Government Affairs Lead, Italy

Job Title: Government Affairs Lead, Italy

Department: Government Affairs and Commercial Marketing EMEA

Reporting to: Senior Government Affairs Manager, Southern Europe

About Lightsource bp

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.

Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What you’ll do (the role)

Summary

In this role within the Government Affairs and Commercial Marketing team, you will be leading and growing Lightsource bp’s advocacy, marketing and communication activities across both internal and external stakeholders to progress the growth of Lightsource bp’s presence in Italy. You will develop and manage external affairs strategies that will advance our company goals and ambitions to realise Lightsource bp as a local leader within the renewable energy sector.

The role will work as part of a ‘Southern European’ matrix structure within Lightsource bp’s Government Affairs and Commercial Marketing team for EMEA, leveraging knowledge, capabilities and experience from key functional leaders within the matrix.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic

1. Oversee the development, management and implementation of Lightsource bp’s strategic communications and advocacy plan for Italy. This encompasses leading and developing government affairs, marketing and communication activities to progress company goals for the local market.
2. Support the development of the government affairs strategy in Italy, by monitoring energy policy evolutions, legislative developments, analysing their relevance to business and delivering an effective stakeholders’ strategy, to include policy positions.
3. Support the development of engagement campaigns with key stakeholders at local, regional and national level building and maintaining external relationships and also internal relationships with local and central teams.
4. Actively track and analyse relevant legislation and policy proposals that impact the Lightsource bp business, with a particular focus on solar and storage.
5. Work with key internal stakeholders to support the development of policy positions and leading policy and regulatory changes and implementation to support Lightsource bp’s mission including securing meetings and building regular relationships with both public and private stakeholders.
6. Leverage on and support Lightsource bp participation in trade associations and building coalitions within the energy and renewable sectors. Manage the work of external resources such as consultants or agencies.

Marketing & Communications

1. Plan and execute communication activities on project development, construction, and operation, in close cooperation with internal and external stakeholders, that support institutional, community and lead generation activities – including writing and posting of social media content.
2. Media relations and crisis comms management – management of agencies, dealing with queries and drafting of press materials such as press releases and briefing notes and facilitating internal management relating to any crisis communications.
3. Manage local events and executive briefings to support brand awareness, enhance any lead generation opportunities and external stakeholder engagement.
4. Content writing and digital campaigns implementation to maximize the company visibility through local website and social media, including management and updates of Lightsource bp’s website for Italy.
5. Provide internal communications support to the in-country teams.
6. Dealing with administrative tasks associated with delivering projects such as raising purchase orders and filing.
7. Maintaining and reporting on budgets where required.

Who we’re looking for

Experience

1. Knowledge and understanding of the renewables and storage sector both from policy, marketing and business perspective.
2. Previous experience in the Italian renewables/solar sector in energy policy, consultancy, government affairs positions, strategic communication, or public authorities.
3. Proven track record of getting regulatory changes and implementation, successful interactions with policymakers, including ability to define, strategize, communicate, and deliver against business objectives – including working with Trade Associations.
4. Experience in Developing and delivering B2B and B2C advocacy and communication activities.
5. Experience in writing content pieces from both a policy and marketing perspective.
6. Understanding of working with and briefing media, including distribution of press releases.
7. Managing internal and external resources, including agencies and working collaboratively on projects.
8. Strong track record in internal and external stakeholder management.
9. Working in a fast-paced environment with geographically diverse, global colleagues.
10. Ability to adapt and work in a different cultural environment, both operational and office based.
11. Demonstrated skills working with leadership; ability to interface with all levels of the organisation required.
12. Sophisticated presentation and communication skills.

Qualifications

1. University degree in related disciplines including but not limited to economics/law/engineering/political studies/international relations, etc.
2. Full professional proficiency in Italian and English.

Why you’ll make a great member of the team

1. A team player and collaborator, being able to translate global and regional goals and ambitions into effective localized communication and advocacy strategies.
2. Excellent reporting, writing and presentation skills, and strong attention to detail. Ability to digest and summarize complex policy and legal issues.
3. Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
4. Ability to handle complex and highly ambiguous scopes of work, while effectively and efficiently prioritizing work and managing multiple files in parallel.

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow, a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible

Our culture is driven by our core values – from operating safely to ensuring our projects are responsible.

Be recognised

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.

Be inspired

Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. These include our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project, or volunteering on our VIBES committee to name a few.

Our core values

Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.