Independent Stakeholder Group - Committee Member in Wales

Location: Newport

Salary: £15,000

Contract: 18‑Month Fixed Term Contract

Closing date: 16 March 2026

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Who are we? We are a gas distribution business that services the gas infrastructure across Wales and the south‑west of England. We serve our customers and communities with safe, reliable, and affordable energy services whilst investing to create a sustainable future to deliver our carbon‑free vision for 2050.

The Independent Stakeholder Group (ISG) challenge acts to challenge and scrutinise the Company Business Plan to help produce a business plan which reflects the view of customers, consumers and stakeholders. Additionally, ISGs also have a role in ensuring wider stakeholder engagement.

We’ll trust you to:

• Consider and challenge the implementation of the Wales and West Utilities RIIO-3 Business Plan.
• Review and challenge the scale, reach and effectiveness of stakeholder engagement undertaken by the company.
• Prepare fully for each meeting, including considering papers and raising any issues in advance of the meeting with the ISG secretariat or the Chair.
• Actively participate in meetings and support open discussion and debate, whilst encouraging fellow members to voice their insights and opinions.
• Attend Wales and West Utilities Business plan workstream meetings and stakeholder engagement events as required, this is usually 10 times per annum, with a mix of virtual and in‑person meetings. It is expected that the successful candidate would attend at least 50% of the meetings in‑person.

We would also love to hear about anything else you feel you could add or bring to the role!

What you need to have:

• To be considered for the ISG, you would need to have leadership experience of stakeholder engagement and public affairs in a highly regulated industry, alongside demonstrable strategic leadership in the following areas:
• Strong experience in overseeing and development of strategic public affairs and stakeholder engagement programmes to pursue organisational objectives using analysis and insight; with a track record of advising at senior levels in a highly regulated sector.
• Experience of overseeing the development and use of stakeholder mapping tools and evaluation frameworks, to support strategic objectives, effectively interpreting data and using it to assess impact.
• Understanding of how customer service metrics should feed through and impact upon organisational activity.
• An understanding of devolved government structures in Wales and South West England, the areas served by Wales and West Utilities.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills, along with the ability to analyse complex issues and provide clear and consistent advice and insight.
• Knowledge of the current pressures facing the energy sector, government, and a keen level of political understanding and commercial acumen. Ideally, insight into fuel poverty and the impact on vulnerable customers.
• Welsh language skills would be an advantage.

It is expected that the successful candidate will have director‑level experience in a customer‑centric organisation and will have contributed to the strategic direction of that organisation.

The way we do things: Our Ambition, Priorities and Values inform everything we do as a business – from our strategic planning to the performance management of our colleagues. Our values underpin everything we do and we are committed to creating a working environment that supports and fosters diversity, inclusion and equity, where all of our colleagues feel valued and supported to contribute to their full potential. We are focused on creating a culture where it doesn’t matter about gender, race, sexuality or disability; it’s about our colleagues’ skills, the way we do things and how we live our values.

Interested? You can find out more here. If you think you’d make a good addition to the team, we would love to hear from you!

To apply: To apply, applicants should send a two‑page summary of their CV, including two references, with a one‑page covering letter FAO Peter Haigh.

Contact: If you would like to discuss the role in a little more detail, you can contact Sophie Shorney, Engagement and Social Impact Manager. You can also ask us about flexible working practices that may be available or tell us if you have any special requirements during the application process.