Stakeholder Engagement Lead

Metis is seeking an experienced Stakeholder Engagement Lead to join our growing team and lead the development of our stakeholder management capability across transport, water, environmental and infrastructure projects. The role will support the delivery of projects across London and the North West, working with public and private sector clients to develop and deliver effective stakeholder engagement strategies and plans, and manage complex stakeholder environments.

This is a strategic role focused on developing stakeholder engagement strategies. You will advise project teams and clients, and mentor consultants to deliver effective stakeholder management across complex projects. You will play a key role in shaping how Metis plans, manages and communicates with stakeholders – helping our clients navigate technical, community, political and organisational interfaces.

This role combines both strategic leadership with practical delivery. You will develop engagement strategies, advise project teams and clients, and lead the planning and delivery of key meetings, workshops, consultations and other engagement activities. The role will also include quality assurance, client advice and team development.

This is not primarily a field-based engagement role. You may support key meetings, workshops or consultation activities where required. However, the main focus will be on strategy, leadership, quality assurance, client advice and team development.

You will help establish consistent approaches, templates and best practice across the business. These will support Metis’s continued growth and strengthen our ability to deliver projects that are technically robust, socially aware and responsive to stakeholder needs.

Key objectives

Core responsibilities:

• Lead the development and delivery of Metis’s stakeholder engagement and stakeholder management service offering
• Support stakeholder management activities across projects in London and the North West, developing strong relationships with clients, local authorities, regulators, community groups and other key stakeholders
• Prepare stakeholder engagement strategies, communications plans and stakeholder management plans for infrastructure, transport, highways, water and environmental projects, and the associated materials for delivery
• Advise project managers, technical leads and clients on stakeholder risks, priorities, sensitivities and opportunities, and manage these risks throughout project development and delivery
• Identify, analyse and assess key stakeholders, including local authorities, statutory bodies, community groups, businesses, residents, transport operators and other affected parties
• Develop proportionate engagement approaches suited to different project stages, from feasibility and optioneering through to detailed design, construction and handover
• Lead on the planning, management and delivery of consultations, workshops, briefings and stakeholder meetings where required
• Provide technical review and quality assurance of stakeholder engagement outputs, including plans, reports, consultation material, briefing notes and meeting records
• Work collaboratively with the project teams to ensure stakeholder considerations are embedded into project decision-making
• Support the management of sensitive or complex stakeholder issues, helping project teams respond clearly, professionally and constructively
• Maintain accurate stakeholder records and ensure engagement activities are undertaken in line with relevant information management and GDPR requirements
• Mentor consultants and junior staff, helping them build confidence and capability in stakeholder management

Qualifications, skills and experience

Essential

• Significant experience in stakeholder engagement, consultation, communications, public affairs, community engagement or a related discipline
• Experience developing stakeholder engagement strategies or communications plans for complex projects
• Ability to advise clients and project teams on stakeholder risks, sensitivities and engagement approaches
• Degree qualified (2:1 or above)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear strategies, reports, briefing notes, presentations and client-facing material
• Strong facilitation, listening and relationship-building skills
• Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders (these may include local authorities, statutory bodies, community groups, residents, businesses, elected members and delivery partners)
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines and stakeholder priorities
• Ability to mentor, guide and support consultants and project teams
• Ability to work collaboratively across technical disciplines and integrate stakeholder considerations into project delivery
• Sound judgement when dealing with sensitive, political or reputational issues

Desirable

• Experience working within the water, utilities or infrastructure sectors
• Experience working within a consultancy environment
• Experience on flood risk, highways, transport, active travel, public realm, environmental or regeneration projects
• Understanding of consultation requirements linked to planning, traffic orders, statutory processes or infrastructure delivery.

Salary and package

Metis offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including workplace pension (Royal London), monthly wellbeing budgets (Heka) and flexible working in our offices in Richmond-upon-Thames or Manchester. As an employee-owned business, Metis also offers a profit share scheme to all employees with at least 12 months’ service. Under the terms of the Finance Act 2014, any profit share distributed to employees is exempt from Income Tax up to £3,600.

About Metis

Founded in 2009, Metis is a leading civil and environmental engineering consultancy in London and Manchester. We have built a reputation among British local authorities for delivering high-quality projects, led by experts in Highways and Transportation, and Water and Environmental Engineering.

Metis provides an agile alternative to traditional engineering consultancies, tailoring our services to meet our clients’ needs in both the public and private sectors. We pride ourselves on our strong client relationships and are respected ‘critical friends’ to many organisations. We are growing rapidly, and this growth provides a platform for ambitious individuals to develop and lead within the business.

Metis is a certified B Corporation and is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and community wellbeing in every project. In 2025, Metis became an employee-owned business. This grants our business long-term stability, and our employees the opportunity to share in our profits.