Manager, Community Relations - Large Loads

Xcel Energy•Amarillo, TX

3d•$110,000 - $138,600•Hybrid

About The Position

Xcel Energy is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company serving millions of customers across eight states. The company is dedicated to making energy work better for its customers by delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy. Xcel Energy offers opportunities for employees to grow, expand their skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. The company values its employees as the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping them be their best. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model, with many roles expected to work onsite three days per week, though expectations vary by role, team, and business needs. This position is a leader responsible for building and maintaining community relationships in support of the Company's growth projects, with a particular focus on large-load customer developments. The role involves developing jurisdiction-specific engagement plans, building relationships with local officials and organizations, and monitoring community sentiment and local risk factors. The Manager will coordinate strategy and messaging with Communications and keep communities informed about project progress with regulatory and site development teams. This role requires representing the Company in local government and community engagement to build trusted relationships with stakeholders and support growth projects.

Requirements

College degree in communications, public affairs, or related field, or equivalent experience
7 years of experience developing community engagement or public affairs strategy, ideally in an energy, infrastructure, or large-scale development context
Very strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work with complex issues in a public setting
Ability to work independently and be a self-starter
Must be willing to work non-traditional hours to attend community and local government meetings

Nice To Haves

Experience working across multi-state, multi-jurisdiction, or municipal/local government contexts
Experience coordinating with external communications or public affairs partners
Familiarity with economic development organizations (EDCs) and their role in project siting/community engagement
Familiarity with rural electric cooperatives, zoning processes, or other jurisdiction-specific land/site partnership structures

Responsibilities

Build community- and jurisdiction-specific engagement plans for large-load growth projects, tailored to local context and stakeholder landscape
Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, community leaders, relevant economic development or governing bodies, and local organizations
Respond to, listen for, and elevate community concerns and questions related to growth projects, including monitoring local regulatory or approval processes that may affect project timing
Keep internal teams informed of community sentiment and local developments; coordinate with counterparts from other OpCos and central communications team
Partner with existing Community Relations, Account Management, and/or local partners (e.g., NGOs, EDCs, governments) to ensure coordinated outreach and share learnings across the territory
Tailor messaging to jurisdiction-specific priorities and keep engagement aligned as regulatory filings and site development progress
Perform special projects and other duties, as required