Head of Stakeholder Engagement

**Head of Stakeholder Engagement**:
**Reporting to: Managing Director**
- CJ Associates is a specialist project management company providing strategic, technical and planning advice and assistance in delivering major infrastructure projects. We have particular expertise in managing the consents and authorisation processes required for such schemes including critical strategy formation, coordination/integration of multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholder consultation.**Role Description**:
We are seeking to engage a senior individual to lead, develop and manage the company’s stakeholder engagement capability and to help us achieve our long-term strategic objectives for growth, profitability and reputation.

The increasing demand for a more professional approach to stakeholder engagement and consultation, especially during early scheme development of major infrastructure, is set to continue and presents a significant growth opportunity for CJ Associates as a business and is an exciting career opportunity for the individual chosen to lead the team.

We are fortunate to be already engaged to provide these services on several high-profile transport projects, and have an established track record of previous successful assignments that provide the foundation from which the Head of Stakeholder Engagement will develop and enhance this area of our business - to serve other sectors as well as transport infrastructure.

**Outline of Responsibilities**:

- To raise the profile and reputation of CJA’s stakeholder engagement and consultation capability across the wider infrastructure sector (not just transport)
- To build and develop relationships with key public and private sector clients and organisations responsible for the initiation and delivery of infrastructure projects
- To prepare and align the business to take advantage of key future opportunities when they arise
- To develop the stakeholder engagement and consultation capability of the business and competence of the staff
- To contribute to business performance improvement initiatives across all aspects of the business and our service delivery
- Management of staff and their professional development, including recruitment of new talent and succession planning for the future
- Contribute to the strategic development and direction of the company overall

**Knowledge required**:

- Degree qualified or equivalent experience in a communications, stakeholder engagement or business management role
- Extensive experience of managing stakeholder engagement and consultation at a senior level on major infrastructure projects on behalf of high profile clients
- Understanding of Politics and the political environment nationally and in relevant regions, knowledge of local authority structures and processes
- Broad understanding of national infrastructure provision and relevant legislation
- Good understanding of both the legal and political dimensions to consultation and engagement, including thorough knowledge of public consultation best practice
- Experience of managing an SME professional consultancy business
- Experience of project management and control of cost for the business and for clients

**Skills & Experience**:

- Effectively represent CJA and/or our Clients at senior level with Politicians, CEO’s and directors of private and public sector organisations
- Manage relationships with senior community, business, industry, and political figures as the figurehead of our stakeholder engagement and consultation team
- Handle complex political and public relations issues and resolve conflict
- Demonstrate emotional intelligence in dealing with all stakeholders
- And will also have:

- a proven track record of leading a high performing team in a communications or business management role, ‘inspiring and developing’ the people you manage, and respond to emergency requests and work out of normal hours to suit the business requirements if required
- An understanding and practiced ability to establish and deliver work plans within a project environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to build relationships quickly and effectively at all levels