Senior External Affairs Manager, Italy

Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations :Rome, Italy- there is an expectation of travelling in different locations to meet stakeholders where our projects are located

Salary: €60240 - €90360 + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent \| Full Time \| Flexible First options available

The role

The primary purpose of this role is to strengthen, enhance, and safeguard SSE's reputation in Italy through meaningful stakeholder engagement, effective communications, and trusted relationship-building. The role plays a key part in creating positive connections with local communities, industry partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring SSE is recognised as a responsible, forward-thinking, and collaborative organisation.

Working closely with a diverse network of stakeholders, the successful candidate will build strong partnerships and influence outcomes through engagement, advocacy, and collaboration. This includes fostering constructive relationships with Italian government representatives, regulatory bodies, trade associations, transmission and distribution operators (TSOs and DSOs), non-governmental organisations, industry peers, and other key external partners. Through proactive issues management, public affairs, media relations, and strategic communications, the role will help support SSE's ambitions while creating shared value for stakeholders and the communities we serve.

You will

• Build and nurture meaningful stakeholder relationships at both national and regional level by developing and delivering collaborative engagement, communications, and public affairs strategies that strengthen SSE's reputation and support project success across Italy.
• Proactively identify and respond to emerging opportunities and challenges, working closely with communities, partners, and stakeholders to build trust, address concerns, and support positive outcomes.
• Champion SSE's story and purpose, coordinating external communications, media engagement, and industry representation to enhance visibility, foster understanding, and build confidence in SSE's activities and ambitions.

• Cultivate strong partnerships with regulatory and institutional stakeholders, providing insight on policy developments, representing SSE's interests, and helping shape a supportive environment for sustainable growth. You have

• Strong knowledge of the Italian renewable energy sector and policy landscape.

• Experience supporting renewable energy projects through permitting and stakeholder engagement.
• Understanding of local and regional government structures, with the ability to build effective relationships.
• Experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, or stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Italian and English.
• The ability to create engaging communications and tailor messages for different audiences across a range of channels.

About SSE

Italy is central to SSE's international growth ambitions and one of our key strategic markets. As we continue to expand our renewable energy portfolio, we're growing through both organic development and strategic acquisitions.

Our Italian team combines extensive expertise in renewable energy development and construction, with two operational onshore wind farms, a third under construction in Puglia, and an expanding pipeline of wind, solar and battery energy storage projects. Joining SSE means becoming part of a leading energy infrastructure company and helping shape Italy's transition to a net zero future.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [email protected] to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.

Ready to apply?

Start your online application using the Apply Now box on this page. We only accept applications made online. We'll be in touch after the closing date to let you know if we'll be taking your application further. If you're offered a role with SSE, you'll need to complete a criminality check and a credit check before you start work.

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