Senior Public Affairs Manager – Strategic Infrastructure

Overview

As Senior Public Affairs Manager for Strategic Infrastructure, you will shape external perception and influence policy for National Grid’s SI portfolio. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide political intelligence, manage stakeholder engagement, and steer strategic campaigns that support major transmission projects like the Great Grid Upgrade. Your work will help align regulatory and political developments with SI goals, enabling safer, reliable, and efficient energy delivery. This role offers high-impact, cross-border advocacy at UK and devolved levels in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Pay / Benefits

• base salary 85,000-90,000
• company car or allowance
• bonus up to 40% of salary
• contributory pension with up to 12% company match
• flexible benefits including share incentive plan
• salary sacrifice technology scheme and EAP

Responsibilities

• Lead external reputation-building and stakeholder influence through strategic corporate campaigns
• Strengthen SI relationships with UK politicians, civil servants, and key stakeholders across business, trade associations, think tanks, and academia
• Contribute to policy development and consultation responses to enhance reputation and external understanding of corporate strategy
• Advise SI senior leaders on political intelligence and insights to support business decisions
• Build and maintain a network of external contacts and share intelligence with the business
• Identify current and future strategic issues in the UK affecting SI and coordinate with Corporate Affairs, Investor Relations, and Corporate Strategy
• Manage the performance and development of direct reports

Key requirements

• Extensive experience in public affairs, government relations, or corporate communications in energy, utilities, or corporate sectors
• Strong understanding of political landscape, regulatory processes, and key utilities stakeholders
• Proven ability to develop and execute successful public affairs strategies for reputation and engagement
• High-level communications ability and proactive leadership
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to influence senior stakeholders
• Excellent presentation skills and credible external spokesperson capability
• Experience in crisis communications and managing high-pressure situations
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, multi-priority environment

• leadership
• interpersonal skills
• excellent communication
• public affairs strategy development
• stakeholder management
• risk and crisis communications

…