Government Relations Manager (Abuja)

About the role

A renewable energy company providing solar power solutions across urban and rural communities in Nigeria is hiring a Government Relations Manager in Abuja. The role builds a primary interface with local, state and federal government authorities, regulatory bodies and parastatals to secure permits, licences, approvals and policy alignment across the company's operational and pipeline states.

Key responsibilities

• Own and drive the end-to-end process for obtaining government permits, licences and regulatory approvals (NERC, NEMSA, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, environmental agencies, Lands & Building bureaus and local governments), tracking timelines and escalating bottlenecks
• Maintain a live register of permits, licences and compliance deadlines across operational and pipeline sites
• Build relationships with the Rural Electrification Agency, NERC, NEMSA, state ministries, regulators and local councils, and represent the company at government meetings, hearings, forums and policy consultations
• Nurture relationships with traditional rulers, community leaders and local officials to support site acquisition, community engagement and social licence to operate
• Monitor federal and state policy and legislation, and brief the CEO and executive team on risks and opportunities
• Coordinate with Legal on filings and correspondence, and work with Operations, Projects, Growth and Programmes teams on site selection, construction timelines, grant applications and donor reports
• Prepare regular progress reports, stakeholder maps and risk registers, and maintain a Government Relations play book and stakeholder tracker

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Humanities or a related discipline; a postgraduate qualification is an advantage
• Minimum 5-8 years' experience in government relations, regulatory affairs, public policy or stakeholder management
• Experience engaging with Nigerian government institutions at state and federal level; experience with NERC, NEMSA, REA or similar agencies is a significant advantage
• Experience in the energy, infrastructure or utilities sector is strongly preferred

Required skills

• Deep understanding of Nigeria's system of government and the regulatory framework for off-grid electricity
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation and diplomatic skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); familiarity with CRM or stakeholder management tools is a plus