Senior Stakeholder Manager

Application Deadline:
12 November 2025

Department:
Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs

Location:
Milton Keynes

Description
A little bit about us:
East West Rail is an infrastructure programme linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way. East West Railway Company (that's us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we're committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

Role Summary:
This role will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders along the route, ensuring their interests are considered and addressed throughout the Programme. This role involves proactive engagement, issue resolution, and collaboration with internal teams to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and support.

Function:
The Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs function is accountable for defining what EWR Co. is, and the impact it will deliver. It is accountable for securing the required approvals to deliver the scheme, being the custodian of the DCO submission, including statutory consultation, and building a compelling business case. It will hold design and delivery to account to create an asset which will realise the economic benefits.

Key Responsibilities
Develop and lead the co-ordination and delivery of stakeholder engagement strategies and activities across the Eastern/Western/Central section of the EWR route, to:

• Develop trusting relationships with stakeholders ranging from members of the public, Parish Councils, LA Councillors, Landowners, Businesses as well as with both elected and non-elected stakeholders where appropriate.
• Present EWR Co as a responsible business in all that we do, engaging with local people and having effective two-way conversations.

Manage engagement within the business to support the above outcomes, and dotted-line interests in a range of workstreams, by:

• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with the relevant Area Managers.
• Oversee external engagement across the business including, and not limited to, the delivery and design focus areas of the business.
• Oversee the strategic direction of stakeholder engagement towards securing a DCO.
• Work closely with teams across External Engagement including Policy, Legacy & Community & Political relations.
• Manage Local Representative Groups across the Eastern/Western/Central section of the route.
• Manage Community Conversations across the Eastern/Western/Central section of the route.
• Plan all engagement activities to align with the various stages of impact in the Eastern/Western/Central section of the route, including Construction phases where applicable.

Regular engagement activity including:

• Monitoring stakeholder concerns and issues, providing timely and effective responses.
• Coordinating and attending stakeholder meetings, briefings, and events.
• Prepare stakeholder communications, including reports, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Provide regular updates to the Head of Engagement on stakeholder engagement activities and issues.
• Take responsibility of your own and others' health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
• Demonstrates a cost-conscious mindset, keeping tax payers' money at the forefront of decisions.
• Shows a commitment to innovation by proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges and opportunities.
• Act as a role model for EWR Co's vision and behaviours, working in ways that are aligned with EWR Co's Ways of Working, as well as encouraging and supporting others to do so too.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven experience in stakeholder management, preferably within a large infrastructure project.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
• Experience in developing and implementing stakeholder engagement plans.

Benefits
What we offer:

• Competitive base salary

• Up to 12% employer's pension contribution

• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy

• Life assurance

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Access to a range of benefits on the Perkbox platform

• On-the-spot and annual awards

• Advanced learning and development programmes

• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities

• Enhanced family-friendly policies

• Exceptional IT tools

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual's work life balance and style

Diversity and Inclusion:
To discover the best solutions, it's important we embrace diversity of thought. That's why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.

We are open to secondments through the Rail Industry Talent Exchange Programme.