Community Engagement Manager

We are unique

Essential Energy is an organisation that values your voice, empowers your autonomy, recognises the strength in diversity, and prioritises your well‑being while offering attractive remuneration and benefits. Take pride in having a meaningful impact on regional, rural and remote communities while playing a pivotal role in delivering the energy infrastructure of the future.

About the role

We're seeking an experienced Community Engagement Manager to lead engagement activities within Essential Energy's Renewable Distribution Program (RDP).  The RDP is a newly-established branch within the organisation whose role is to develop and deliver expansions and upgrades of Essential Energy's sub-transmission network in order to accelerate the connection of grid-scale wind, solar and battery storage.  This new branch aims to play a key role in the renewable energy transition in NSW.

Reporting to the General Manager Renewable Distribution Program, this role is accountable for building and maintaining strong relationships with landowners, communities, government and key stakeholders. You'll manage a tightly-knit team and ensure transparent, timely and effective communication throughout project lifecycles while providing strategic advice to senior leaders and safeguarding Essential Energy's reputation.

This is a permanent opportunity and can be based anywhere within Essential Energy's operational footprint.

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversee engagement with landowners in relation to property access, easements and acquisitions

• Oversee the development and delivery of high‑quality communications materials explaining project activities, impacts and contact points 

• Ensure accurate record keeping and compliance with engagement strategies, plans and regulatory requirements 

• Work closely with Planning Approvals to support engagement activities linked to approvals processes 

• Partner with the First Nations Engagement team to oversee Indigenous engagement approaches and initiatives 

• Manage project‑related media enquiries and engage proactively with local media in line with communications protocols 

• Provide high‑level strategic advice to senior leadership on engagement risks, opportunities and emerging issues 

• Collaborate closely with peers responsible for regulatory, generators and project controls; and with project management leads for each of the RDP lifecycle phases (development, pre-construction and delivery)

• Build effective relationships with NSW Government agencies, councils, developers and industry partners 

• Deliver regular executive reporting and meet regulatory reporting obligations for relevant government bodies

About You

You're a senior engagement professional with strong political and stakeholder awareness, able to confidently operate in complex, highly visible project environments. You bring sound judgement, credibility and the ability to influence at senior levels while balancing community, government and organisational expectations.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in senior stakeholder or community engagement roles within project environments

• Proven experience managing sensitive issues involving landowners, government and community groups

• Strong external communications experience and an understanding of interacting with the media

• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including setting direction and managing change 

• High‑level influencing, negotiation and relationship management skills

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor degree in Communications, Public Policy or equivalent demonstrated experience 

Why Essential Energy

Essential Energy provides employees with a broad range of employee benefits through our corporate partnerships with organisations such as Qantas, Optus, NIB and Mildura Health Fund. You will also gain access to our Health and Wellbeing programs including fitness passport. Visit our employee benefits page for more information. 

We are proud to be recognised as a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for All Women.

An energy network doesn't just keep the lights on — it's a living system that must adapt to new and emerging technologies while continuing to meet customer needs. At Essential Energy, your expertise will help shape a safer, more resilient network for communities across our footprint.

For further information please contact David Coker – General Manager Renewable Distribution Program on

Applications close on Monday 26 January 2026 at 11:55pm.

Passionate people. Global thinking. Regional heart.
Building a better energy future.

Essential Energy is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages applicants to apply regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.    

As an organisation, our aim is to champion inclusivity in the workplace and celebrate the difference in all our employees.  

At Essential Energy, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to Essential Energy (including alternate formats of application forms or alternate ways for accessibility). To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact or call us on