Community Engagement Associate - SDREN

San Diego Community Power • San Diego, CA

3d • $84,900 - $110,400 • Hybrid

About The Position

San Diego Community Power is seeking an experienced outreach professional to support the implementation and coordination of strategic outreach activities for its San Diego Regional Energy Network (SDREN) initiative. Under the oversight of the Senior Community Engagement Manager, the associate will help increase awareness of and engagement with Community Power and SDREN programs, offers, rebates, and incentives. The role serves as a liaison between Community Power’s internal team and community stakeholders, and supports coordination of program activities with consultants and internal teams. Regular contacts include SDREN implementers, community-based organizations, government staff, local leaders, and members of the public.

The position is based in San Diego County, with a hybrid work schedule set by SDCP. It includes local travel, public-facing outreach, and attendance at community events and meetings, which may occur in the evenings or on weekends. Employees work in the communities served and in the office. SDCP requires employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, subject to consideration of qualifying medical or religious exemptions. Employees in designated positions may be required to file annual Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700).

The typical qualification is a four-year degree or higher and two to three years of professional experience; four additional years of professional experience may substitute for a degree, and a graduate degree may substitute for one year of experience. One to two years of experience at a Regional Energy Network, Community Choice Aggregator, utility, public agency, or third-party program implementer is preferred.

The posted salary range is $84,900–$110,400, with exact compensation determined based on experience. Benefits for eligible full-time employees include medical, vision, and dental insurance; life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; retirement contributions; paid holidays and winter holiday; accrued paid time off; and accrued paid sick leave.

Requirements

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to engage and collaborate with diverse audiences across cultures, backgrounds, and languages.
• Strong customer service orientation and commitment to community-centered engagement.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, including increasing participation in Community Power programs among Communities of Concern.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, diplomacy, and discretion in sensitive or complex situations.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with customers, community-based organizations, local businesses, consultants, public agencies, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
• Positive, collaborative approach and ability to thrive in diverse work environments and communities.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, including navigating ambiguity, identifying issues, and developing practical solutions.
• Experience tailoring and presenting information to community groups, organizations, and other public audiences.
• Experience or interest in implementing programs related to energy efficiency, building decarbonization, demand response, or distributed energy resources.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), SharePoint, customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, and virtual meeting applications.
• Ability to travel throughout San Diego County and attend evening and weekend meetings and community events as needed.
• Reliable transportation; mileage is reimbursed at the IRS rate.
• Must reside in San Diego County or be willing to relocate upon hire.
• A four-year degree or higher from an accredited college or university and two to three years of professional experience, or an equivalent combination as described in the posting. Four additional years of professional experience may substitute for a degree; a graduate degree may substitute for one year of professional experience.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with the local San Diego political, social, and economic landscape and regional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated outreach implementation and/or project management experience, such as experience with public agencies, environmental organizations, or outreach organizations.
• Proven track record of achieving strong community engagement results.
• Written and verbal Spanish proficiency.
• One to two years of experience at a Regional Energy Network (REN), Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), investor-owned utility, public utility, public agency, or third-party program implementer.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support customer-facing programs and community outreach, education, and engagement initiatives to increase awareness of and participation in Community Power and SDREN programs, offers, rebates, and incentives.
• Coordinate with internal departments, consultants, contractors, program implementers, local governments, and regional partners to support consistent program messaging.
• Facilitate meetings, track action items, document meeting notes, and monitor project timelines and progress.
• Serve as a point of contact for community partners, customers, contractors, and the public by responding to inquiries, providing technical and program information, and connecting people with appropriate resources or staff.
• Represent Community Power at events, workshops, resource fairs, public meetings, conferences, neighborhood gatherings, and business associations, communicating SDREN benefits to diverse audiences.
• Keep outreach materials current, accurate, accessible, culturally appropriate, and consistent with SDREN branding.
• Coordinate distribution of outreach materials and education to community partners.
• Document program outcomes through testimonials, partner highlights, event summaries, impact reporting, and monitoring.
• Support preparation of reports, presentations, briefing materials, and agenda items for executive leadership, the Board of Directors, the Community Advisory Committee, regulatory filings, and other public meetings.
• Develop standard operating procedures for outreach coordination and identify opportunities for efficiency and improvement.
• Identify partnerships that expand SDREN’s reach into targeted communities throughout San Diego County.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Group medical, vision, and dental insurance for eligible full-time employees.
• $100,000 life and AD&D insurance policy.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage fully paid by SDCP.
• 457(b) plan for employee contributions.
• SDCP contributes 10% of eligible compensation to the employee’s Money Purchase Plan.
• 11 holidays per year plus a paid winter holiday between December 24 and December 31.
• 160 hours of accrued paid time off per year, increasing with time in service.
• 96 hours per year of accrued paid sick leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level