Government Relations Lead – Malawi

Job description

OVERVIEWBURN is inviting applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the position of Government Relations Lead – Malawi.The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing government relations strategies that represent the organisation’s business plans and interests. The role supports the Director of External Affairs in navigating the political landscape and advocating for the organisation’s interests.The ideal candidate should have a good understanding of Malawi’s and East Africa’s policy environments and political processes, excellent interpersonal skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.The successful candidate will work closely with the Country Manager in Malawi, the Director of External Affairs, the Director of Carbon Strategy and the Head of Communications to advance BURN’s mission and vision through government engagement, strengthen the company’s brand, support policy initiatives, manage crisis communications and ensure that communication with public officials aligns with the organisation’s goals and values.Job Category: Government Relations, Policy Advocacy and Public AffairsJob Type: Not specified in the provided advertApplication Deadline: 25 October 2026POSITION: Government Relations Lead – MalawiDUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES1. Government Relations and Policy EngagementImplement BURN’s government relations strategy at national and subnational levels.Build and maintain relationships with ministries, regulators and relevant public institutions.Monitor and analyse policy and regulatory developments affecting clean cooking, carbon markets, manufacturing and energy access.Prepare policy briefs, submissions and advocacy materials.Support advocacy for enabling policy environments that strengthen clean cooking adoption and carbon integrity.2. Partnerships and Stakeholder DevelopmentBuild partnerships with development partners, NGOs, private-sector organisations and research institutions.Identify collaboration opportunities that support BURN’s market and policy priorities.Support the development of memoranda of understanding (MOUs), joint programmes, grant applications and public-private partnerships.Maintain stakeholder mapping and engagement plans.3. Strategic Communications and External AffairsSupport government-facing communication strategies.Develop speeches, talking points and briefing notes for senior executives.Align public messaging with policy positions and regulatory priorities.Contribute to crisis communication involving government stakeholders.Support thought leadership initiatives to enhance visibility on energy and policy platforms.4. Cross-Functional CollaborationWork closely with Commercial, Carbon, Legal, Grants, Tax and Communications teams.Provide policy intelligence to guide expansion, compliance and project operations.Support government-facing engagements during audits and regulatory reviews.5. Public Affairs, Events and RepresentationCoordinate BURN’s participation in policy forums and government events.Organise high-level meetings and site visits with government officials and partners.Lead public affairs initiatives to strengthen BURN’s credibility and visibility.6. Reporting and DocumentationPrepare reports on stakeholder engagement activities, policy updates, risks and recommendations.Maintain documentation of government interactions and partnership commitments.