Head of External Affairs

The Role
Location: Hybrid – East Midlands / Bristol / South Wales / London with UK travel
Salary: Competitive + bonus + benefits
Shape the Future of Customer and Stakeholder Engagement at National Grid Electricity Distribution
At National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), we're building the electricity network of the future - one that's smarter, cleaner, and fairer.

As we prepare for the next price control period (RIIO-ED3), we are seeking a senior leader to take ownership of our customer and stakeholder engagement strategy and ensure that the voices of our customers, communities and stakeholders are at the heart of our decisions.

This is a unique opportunity to influence how we plan, invest and deliver across our distribution network, ensuring we meet Ofgem's expectations and play a leading role in enabling the UK's transition to net zero.

What's in it for you?

Competitive Salary between £73,000 p.a. to £91,000 p.a. Depending on experience.

As well as your base salary, you will receive an electric company car or car allownce, a bonus based on personal and company performance (up to 40%0 and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

What You'll Be Doing
As Head of Customer & Stakeholder Engagement, you will:

• Develop and deliver an industry-leading engagement strategy for RIIO-ED3.
• Ensure our business plans are shaped by robust, inclusive customer and stakeholder insights.
• Lead relationships with consumer challenge groups, local authorities, industry partners, community representatives and customer advocacy bodies.
• Oversee innovative and inclusive engagement programmes that reach all customer groups, including vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities.
• Demonstrate to regulators, stakeholders and our Board how engagement has directly influenced investment priorities, outputs, and service improvements.
• Build and lead a high-performing team that champions the customer voice across the organisation.

About You
We are looking for an inspirational leader with:

• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, market research, regulation, or customer strategy - ideally within the regulated utilities or infrastructure sectors.
• In-depth understanding of regulatory price controls and the role of stakeholder engagement in business plan formation.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to turn insights into impactful business decisions.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, confident engaging with senior executives, regulators, and community stakeholders alike.
• A passion for inclusion and fairness, ensuring that all voices are heard, particularly those of vulnerable or underrepresented groups.
• A track record of building and leading high-performing teams.

Skills
Find a better way - Work with others to find solutions for customers

Find a better way - Embrace the power and opportunity of diversity

Do the right thing - Speak up challenge and act where something doesnt feel right

Find a better way - Increase efficiency to help with customer affordability

Make it happen - Be bold and act with passion and purpose

Do the right thing - Put our customers first

Make it happen - Focus on progress over perfection

Do the right thing - Be inclusive supporting and caring for each other

Make it happen - Take personal ownership for delivering results

Make it happen - Follow the problem through to the end

Do the right thing - Stand up for safety every day

Find a better way - Commit to learning and new ideas

More Information
The closing date for this position is Friday 24th October, please ensure you have submitted your application by this date.