Communications Director

Net Power•Houston, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Net Power is a publicly traded independent power producer developing behind-the-meter, co-located power generation for data center and other large-load customers. The Communications Director owns how the company communicates with employees, customers, communities, media, and partners, and the quality of its marketing and corporate communications materials. This Houston-based, on-site role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and leads internal communications, external communications, and marketing materials, working closely with Legal and Investor Relations to align external messaging with public-company disclosure controls. It is a hands-on manager/operator role responsible for building the communications function and executing its work. The role sets and executes internal and external communications plans; manages media relations, company messaging, the corporate website, social media, brand standards, and marketing materials; and supports communications with customers, regulators, communities, and local officials. It also oversees pre-release clearance, crisis communications, agency and vendor relationships, and the function’s budget. The position requires coordination with Legal, Investor Relations, Human Resources, Operations, Commercial, Project Development, Engineering, and Information Technology. The work schedule is hybrid, with three days in the office and two remote, and travel to project sites as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
10 or more years of progressive communications or marketing experience.
Ability to build and execute communications programs, processes, and a team while personally writing, producing, and delivering work in a lean organization.
Direct experience in the energy, power, infrastructure, or industrial sectors, with a working understanding of power generation, project development, and power-industry commercial dynamics.
Established relationships with Houston- and Texas-based energy media, trade and industry organizations, and key community stakeholders.
Experience leading internal and external communications, including media relations and crisis communications.
Exceptional writing and editing skills and sound judgment with sensitive, legally constrained information.
Experience managing agencies, vendors, and a budget.
Ability to perform essential functions, including operating a computer and sitting for long periods, and repeating motions that may involve the wrists, hands, or fingers.

Nice To Haves

Experience communicating within a public company, including working with Legal and Investor Relations under Regulation FD and disclosure controls.
Experience with independent power producers, behind-the-meter or co-located generation, or serving data center and large-load customers.
Experience communicating about projects with local communities, regulators, and community stakeholders, including in the Permian Basin or other Texas development markets.
Familiarity with ERCOT, Texas power-market policy, and the Houston energy media landscape.

Responsibilities

Build and run the internal communications plan so employees understand company strategy, project milestones, policy changes, and leadership decisions.
Draft and manage all-hands, leadership, and executive messages, intranet content, and organizational announcements in coordination with Legal and Investor Relations.
Partner with Human Resources on employee-facing policy, benefits, and compensation communications, and with Operations on safety and site communications.
Maintain an internal communications channel plan and measure employee understanding and reach.
Set the external communications strategy and annual plan, including media relations, executive visibility, speaking engagements, and industry events.
Write and issue non-financial press releases, statements, and responses to media inquiries; serve as media spokesperson or prepare the designated spokesperson.
Manage the corporate website and social media presence in accordance with company disclosure and social-media policies.
Support Commercial and Project Development with messaging for customers, regulators, communities, and local officials, including communications about project siting, permitting, and community engagement.
Run the pre-release clearance process, ensuring announcements receive Legal and Investor Relations clearance and supporting compliance with Regulation FD and company disclosure controls.
Own the corporate brand, visual identity, and messaging standards.
Produce and approve company decks, collateral, case studies, proposal support materials, trade-show and event materials, and web content.
Keep technical claims in marketing materials consistent with approved technical standards; Engineering approves technical content, and Commercial may not alter technical limits in marketing.
Select and manage agencies, designers, printers, and other vendors within the approved budget and Delegation of Authority.
Maintain the crisis communications plan and lead messaging for safety incidents, outages, cyber incidents, litigation, and regulatory events in coordination with Legal, Operations, and Information Technology.
Run an annual crisis communications exercise.
Use only Information Technology-approved tools for content creation and never place material non-public information in an unapproved tool.
Adhere to insider trading, Regulation FD, and disclosure policies, and coach executives and spokespersons on appropriate external communications.
Build and develop the communications and marketing function, executing hands-on and adding team members and agency support as the company grows.
Manage the communications function’s budget and forecast within the approved plan.