Municipal & Community Relations Manager

Iberdrola•Rochester, NY

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Municipal & Community Relations Manager is the primary point of contact for municipal officials, community organizations, and agencies in an assigned area. The role builds and maintains stakeholder relationships to advance NYSEG and RG&E initiatives, projects, emergency preparedness, and related performance metrics, while resolving complex political issues to the satisfaction of the company and external stakeholders. The manager leads outreach to government officials, agencies, and community organizations; coordinates emergency-preparedness activities; and manages a Public Liaison Officer team during emergency events. The position also leads economic-development efforts to attract businesses, represents the company in local organizations and meetings, advises management on politically sensitive issues, coordinates sponsorships and donations, and promotes and organizes employee volunteer activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience, or an associate degree with 10 years of relevant experience; the posting describes these qualifications as preferred.
Relevant experience may include customer service, business-to-business relationships, operations, public affairs, government affairs, or communications.
Experience directly interacting with government, business, and community leaders.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
Excellent public-speaking skills and ability to deliver consistent messages to multiple stakeholders.
Ability to interact effectively with external stakeholders and senior management.
Ability to manage multiple and frequently changing priorities, including crisis management.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Self-motivation and ability to work independently.
Flexibility to travel.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the electric and natural gas utility business and NYSEG/RG&E service areas.

Responsibilities

Manage outreach to municipal, county, and state government officials, government agencies, and community organizations, serving as the primary contact and maintaining strong relationships.
Coordinate direct outreach with county emergency-operations directors and personnel for initiatives required to meet emergency-preparedness regulatory compliance.
Participate in emergency exercises and provide training for the assigned storm role.
During emergency events, manage a Public Liaison Officer team to ensure compliance with the companies’ emergency-response plan and scorecard metrics.
Lead economic-development work for business-attraction projects and collaborate with relevant business areas to develop proposals that secure new business customers and increase revenue.
Present at local and state economic-development meetings and serve on local economic-development boards to support program objectives and awareness.
Represent the company in a leadership capacity in local business, charitable, civic, and economic-development organizations.
Identify and present politically sensitive issues and opportunities to department management; recommend strategies and deliver appropriate stakeholder responses.
Evaluate and recommend nonprofit organizations for regional sponsorships, corporate donations, and Avangrid Foundation donations.
Coordinate with nonprofit organizations regarding donations and participation in sponsored events and recognition ceremonies.
Promote Avangrid’s volunteer program internally and among community organizations.
Organize company-sponsored employee volunteer events to support Avangrid’s volunteer goals.