Head of External Relations

The Head of External Relations has responsibility for the communities, communications, lobbying, stakeholder engagement and policy work of the company. Role Responsibilities: Support the Business through policy and stakeholder engagement and management to achieve it’s objectives. To effectively lead the CER Team providing direction and support to the team, including positively developing team members and ensuring the working environment is respectful, productive, positive and supportive. As part of the MEL Leadership team, help maintain high standards within the business and help deliver ongoing business improvement, appropriate to MEL’s position as a developer and employer of choice. Lead on developing the overall company brand and reputation with industry, government and the public, ensuring the MEL brand is known as a knowledgeable and trusted developer Lead on the development of the company position on government policy and a consistent company voice in policy consultations, including engagement with working groups industry representatives and governmental bodies, including agencies. Sit on and actively participate in senior-level industry working groups to further MEL understanding of emerging policy positions and to lobby for changes most advantageous to the business. These should include, but not be limited to, Scottish Government led working groups, UK Government led working groups, activities associated with Scottish Renewables and with Renewable UK and any other industry or governmental body as appropriate. Support the Project Teams, including the Communities Managers to achieve maximum support for our projects Supporting the Communities Managers with engagement to reach an agreement on project specific initial investment funds pre-construction, Community Investment Funds and where relevant Community Shared Ownership Supporting the Communities Managers and the project teams to build and maintain relationships with members of the communities, key individuals, and other organisations and to organise community events and communications and coordinate regular events that promote projects, developments, or ideas of the company. Support and direct the Communications Manager on communications for the business to promote its projects, ideas and updates with industry, government and the public and on the planning and management of business social media strategy including collaborating on content and managing external contracts Support and direct the Communications Manager on public press updates, including responding to inquiries from media outlets, working with third party PR agencies when necessary. Requirements Proficiency in Word, Excel, Microsoft Teams, and PowerPoint, including the ability to create and deliver compelling presentations, analyse data, and prepare professional documents. Strong ability to deliver impactful presentations, clearly articulate complex information, and confidently engage with diverse audiences at industry events and public forums. Leadership Expertise- builds influential stakeholder relationships, enhances brand reputation, manages crises, and leads high-performing teams to align external relations with business objectives. Effective Communication- excels in verbal and written communication, delivering clear, persuasive messaging to diverse stakeholders, representing the company with credibility, and ensuring alignment across all external communications. Collaborative Teamwork- Can work cooperatively with others, sharing knowledge, learning from feedback, and contributing positively to the team’s objectives. Empathy and Cultural Sensitivity- Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse needs, cultures, and backgrounds of stakeholder. Delivering against business goals- ensures that external engagement strategies align with and drive business objectives, leveraging stakeholder relationships, reputation management, and strategic communications to deliver measurable impact. Professional stakeholder engagement and renewable energy/ community sectors experience Related professional qualification preferred but not required. Experience and understanding of the policy and