The posting
Our Client is a renewable energy company, providing sustainable and cost-effective solar power solutions across urban and rural communities in Nigeria. They are looking to hire a Government Relations Manager to build a primary interface with local, state and federal government authorities, regulatory bodies, and relevant parastatal. The Government Relations Manager will build, manage, and maintain the relationships required to secure timely permits, licences, approvals, and policy alignment across all of the company's operational and pipeline states. Job Responsibilities Regulatory & Permit Management Own and drive the end-to-end process for obtaining all government permits, licences, and regulatory approvals (NERC, NEMSA, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, environmental agencies, Lands & Building agency bureaus and local government authorities) across the company's project portfolio. Track permit timelines and proactively escalate bottlenecks, ensuring project delivery schedules are not compromised by regulatory delays. Maintain a live register of all permits, licences, and compliance deadlines across operational and pipeline sites. Government & Stakeholder Relationship Management Build and maintain productive working relationships with key contacts across the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), NERC, NEMSA, State Ministries of Power/Energy/Environment, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, and local government councils in all project states. Serve as the company's primary point of contact for government authorities, ensuring consistent, professional, and strategically aligned communication. Represent the company at government-convened meetings, public hearings, industry forums, conferences, and policy consultation sessions. Develop and nurture relationships with traditional rulers, community leaders, and local government officials in project areas to support site acquisition, community engagement, and social licence to operate. Policy Intelligence & Risk Management Monitor the regulatory and policy environment at federal and state levels, identifying new legislation, tariff changes, grant programme requirements, and compliance obligations that affect the company's operations. Provide timely briefings and written advisories to the CEO and executive team on policy developments, emerging risks, and strategic opportunities. Contribute to the company's positioning on sector-wide consultations, regulatory reviews, and electrification policy discussions. Internal Coordination & Reporting Coordinate with the Legal department on regulatory filings, licence applications, and government correspondence. Work closely with Operations and Projects teams to ensure regulatory requirements are factored into site selection, construction timelines, and operational planning. Support the Growth and Programmes teams in preparing regulatory components of grant applications, donor reports, and investor materials. Prepare and circulate regular progress reports, stakeholder maps, and risk registers to internal leadership. Process Improvement Develop and maintain a Government Relations play book documenting standard processes, key contacts, approval workflows, and state-specific regulatory requirements. Identify and implement improvements to government engagement processes, reducing turnaround times and building institutional knowledge within the company. Establish a stakeholder engagement tracker (CRM or equivalent) to ensure no relationship or deadline falls through the cracks. Job Requirements Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Law, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Humanities, or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification is an advantage. Minimum of 5–8 years’ professional experience in government relations, regulatory affairs, public policy, or stakeholder management. Experience within the energy, infrastructure, or utilities sector is strongly preferred. Demonstrated track record of engaging with Nigerian government institutions at state and federal levels, including regulatory bodies, ministries, and parastatal. Experience working with or within NERC, NEMSA, REA, state electricity regulators, or similar agencies is a significant advantage. Skills & Competencies Deep understanding of Nigeria’s system of government and public administration, including federal-state dynamics and the regulatory framework for off-grid electricity. Strong written and verbal communication skills. This role requires clear, confident, and professional correspondence with senior government officials and internal executives alike. Excellent negotiation and diplomatic skills, with the ability to handle sensitive conversations and competing interests. Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple permit processes, relationships, and deadlines across several states simultaneously. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Familiarity with CRM or stakeholder management tools is a plus.
