Communications Specialist I

Otter Tail Corporation Careers•Fergus Falls, MN

10d

About The Position

Otter Tail Power Company is seeking a collaborative, resourceful Communications Specialist to translate complex business priorities into clear, meaningful communication that builds understanding, trust, and engagement. The position develops and executes communication plans for assigned business priorities, projects, and stakeholder initiatives, identifying the audiences, information needs, messengers, channels, and outcomes for each effort. The specialist manages communication projects from planning and content development through delivery, measurement, follow-up, and closeout, helping ensure work is accurate, coordinated, and completed successfully. The position reports to the External Affairs Business Partner. The role partners with leaders, subject-matter experts, internal teams, external partners, creative resources, production partners, and vendors. It creates audience-focused materials, coordinates stakeholder and community activities, maintains project documentation and quality standards, identifies and escalates communication risks, and monitors effectiveness. Approved technology and AI-enabled tools may be used responsibly to support communication work, subject to sound judgment and required governance. The role is based in Fergus Falls. Travel as needed and occasional evenings or nonstandard hours may be required to support meetings, events, or stakeholder activities. The expected annual base compensation is $69,000–$96,000, with actual compensation depending on factors relevant to the position. The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applications are accepted through November 13, 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, business, event management, community development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Experience in communications, public relations, communication planning, community engagement, project management, marketing, customer engagement, or a related area.
Demonstrated ability to develop communication plans, identify audience and stakeholder needs, select appropriate messages and channels, and prepare clear, accurate, audience-appropriate materials.
Strong writing, editing, proofreading, organizational, and communication project-management skills.
Ability to independently manage multiple plans, deliverables, deadlines, details, and stakeholder relationships from start to finish.
Experience coordinating multi-step communication projects, meetings, events, community activities, or stakeholder-engagement initiatives.
Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills and ability to work professionally and collaboratively with leaders, coworkers, community partners, vendors, and external stakeholders.
Strong attention to detail, judgment, adaptability, follow-through, and commitment to quality.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and ability to learn communication, project-management, event, digital, collaboration, and AI-enabled tools.
Ability to travel as needed and work occasional evenings or nonstandard hours to support meetings, events, or stakeholder activities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a utility, energy, infrastructure, government, public affairs, human resources, nonprofit, economic development, or another stakeholder-intensive environment.
Experience supporting community relations, external affairs, public affairs, governmental affairs, human resources, major projects, or stakeholder-engagement programs.
Experience coordinating public meetings, open houses, community events, sponsorships, tours, conferences, or similar activities.
Experience partnering with specialists in design, print, digital content, social media, content management, or production.
Familiarity with project-management platforms, content-management systems, stakeholder databases, survey tools, or communication analytics.
Experience responsibly using AI-enabled tools to support research, communication planning, content development, or workflow efficiency.

Responsibilities

Develop comprehensive communication plans covering audiences, objectives, information needs, messages, messengers, timing, channels, responsibilities, dependencies, and success measures.
Partner with leaders and subject-matter experts to understand priorities, stakeholder perspectives, likely questions, barriers, and differing information needs.
Recommend communication methods, channels, formats, sequencing, and engagement activities that support approved objectives.
Create and adapt audience-focused content, including stakeholder updates, presentations, fact sheets, FAQs, talking points, invitations, newsletters, web and digital content, signage, handouts, and supporting materials.
Translate technical, operational, regulatory, project, policy, or business information into accurate, useful, accessible materials for intended audiences.
Manage communication projects from intake and planning through content development, review, approval, production, delivery, measurement, follow-up, and closeout.
Maintain organized project documentation, including plans, schedules, task lists, status updates, decision logs, records, and shared workspaces.
Coordinate communication and logistical activities for stakeholder meetings, public-engagement sessions, open houses, sponsorships, tours, events, and other community or business initiatives.
Coordinate work across business teams, communication professionals, subject-matter experts, creative resources, production partners, and vendors.
Coordinate review, approval, design, production, publication, and distribution; maintain version control, accessibility, factual accuracy, and alignment with brand and communication standards.
Identify and resolve communication risks, including missing information, conflicting messages, timing concerns, approval delays, resource constraints, and execution barriers; escalate material stakeholder, reputation, legal, regulatory, safety, confidentiality, or policy concerns as appropriate.
Monitor deliverables, channel use, engagement, deadlines, stakeholder feedback, commitments, and follow-up actions.
Compile performance information, share observations and recommendations, and identify opportunities to improve plans, materials, events, tools, vendors, and processes.
Use approved technology and AI-enabled tools responsibly to support research, drafting, content adaptation, planning, summaries, checklists, and workflow efficiency, while applying sound judgment and required governance.

Benefits

Competitive wage and benefit package.
Incentive plans.
Employee Stock Ownership options.
Retirement Savings Fund with employer match.
Health, disability, and life insurance plan options.
Annual training and development opportunities, including education reimbursement.
Safety, technical, compliance, and developmental training.
Career development opportunities, leadership development programs, online leadership courses, and mentorship.
Mental health support through SupportLinc.
Competitive vacation and sick leave.