Community Engagement Associate - SDREN

San Diego Community Power • San Diego, CA

7h • $84,900 - $110,400 • Hybrid

About The Position

San Diego Community Power seeks an experienced outreach professional to support strategic outreach activities that drive engagement and awareness of programs offered through its San Diego Regional Energy Network (SDREN) initiative. Under the oversight of the Sr. Community Engagement Manager, the Associate coordinates outreach, education, and engagement activities and helps connect Community Power’s internal team with community stakeholders. The role involves direct communication with SDREN implementers, community-based organizations, government staff, local leaders, customers, contractors, and the public, and supports coordination of program activities with consultants and internal teams.

The position is based in San Diego County, with a hybrid work schedule set by SDCP. It includes local travel and attendance at community events, workshops, meetings, and other public gatherings, which may take place in the evenings or on weekends. The role requires prolonged desk and computer work and occasional lifting or moving of objects up to 25 pounds. Employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, subject to stated medical and religious exemptions. A successful candidate may also be required to file Conflict-of-Interest forms.

The listed salary range is $84,900–$110,400, with exact compensation determined by SDCP based on experience. SDCP offers eligible full-time employees a standard benefits package that includes insurance, retirement contributions, paid holidays, and accrued paid time off and sick leave.

Requirements

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to engage and collaborate effectively 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, with a focus on increasing participation in Community Power programs, including among Communities of Concern.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, diplomacy, and discretion when managing sensitive and 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 team player able to thrive in diverse work environments and communities.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to navigate ambiguity, identify issues, and develop 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, 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 is required. Mileage is reimbursed at the IRS rate.
• Must reside in San Diego County or be willing to relocate upon hire.
• Any combination of education and experience that provides the listed knowledge and abilities. A typical qualification is a four-year degree or higher from an accredited college or university and at least 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 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 that increase awareness 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 messaging and program implementation.
• 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.
• Ensure outreach materials are 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 coordinating outreach 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 & AD&D policy.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage paid 100% by SDCP.
• 457(b) plan for employee contributions.
• SDCP contribution of 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