Mgr Local Government Relations

CPS Energy•San Antonio, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director of Local Government Relations, this position works proactively with city council members and staff, county commissioners and staff, and various city and county departments to address local government concerns, facilitate communication, and support utility projects and initiatives. The Manager of Local Government Relations monitors local government agendas, ordinances, resolutions and policy developments that may impact CPS Energy operations and provides timely analysis and to leadership. The Manager coordinates internal resources to respond to inquiries and resolve issues. CPS Energy is looking for someone who can develop approaches for engagement, communicate succinctly and think critically. Candidates must have the ability to think quickly, gain, act and share feedback and report back to leadership at an operational and strategic level, and can function both independently and as part of a team. Ideal candidates will have: knowledge of and experience in policy work, either at San Antonio City Hall, city/county government, a regulatory arena, and/or at the local public policy level, or at a related non-governmental organization; strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to work well with a broad range of people and entities; ability to pivot quickly and efficiently; motivation and drive to excel in the position both individually and through team performance. The Manager of Local Government Relations will report to the Director of Local Government Relations in San Antonio and will support the responsibilities of the entire Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs & Public Policy unit.

Requirements

Experience in policy or advocacy work.
Knowledge of local, state and federal elected or appointed officials and governmental functions.
Must possess awareness of the San Antonio and regional community.
Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, presentation, phone and email).
Ability to lead and direct a team and drive team performance.
Able to multi-task, have demonstrated organization, detail orientation, prioritization and time management skills to ensure that work related activities are completed in an accurate and timely manner.
Initiative to work independently or as a member of a team, coordinating with others to achieve desired results.
Ability to think critically, to anticipate, and to act strategically.
Demonstrated ability to interact well and with diplomacy with a wide range of people and entities.
Personal integrity, good judgment, and ability to handle sensitive information.
Competence with the Internet and Microsoft Office.
Flexibility to travel domestically as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience in government relations through a combination of city or county government or corporate government relations
Demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships with local elected offices as well as a variety of stakeholders
Experience in policy or advocacy work within the electricity or natural gas arenas
Professional experience in the energy or utility industry

Responsibilities

Monitor policy initiatives and strategies regarding issues of interest and/or impact to CPS Energy at the local level.
Oversee the management of CPS Energy’s Community Input Committee, including interaction with the Board of Trustees as required.
Assist with drafting presentations, answering inquiries, and creating position papers, public comments, and other materials.
Support the needs of CPS Energy’s internal stakeholders and business units as it relates to policy activities and information sharing, such as providing reports and arranging and preparing for meetings.
Represent the business unit in internal business meetings and external forums, and proactively develop relationships with key internal and external stakeholders in support of the External/Community Relations function.
Work cooperatively with other stakeholders and affiliated industry and community organizations at the local level.
Participate in the development of company positions and strategies for advocacy with different key local policy influencers. Track and measure results to ensure they are in line with intended outcomes and business objectives.
Serve as an ambassador for CPS Energy within the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County metropolitan area and with counterparts with public and private entities and organizations within the CPS Energy service territory. This includes representing CPS Energy at relevant city councils, meetings, briefings, events, and other policy venues. In some cases, working independently to arrange and lead such activities.
Identify opportunities for education and outreach by convening briefings, discussions, on behalf of CPS Energy, and in conjunction with other internal and external persons/entities as appropriate.
Convene internal teams to share knowledge across business units related to focus areas to ensure integration and alignment between teams.
Engage CPS Energy’s key stakeholders in policy efforts, providing them with the information needed to support policy initiatives of CPS Energy.
Coordinate with supervisors to identify priorities and determine strategies to be communicated.
Contribute to short and long-term organizational planning, budget development and review, and strategy as a member of the management team.