Community Engagement Manager

Job Title: Community and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, ANZ

Department: Communications and External Affairs

Reporting to: Head of Communications & External Affairs

Location: Sydney, Australia

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.

Lightsource bp operates with five core values: Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability, and Drive.

We seek to attract and hire individuals who share our commitment to creating a safe workplace, uphold the highest standards of integrity, and demonstrate respect for colleagues, communities, and the environment. Our recruitment process promotes sustainability by valuing long-term growth and responsible practices, while seeking candidates with the drive to innovate and lead in the global energy transition.

Together, these values shape how we engage, assess, and welcome talent to join us in delivering transformational solar power solutions worldwide.

Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What you’ll do (the role)

Summary

Lightsource bp is seeking a Community and Stakeholder Engagement Manager to support the delivery of a portfolio of renewable energy projects across Australia and New Zealand. This role sits within the Communications and External Affairs team and works closely with internal project teams to support community and stakeholder engagement activities in the lead-up to and throughout construction.

The role is delivery-focused and hands-on, providing on-the-ground support to project teams, contractors and communities. It is suited to a mid-level professional with experience in infrastructure or energy projects who is comfortable working across multiple sites and building trusted local relationships.

Key duties and responsibilities

Project delivery engagement

• Support community and stakeholder engagement activities for projects transitioning into construction and during active delivery.
• Work closely with project teams to support day-to-day engagement requirements associated with construction activities.
• Provide practical engagement support across multiple projects, adapting approaches to local context and community needs.

• Community, neighbour and local business engagement

• Act as a visible and accessible point of contact for local communities, neighbours and businesses before and during construction.
• Build and maintain positive, constructive relationships through regular on-the-ground engagement, meetings and site-based activities.
• Support timely, respectful and transparent communication with stakeholders throughout construction activities.
• Provide consistent local engagement support aligned with project delivery requirements and community expectations.
• Coordinating and implementing relevant community open days and townhalls for projects.

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) and contractor collaboration

• Work closely with EPC contractors and delivery partners on community and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Support alignment of contractor-led engagement with Lightsource bp expectations, standards and best practice.
• Assist in coordinating engagement activity between contractors and internal teams to ensure consistency and clarity.

• Community benefit and social licence commitments
• Support the implementation and ongoing management of community benefit initiatives, including community benefit funds and local commitments.
• Assist project teams in tracking, delivering and communicating community and social licence commitments during construction.

Reporting, systems and internal support

• Use internal systems, including Salesforce, to accurately log and track community and stakeholder interactions.
• Support reporting requirements related to construction activities, including records of engagement, enquiries and notifications.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engagement processes, tools and practices.

Internal collaboration and representation

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across communications, external affairs, construction, asset management and other internal teams.
• Represent Lightsource bp professionally in local forums, meetings and relevant industry or community settings as required.

Who we’re looking for

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of federal, state and local environmental and social planning systems across Australian jurisdictions.
• Understanding of community and stakeholder engagement requirements for infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
• Knowledge of construction-phase engagement within the Australian renewables sector, with New Zealand experience an advantage.

Experience & Education

• Experience in community and stakeholder engagement roles supporting infrastructure or renewable energy projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective relationships with communities, neighbours, businesses and project partners.
• Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate engagement activities across several projects.
• Understanding of community engagement principles and practices in the Australian context, with New Zealand experience an advantage.
• Experience using stakeholder or CRM systems to record and report engagement activity.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel within Australia and to New Zealand as required.
• IAP2 membership or familiarity with IAP2 frameworks desirable.
• Fluent English essential.

Why you’ll make a great member of the team

Work & General skills

• Ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly in documentation and reporting.
• Proactive, practical approach with the ability to adapt to changing project and site requirements.

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow; a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible

Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity. 

Be recognised

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.

Be inspired

Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. Initiatives to get involved with including our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project or our sustainability initiatives.

Our Core Values

Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do. 

https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/