Our client is a renowned IPP now expanding heavily in Poland with projects under operation, construction and development. We are now looking for a Director-Head of Public Affairs for their local office in Warsaw.

The Director / Head of Public Affairs, reporting directly to the Country Manager of the company,  holds strategic responsibility for the company’s  relationships with public administration, regulators, and industry stakeholders in Poland, and is the Group’s senior voice on legislative and regulatory matters affecting its renewable energy projects. The role safeguards and actively shapes the Group’s ability to execute its investment pipeline by driving a proactive regulatory and advocacy strategy, building the public affairs function as it scales, and representing the company at the highest levels with administration, local governments, industry bodies, and communities. The role holder is expected to operate as a strategic advisor to the Management Board, not only monitoring and reporting on the external environment but actively influencing it in the Group’s interest.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Regulatory Leadership

• Own the Group’s regulatory and public-affairs strategy in Poland, setting priorities in agreement with the Management Board rather than only monitoring developments.
• Track the legislative process affecting the Polish RES sector (Sejm, Senate, RCL, public consultations) – including the RES Act, the wind-farm distance law („10H”), the Energy Law, and BESS/grid-connection regulations.
• Assess the impact of proposed legal changes on the Group’s wind, PV, and BESS projects, and advise the Management Board on positioning and response.
• Monitor EU energy and climate policy (Fit for 55, RED III, electricity market reforms) and its transposition into Polish law.

Public Administration Relations

• Build and personally maintain senior-level relationships with key institutions: the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of State Assets, the Energy Regulatory Office (URE), PSE, and local governments in investment areas.
• Represent the company and, where relevant, the Management Board in meetings with decision-makers, public consultations, and ministerial working groups.
• Oversee and support project development and permitting teams in their engagement with local administration during siting and environmental procedures.

Industry Relations & Coalitions

• Represent the organization at senior level in industry associations (e.g. PSEW, Lewiatan, Polish PV association, chambers of commerce, including the Belgian-Polish chamber), including board or committee roles where appropriate.
• Advance innovative ideas and favorable legal/regulatory change through these existing industry and professional organizations, positioning the company as a credible, proactive voice on priority regulatory topics (e.g. grid-connection reform, streamlined environmental procedures).
• Coordinate with European sector organizations (WindEurope, SolarPower Europe) through Group structures, representing Poland-specific priorities.

Communication & Reputation

• Set the strategic direction for public positions, press statements on regulatory matters, and public consultation responses, working with the communications/marketing function.
• Own community relations strategy in investment areas (social dialogue, public consultations, reputational risk management), including personal engagement in sensitive or high-profile cases.
• Prepare and present briefing notes, position papers, and strategic materials for the Management Board and Group leadership in Belgium.

Board-Level Advisory & Reporting

• Act as a standing advisor to the Management Board on regulatory risks and opportunities affecting project timelines, valuations, and returns, including input into investment decisions.
• Report regularly to the Country Manager/CEO and to Group Public Affairs / Government Relations in Belgium, ensuring consistent Group-wide messaging and escalating material risks promptly.
• Contribute regulatory analysis and risk assessments to investor materials and due diligence processes (e.g. financing, M&A).

Candidate Requirements

Education & Experience

• University degree in law, public administration, international relations, political science, energy, or a related field; advanced degree an asset.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in public affairs, government relations, or regulatory affairs, ideally in the energy, infrastructure, or RES sector.
• Proven track record of building and/or leading a public affairs, government relations, or regulatory function, including managing a team.
• Extensive, demonstrated senior-level experience engaging with central and/or local government administration in Poland.
• Experience in an international company or group structure, ideally reporting into a foreign parent company, is strongly preferred.

Knowledge

• Deep understanding of the Polish legislative process and the regulatory environment of the energy sector (RES, grid, capacity market).
• Strong grasp of EU energy and climate policy frameworks and their impact on the domestic market.
• Solid understanding of the RES investment process (siting, environmental permitting, grid connection) and its commercial implications.

Skills

• Outstanding relationship-building and networking skills at ministerial and senior-regulator level.
• Ability to set and drive a proactive advocacy strategy, not only respond to external developments.
• Demonstrated ability to advance innovative ideas and legal/regulatory change through industry and professional organizations.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory issues into clear, board-ready recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and negotiation skills, including public representation of the company.
• Diplomacy, discretion, and strong political acumen.
• People leadership skills, with the ability to build and develop a small team.
• Ability to operate autonomously within a matrixed, international group structure, while maintaining tight alignment with Group leadership.

Languages

• English – required, minimum C1 (Group working language).
• Polish – native or fluent

OFFEE:

B2B contract or permanent employment contract

Bonus for performance

Private Health Insurance, lunch vouchers, possibilities for development, among other benefits