Community & Government Affairs Manager

NW Natural•Vancouver, WA

11h•$110,250 - $175,950•Hybrid

About The Position

At NW Natural, we offer more than rewarding career opportunities and a vibrant, inclusive work culture. We invite you to join us in providing safe and reliable utility services and renewable energy to better the lives of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be the leader in service excellence, innovation and environmental stewardship for our customers, while building on our strengths as a trusted energy provider and environmental leader for our industry. In addition to environmental stewardship, we’re also deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NW Natural. Our DEI Council started 21 years ago, and today we continue to foster a culture where all employees can experience a sense of belonging, shared purpose and possibility. For over 165 years, NW Natural has provided safe, affordable, and reliable energy across the Northwest. Our public affairs team supports the continued growth of Oregon and Southwest Washington by fostering strong communities and relationships with public officials as well as advancing innovative solutions. The Government & Community Affairs Manager – Washington builds and maintains relationships with government officials, community leaders, business and civic organizations, allied trades and labor, and other key stakeholders to work together with NW Natural in addressing complex energy and community challenges. This role engages at both the local level (Clark County) and state level (Washington) to support reliable, affordable energy delivery for our customers and improve the Company’s operating environment. Based in Southwest Washington (Vancouver Service Center), the manager represents NW Natural across a range of settings, including government and community meetings, legislative engagement in Olympia, and coordination with internal teams and regional partners. The role supports initiatives such as infrastructure development, climate action planning, and community investment, while helping stakeholders understand key issues including energy reliability, safety, and emerging technologies. This position serves as a key connector across government relations, community engagement, and business priorities.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of community/government/public relations/sales experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
General knowledge of local, state and federal government structures and/or operations
Ability to influence others to modify their positions and/or negotiate to an acceptable solution
Ability to support policy creation with community, business, and customer stakeholders; ability and interest in facilitating positive outcomes with stakeholders where disagreement or controversy is present
Proven ability to analyze data, solve problems, and provide actionable insights and business recommendations
Experience in fast-paced legislative or political environments
Strong verbal communication skills on an individual and group presentation basis, including facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
Strong interpersonal skills including effectively consulting with internal and external customers regarding issues which may be sensitive in nature; proven ability to work with all levels of an organization with tact, confidentiality, and diplomacy to develop and maintain collaborative efforts
Ability to respond to government leaders, customers and partners with tact and diplomacy
Ability to create, track and manage an area budget based on departmental and engagement priorities
Effective time management skills and ability to prioritize projects
Advanced computer skills and the ability to apply them to various Company systems and word-processing, spreadsheet and data base applications
Possess and maintain a valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record. Must obtain a valid Oregon/Washington driver's license within 90 days if current valid license is from another state
Must be available to work some evenings and weekends

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred (Public Policy, Business, Communications, or related field)
Minimum of 8+ years of experience, including demonstrated experience operating at a strategic level
Demonstrated experience developing and leading government or community affairs strategies across multiple stakeholders or jurisdictions
Established relationships with local and/or state government entities and a record of influencing policy or outcomes
Ability to lead complex negotiations and manage sensitive political or community issues independently
Experience advising senior leaders and translating business objectives into external engagement strategies
Advanced analytical capability to assess political, regulatory, and business risks and opportunities and recommend strategy
Demonstrated leadership capability, including influencing cross-functional teams and driving alignment across stakeholders
Knowledge of utility, regulatory, or energy policy environments required
Knowledge of utilities or regulatory frameworks, business and political environments a plus

Responsibilities

Serves as the primary liaison to Clark County and city jurisdictions, building relationships, supporting consensus-building, and navigating complex policy and community issues with agency staff and elected officials
Represents the company in public forums and digital advocacy as needed
Is part of the Local Government Affairs Team and reports to the Director of Local Government Affairs
Supports the Director of State and Federal Government Affairs in State of Washington and partners with the state affairs team to maintain relationships with legislators and agency staff, and represents company interests (including NW Natural Water)
Monitors and responds to legislative (and sometimes regulatory) developments
Advances NW Natural’s presence as a community partner through participation in business, civic, and economic development organizations
Identifies and coordinates community investment opportunities in partnership with the Community Relations team
Support the Company’s commitment to a culture of safe work practices
Build and maintain relationships with government, business, labor, and community stakeholders to support service territory retention, franchise management, economic growth, streamlined permitting, energy literacy, and healthy communities
Represent NW Natural in community, civic, and governmental settings (including written and verbal testimony), communicating company priorities and advancing strategic partnerships
Monitor and analyze local and state policy, regulatory activity, and community issues; develop strategies to advance opportunities and mitigate risks in alignment with company and customer interests
Partner with internal teams (State Affairs, Regulatory, Environmental Policy, Marketing, and Operations) to support policy development, infrastructure projects, climate action planning, pilot projects, and jurisdictional coordination
Lead community education efforts on energy topics including decarbonization, resiliency, safety, joint energy system planning, affordability, and resource adequacy through presentations, events, and outreach
Coordinate engagement with civic, economic development, and community-based organizations to support business growth and community investment priorities
Plan and execute company participation in community events, sponsorships, and partnerships, including evaluating outcomes and coordinating with Community Relations team and Philanthropy manager; support using NW Natural’s event canopies and mobile cook wagon
Representing company in digital advocacy and external communications, serving as a liaison with Corporate Communications and local media as needed
Contribute to emergency response preparedness through participation in External Affairs/Incident Command planning and execution
Maintain working knowledge of gas and water systems to effectively represent company operations
Perform other duties as assigned, including travel within the service territory and occasional overnight travel

Benefits

Rich health insurance benefits with competitive employer contribution
Free access to an online wellness resources platform
Up to 23 Vacation Days
80 Hours of Sick Time
10 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays
Flexible work arrangements
3 weeks paid parental leave
Engage with our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, and a variety of Employee Resource Groups that support community and growth.
1500 sq foot exercise facility and secure bike room
Meaningful annual incentive bonus opportunity in addition to base salary
Competitive 401K company contribution and match
15% discount on NW Natural stock through Employee Stock Purchase Program
Up to $5250 a year in tuition reimbursement
Wellness incentive program
20% off natural gas service
Up to 30% discount at NW Natural Appliance Center
TriMet Pass for all HQ employees
Generous discounts with Verizon & AT&T Wireless