Director of External Affairs

We're on a mission to make a big green dent in the universe by building a truly sustainable energy system globally.

That means making power greener, smarter, and more affordable for everyone.

We put customers at the heart of everything we do: with always-fair prices, transparency and outrageous customer service.

We drive system change: with transformative tech to make renewable energy the norm and end global reliance on fossil fuels.

Octopus Energy Group is made up of 10 businesses spanning 6 countries across 3 continents, including: Octopus Energy Retail, Kraken Technologies, Octopus Energy Generation, Kraken Flex, Octopus Electric Vehicles, and the Octopus Centre for Net Zero. More on OEG @ octopusenergy.group

- Drive an integrated external affairs strategy that aligns with CNZ’s mission to eliminate fossil fuels from energy systems by reshaping demand. 

- Provide strategic counsel to the executive team on macro policy shifts, political opportunity and risk, and stakeholder priorities, to inform organisational agenda. 

- Lead cross-institution planning on campaigns and engagement to drive electrification and decarbonisation.

- Hold senior relationships across government departments, regulators and policy teams.  

- Leverage CNZ’s evidence and insights to drive the development of progressive energy and tech policy. 

- Brief Ministers and parliamentary stakeholders on CNZ research implications for energy demand, flexibility and system decarbonisation.

- Strengthen relationships with policy-leaders, think tanks, industry coalitions, NGOs and academic partners to amplify shared objectives.

-Build strategic alliances that open channels to new policy debates, markets, and funding.

- Represent CNZ at expert roundtables, conferences and public forums.

- Shape an authoritative external narrative reflecting CNZ’s rigorous evidence base, ensuring clarity and impact across key audiences.

- Curate content for owned, earned and paid channels that help advance energy transitions (e.g. speeches, opinion pieces, reports, events). 

- Elevate visibility through curated participation in high profile stakeholder gatherings.

- Oversee media engagement to maintain a proactive voice on key issues.

- Anticipate and manage reputational risks with rapid responses and aligned communications.

- Lead, mentor and build functional capabilities within the external affairs team. 

- Ensure effective collaboration with different CNZ teams to translate technical insight into high-impact outcomes.