Public Relations Strategist

Ameren•Saint Louis, MO

About The Position

The Public Relations (PR) Strategist is responsible for strengthening Ameren's reputation through deployment of effective public relations, media relations, and strategic communications. This role will lead external communication planning and the development of projects as assigned, mines for news about company initiatives and successes. The PR Strategist will ensure visibility across the team for consistent messaging, tone, timing, and strategy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university required, preferably in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field required.
Five or more years of professional journalism, or communication experience required.
Experience in project team leadership required.
Possess a contemporary understanding of marketing and communications landscape, including experience in a wide variety of traditional and digital channels.
strong writing and strategic thinking, capable of developing and executing communication strategies to inform and educate key Ameren publics such as customers.
Possess a solid grasp of customer segmentation and an aptitude for effective communications.
Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
Possess strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
Possess strong knowledge of digital communications and social media tools.
Possess analytical ability to identify trends based on data.
Able to effectively listen, weigh competing priorities, make trade-off recommendations, and develop creative solutions.
Proven proficiency with creative oral and written communications as well as public speaking.
Ability to prioritize tasks and assignments and manage multiple on-going projects with demanding time constraints.
Ability to work as a team player.
Organized, experienced team player with a demonstrated ability to establish trusted relationships with internal and external business partners, provide strategic communications counsel and services, and communicate effectively in multiple channels.
A high level of professionalism.
Strong project management experience.
MSOffice proficiency is a must.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Experience in a corporate communications or marketing team in a large corporate environment, public relations or advertising agency preferred.
Energy industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute integrated communications strategies that align with organizational goals and objectives.
Create cohesive and integrated plans for campaigns and announcements.
Craft compelling news releases, letters, position papers, speeches, talking points, executive memos, and digital copy for distribution across various owned, earned, and paid communication channels.
Provide strategic counsel to leadership and other personnel to ensure that company messaging is consistent and communicated effectively.
Produce media-ready assets such as b-roll packages, Q/A docs, and other content for broadcast, print/web, social, and other digital channels.
Develop constructive relationships with local reporters, editors, news directors and key journalists to ensure fair, balanced, and accurate coverage of company news.
Develop constructive relationships community/civic leaders, investors, energy stakeholders and internal co-workers.
Maintain a steady pipeline of earned media opportunities and story pitches to support achievement of reputational goals.
Work on storm or crisis communications as needed to communicate with Ameren's customers, media, and other key stakeholders, which can require working outside of standard business hours.
Serve on the media relations response team, including periodic staffing of the after-hours media hotline
Build and maintain relationships with internal business partners and external stakeholders, providing counsel and recommendations that support business goals.
Work collaboratively with other departments, leveraging team strengths and managing projects through the internal working group, including channel owners.
Data-Driven Decision-Making Monitor and analyze communications performance to measure the effectiveness and impact to business goals.