Summary

• $85,000 - $95,000 pro rata p.a. plus super depending on skills and experience
• 0.8 FTE
• Work from home with some travel
• Preferably located in regional NSW
• One-year contract with intention for renewal subject to funding
• Shape a brand new role working with NSW rural and regional leaders in the transition to renewable energy

About Us

RE-Alliance (REA) is an independent not-for-profit working to deliver a renewable energy transformation in Australia filled with sustainable, long-term benefits for regional communities.

We do this by listening to the needs and concerns of local communities hosting renewable energy infrastructure, facilitating collaboration across the industry to achieve social good and advocating for improved regional outcomes at a policy level.

We place regional development at the centre of the renewable energy shift. Solar, wind, transmission, and storage projects can contribute to regional prosperity and give regional Australian families certainty that there will be jobs and opportunities in their communities for decades to come.

For the renewable energy industry, we are experts on how to build trust with rural and regional Australia and make a meaningful difference. To Governments, we are advocates for policy settings that leverage the energy transformation to become a vehicle for regional renewal across Australia.

We have a growing team of staff, spread out across regional Australia, dedicated to a just and timely energy transition to achieve significant emissions reduction this decade.

The Role

The focus of this position is working with regional communities, local governments and the renewable energy industry towards the ultimate goal of helping the transition to renewables benefit local regional economies and communities.

The Community Engagement Manager will have the skills and experience to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders including local government representatives, business chambers, energy developers, Traditional Owners, unions, social service organisations, farmers, journalists, environmental groups, politicians and public servants.

Using the strategic insight generated through community engagement the position will advocate, educate and organise to address local concerns, improve industry practices and deliver local benefits.

The role will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to:

• Closely work with and understand the challenges and opportunities facing rural and regional communities in Renewable Energy Zones
• Work with rural and regional leaders to develop and advocate for solutions
• Find positive case studies to share with other regions

The Community Engagement Manager will report to the REA Advocacy Director and work closely with the whole REA team, including providing input to program and project strategies, and adapting and responding to changing circumstances to advance the goals of REA.

The Community Engagement Manager will have a valid drivers licence and access to a car is essential for this role to attend meetings and events. Some overnight and interstate travel will occur on occasion. Reimbursement for reasonable expenses will be provided, subject to approval.

Key Responsibilities

The Community Engagement Manager will be responsible for:

• Building and maintaining productive relationships with a wide range of local community stakeholders in Renewable Energy Zones to build engagement and support, including identifying, recruiting, cultivating, building and retaining the trust of a wide range of different people with varying backgrounds, interests and approaches.
• Maintaining productive relationships with Government Departmental staff and Members of Parliament to advocate for policy settings needed to enable support for regions transitioning to renewable energy.
• Supporting and building the capacity of community stakeholders to self-organise and network, including facilitating local community leaders’ engagement with government and industry.
• Leading advocacy work alongside community leaders to governments and industry for improved community outcomes.
• Identifying opportunities to promote positive examples of how renewables can benefit regions in the media and at events.
• Contributing to the preparation of papers, reports and documentation to ensure strong community engagement and support community participation in renewable energy planning, policy development and advocacy.
• Building the success of the REA team through positive and flexible contributions to the organisation.

About You

Attributes:

• Always professional, demonstrating courage, ethical work standards and a high level of integrity.
• A clear and open communicator who works to facilitate trust with the team and partners.
• Innovative, looking for creative solutions when situations are complex and directions are not clear.
• Persistent, resilient and resourceful to achieve outcomes in the face of challenges and setbacks.
• Effective under pressure and able to operate autonomously or contribute as part of a team as the situation demands.
• Flexible and adaptable to transition between tasks and projects and move with change.
• Genuinely committed to ethical management and inclusivity in decision-making, and principles of social justice and equitable access.
• Willing and able to work collaboratively in a small, interdependent team.

Capabilities:

• Ability to develop productive relationships with local government representatives, local business chambers, energy developers, unions, social service organisations, Traditional Owners, farmers, journalists, environmental groups and others.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, incorporating verbal and written communication, negotiation, facilitation, problem-solving and influencing skills to engage a variety of stakeholders.
• Project management skills with experience in planning and coordinating community events of different types and different scales including in highly sensitive contexts.
• Problem-solving skills to resolve challenges independently using initiative and judgement.
• Highly effective time management and organisational skills to get outcomes and meet tight deadlines, with proven ability to manage a broad range of tasks simultaneously and achieve complex goals.
• Good written skills to prepare reports, submissions and information pieces with a high degree of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness or ability to complete training and take action to build cultural awareness and capabilities.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential:

• At least 3 years of professional experience in community development, community consultation, engagement, advocacy, government relations or related fields.
• Demonstrated record of maintaining productive relationships with state or local government to advocate or deliver outcomes.
• Demonstrated record of delivering successful community events at a range of scales in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, including adapting to challenges and managing sensitive issues.
• High-level written and oral communication skills with experience communicating complex concepts to a wide range of audiences.
• A passion for building Australia’s renewable energy future and improving the fabric of regional communities.
• Current valid driver’s licence and ability to travel.
• Familiarity with Slack, Monday.com, Google suite (Gmail, Google Docs/Sheets/Slides) and MS Office suite (Teams, Word, Excel, Powerpoint).

Desirable:

• A deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities facing rural and regional Australia.
• Strong understanding of the Australian renewable energy sector landscape including opportunities and challenges.
• Living in, or well connected with, regional NSW.

If you’d like to discuss the role, please contact our Advocacy Director, Lu Allan, via [email protected] using the subject line: NSW Community Engagement Manager - Remote / Work From Home enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.