Undertake all arrangements to ensure successful event with relevant stakeholders aware of the event and agreed promotion of the event.

• Work with wider OW team to develop and implement local supply chain strategy and related initiatives to create local economic benefits.
• Work with HR department and wider project teams to develop and implement the skills development strategy including liaison with skills development agencies and contractors.
• To include supporting STEM engagement.

• Educated to degree level, preferably in or closely related to the following subjects: economics, politics, public relations, public policy, law, marketing, journalism, events management, economic development, planning, business studies.
• Approximately 3 years’ experience in at least one of the following areas is required: stakeholder management, communications and/or public relations, public affairs, economic development, skills development, community engagement, policy and strategy development, events management, supply chain development, marketing, design and branding.
• Demonstrable track record of successful events, communications or supply chain development experience.
• A focus on offshore wind, energy, renewables, environment, or policy would be advantageous.

• Knowledge and demonstrable interest in the UK energy, renewables and offshore wind sectors, and their policy and stakeholder environment.
• The core technical characteristics of offshore wind farm generation equipment, and lifecycle stages.
• The UK electricity market processes and challenges including the Contracts for Difference (CfD) mechanism.
• Understanding of UK and Scottish Government structures and processes.
• Insight into advocacy and external affairs practices, using key messages (from policy and projects) to influence stakeholders.
• Experience of conducting and managing projects.
• Experience of presenting plentiful, technical and complex data in a simple, audience-specific, visually appealing and easily consumable way.

• An enthusiastic, committed and self-motivated worker with a curious and proactive approach, who is attentive to detail and has good written and oral communication skills.
• Organized and efficient with an ability to prioritise, multitask and work to challenging deadlines.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, information intensive environment, within a multi-disciplinary team across a number of specialist areas and organisational cultures.
• Ability to communicate and build relationships across all levels of the project team and with a range of external stakeholders of varying age and seniority.
• Expected to produce high quality materials (papers, presentations, briefings, press releases, social media posts) in a concise and professional manner that is adapted to the audience.
• High standard of writing and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite and WordPress.

• The business has an international team of employees, and the working language is English. Candidates need to be fluent in English both spoken and written. Proficiency in other languages will be valued.

• Ocean Winds is an inclusive employer, supporting diversity in the workplace. Hybrid working between an OW office and home is supported (Aberdeenshire or London based homeworking will be considered). The expectation is of 2/3 days per week in either Edinburgh, Buckie or Fraserburgh.