Community Liaison Officer

Who We Are:
At Northland, we're enablers of change, united by our journey to transform the energy sector into the foundation for a sustainable future.

Since our inception, we've been early movers in the energy industry, adopting new initiatives that pave the way for communities across the globe and helping forge their path towards a carbon-neutral landscape.

We're a different kind of independent power producer. As developers, owners and operators who are at the forefront of the energy transition, we're uniquely positioned to leave a lasting impact in the regions where we operate. We've expanded our business across Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia to become a global leader, all by bringing together industry experts to find solutions with an entrepreneurial mindset.

While our work powers communities across the globe, Northland is powered by our people.

Who we are:
We are looking for a Community Liaison Officer to support the development of our Spiorad na Mara offshore wind project, which is proposed to be developed off the Northwest coast of Scotland, near the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The project is a joint venture between Northland Power (75.5%) and ESB (24.5%).

What you'll do:

Sitting as part of the project team and reporting to the Stakeholder & Engagement Manager, with the support of the Community Relations team, the Community Liaison Officer is responsible for establishing, building and maintaining a comprehensive network of contacts and relationships in the communities surrounding the Spiorad na Mara project.

This means being the first point of contact for the communities closest to the projects, to relay community perspectives and feedback to the project team and to pass on project information to the community.

You will be engaging with local residents, representatives of local community groups, businesses, local officials, elected representatives, educational institutions, and other local rightsholders and stakeholders. A key part of the role will be to help explore with the community ways of optimising the benefits and opportunities which the project could deliver, and also anticipating and help to mitigate any social challenges / concerns that the project could have.

Key Accountabilities

• Be the first point of contact for the communities closest to the project.
• Establish, build and maintain a comprehensive network of local relationships.
• Shape and deliver local stakeholder and community engagement plans in collaboration with colleagues in the project team and relevant consultants/contractors.
• Help deliver public consultation events and group briefings and presentations.
• Respond to, re-direct and resolve queries, complaints and concerns in a timely and professional manner and making the project team aware of any issues immediately.
• Maintain detailed, up-to-date records of all queries, complaints and engagements, using the project's stakeholder database system, and feeding these into the project development process as required.
• Gain and share an understanding of stakeholder and rightsholder perspectives and be aware of local issues and sensitivities.
• Promote local employment, local supply chain opportunities, environmental education, professional development and local community workshops.
• Assess local sponsorship and donation opportunities and help to promote these sponsorship opportunities externally.
• Prepare and provide input into relevant reports, press releases and other communications, e.g. newsletters, website updates, as required.

Role Requirements & Experience

• Demonstrable experience in building and maintaining relationships at a local level. At least 3 years of relevant experience in a community-facing role, ideally in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a passion for working with people.
• Ability to work well remotely with colleagues working in other locations as well as attend the Stornoway office or other Northland Power offices according to work needs.
• Ability to identify potential issues and problems and suggest solutions, changes and/or corrective actions.
• Resilient: able to navigate the 'highs' and 'lows' of project development.
• Ability to prioritise workload effectively in order to respond to numerous, diverse challenges and demands.
• Ability to recognise the merits of different approaches and use them in different situations, to meet the needs of the audience and the organisation.
• Must have basic computer skills (MS Office programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and an advanced level of written and spoken English language.
• Must have a driving license and access to a car to facilitate attendance at meetings and events across the island.
• Understanding of local culture, heritage and Gaelic language is an asset.
• Follows through on commitments.
• Treats others with dignity and respect; is professional and considerate of their needs.
• Values inclusion; treats all people equally regardless of their ethnicity, level or background.

We will also consider someone with less experience, but who demonstrates the potential to grow into this role.Although the role is being advertised on a full-time basis, part-time candidates will also be considered where suitable, and flexible working and job shares can be considered.Being located on the Isle of Lewis is desirable, as the role will require frequent in-person presence on the island. Working from home is supported, other than when face-to-face meetings are required. The role will require at least 2 days a week working from the Stornoway office or other island locations such as community drop in events.

What's In It for You:

Our employees are the driving force behind our achievements. We are unwavering in our commitment to not only recognise your contributions but also to empower you to excel in every aspect of your life. Here's a glimpse of why Northland is the place where you'll truly thrive:

• Presence with purpose - You can take advantage of our hybrid model (team-dependent, you work from wherever makes you most comfortable). Our Workplace Reimagined framework offers flex time so you can define your work schedule within certain parameters.
• Thoughtful benefits - Private health insurance cover, dental and vision benefits for yourself and your immediate family from day one; additional pay during parental leave; and life insurance and disability benefits are just a few of the benefits you'll be able to access.
• Wellbeing first - Staying true to our taking care of ourselves and each other value, you will have access to our global Wellness Program and mental health resources.
• Birthdays off - You will get your birthday off work so you can celebrate however you choose. This is a paid day off to do what is important to you!
• Continuous Learning support- You will gain new skills by accessing LinkedIn Learning's on-demand platform with 16,000+ courses in multiple languages, and by taking advantage of our education reimbursement program.

We hire talented and passionate people from different backgrounds. If you're excited about a role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with this job description, we still encourage you to apply. Learn more about our diversity, inclusion and belonging commitments

Disclaimer

This document is a guide. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the jobs as described herein are not inclusive and are subject to change.

Northland Power is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to creating a fair, inclusive and accessible environment. As part of our commitment we work to ensure our application process is accessible to all candidates. If you require special assistance or accommodation during the hiring process, please notify a member of the HR Department.

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