Director External Affairs

American Electric Power•Muncie, IN

20h•$136,539 - $208,566

About The Position

The Director External Affairs oversees and implements state and local governmental affairs, public policy, and community relations, while supporting other internal departments on policy and community issues. The role manages and supervises external affairs managers and other assigned staff. The Director leads strategies and policies that build effective community relations, influence public policy, support internal and external communications, and contribute to economic development, new technology, and energy-efficiency programs while promoting customer satisfaction. The role manages relationships with legislative, environmental, regulatory, economic development, community, and customer stakeholders; oversees political and community contributions; and coordinates solutions to strategic community and business development issues. The Director also participates in relevant state and community organizations and advocates for company safety programs and initiatives. The position is based in Fort Wayne, Avilla, Muncie, or South Bend, Indiana, and requires travel to various locations and participation in evening business and community functions, approximately 25% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Public Policy, Communications, or another related field.
Eight years of experience in Community Relations, Economic Development, Government Relations, or Customer Relations, aligned with the listed principal accountabilities.
Demonstrated ability to build strategic internal and external relationships, political acumen, and initiative to direct and manage resources, projects, and challenges across business units, committees, and task forces.
Demonstrated successful leadership.
Exceptional oral and written communication and presentation skills.
Ability to travel to various locations and participate in evening business and community functions, approximately 25%.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Utility industry experience.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of company strategies and policies to build effective community relations, influence public policy, create effective internal and external communications, and contribute to economic development, new technology, and energy-efficiency programs while achieving customer satisfaction.
Direct and guide staff and consultants in building, maintaining, and managing legislative, environmental, regulatory, economic development, community, and customer relationships.
Manage the effective investment of company political and community contribution resources.
Manage, coordinate, and facilitate solutions to strategic community and business development issues, including franchises, service quality, rights of way, ordinances, taxes, facility siting, commission complaints, customer complaints, and environmental and regulatory issues.
Participate and serve in state and community organizations where key leaders are engaged.
Administer and advocate for company safety programs and initiatives.
Perform other job responsibilities when requested by company leadership.