Principal Strategic Engagement and Social Value Specialist

• Principal Strategic Engagement and Social Value Specialist
• Join to apply for the
• Principal Strategic Engagement and Social Value Specialist role at
• Western Power

Step into a career-defining role at the forefront of WA’s energy transformation.

As our Principal Strategic Engagement and Social Value Specialist, you will champion Western Power’s strategic engagement activities which will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of the Clean Energy Link – one of the state’s most significant transmission expansion initiatives.

In this influential position, you’ll drive high-impact strategic engagement ensuring our major transmission projects not only succeed technically, but also deliver meaningful social outcomes and strengthen Western Power’s reputation across the communities we serve.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive social performance initiatives and strategies, aligned to the Social Performance and Approvals Framework, that support major infrastructure implementation, while delivering long-term positive outcomes to stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with strategic external stakeholders, including government agencies, industry, community groups, and other key influencers.
• Represent Western Power in high-level discussions, forums and working groups related to the engagement and social performance aspects of the transmission infrastructure projects.
• Collaborate with project teams to integrate social performance considerations into planning, design and execution phases. This includes, though is not limited to:
• Leading the assessment of social impacts of infrastructure projects through critical analysis and effective engagement of affected stakeholders.
• Identifying social performance criteria relevant for decision-making inputs on technical solutions to facilitate preliminary discussions on weighting or similar methodologies.
• Facilitating sessions with internal and external audiences to support transparent and objective options refinement and selection.
• Provide high-level strategic advice senior leadership team and decision-makers on social performance initiatives, risks and opportunities.
• Evaluate and report on the project performance against the social performance metrics throughout the project lifecycle, noting the aim to build place-based acceptance for the project and protect it from risk.
• Drive the management cadence of monitoring, reporting and audits of the social impact assessment process through all phases of the investment governance project cycle.
• Ensure effective communication, stakeholder management, organisational readiness, and adequate management of change impacts to enable program objectives to be achieved without unnecessary or unacceptable business disruption.
• Build and maintain a constructive and consultative working environment through open communication and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Advocate for and influence social performance outcomes within Western Power, including leading the internal change management for the Framework’s, and its associated initiatives’, implementation.
• Providing mentoring and coaching to others as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Engineering, Business Management, Economics, Project Management, Finance, or related discipline.
• Broad and deep knowledge and extensive experience in managing and delivering social performance programs in mining, construction and or infrastructure sector.
• Proactive, tenacious, and strong influencing - skills to drive successful delivery of results and meet stakeholder expectations.
• Extensive negotiation and relationship skills and the ability to communicate at all levels of the organisation including C Suite.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills including demonstrated ability to consult, guide and influence decision makers using appropriate authority.
• Extensive business acumen, analytical and problem-solving skills and exposure to risk management and governance processes.
• Demonstrated management of consultants, including project delivery, budgeting, and reporting.
• Significantly well-developed analytical skills required to be applied to complex organisational challenges and opportunities.
• Significant experienced in stakeholder management, including community engagement and stakeholder facilitation.
• Extensive demonstrated experience in external stakeholder and community engagement, including devising and executing on engagement strategies.

Benefits

• Over 50% of our employment opportunities are driven by career progression.
• Flexible work arrangements to support part time work, working hours and working from home arrangements.
• The opportunity to purchase up to four weeks of additional leave per year.
• Access to salary packaging, social club activities, and discounted health insurance and gym membership.
• An award-winning employee recognition and benefits programme.
• An innovative team culture that’s enabling the transition to renewable energy and decarbonisation.
• In addition to standard leave, enjoy three wellness leave days each year.
• Access to end-of-trip facilities at our Perth office and South Metro Depot, perfect for cyclists.
• 22 weeks paid parental leave and 5 days of First Nations cultural leave to support family and cultural connections.
• Applications close on 2 December 2025

We value diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

As a WORK180-endorsed employer for women, we are proud of our commitment to inclusion.

You can learn more about this through our Reconciliation Action Plan and Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.

• Learn more about Western Power here: About (westernpower. com. au)
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