Sr Community Affairs Specialist - Oahu

Hawaiian Electric•Honolulu, HI

4d•$89,100 - $113,700•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Community Affairs Specialist works with management and takes a lead role in managing Hawaiian Electric’s reputation and complex, potentially controversial issues. The position develops strategies, programs, and communications to foster positive relationships with employees, customers, regulators, elected officials, communities, and other stakeholders. It communicates company initiatives and priorities, including Integrated Grid Planning, grid reliability and resilience, energy-system hardening, and wildfire mitigation. The specialist serves as a company spokesperson and community liaison, builds relationships with community organizations and leaders, monitors community sentiment, and advises the company. The role anticipates and manages critical issues involving community perspectives, environmental matters, company projects, and complex regulatory or technical subjects. It collaborates with Corporate and Digital Communications, Government Relations, and company process areas; recruits and supervises volunteers for community projects; manages program budgets; and participates in emergency response activities as assigned.

Requirements

At least 7 years of related business experience, preferably with progressively increasing responsibility in consumer-related or community affairs fields, or equivalent.
Technical knowledge of finance and accounting concepts and working knowledge of budgeting and forecasting processes.
Working knowledge of utility ratemaking, regulatory concepts, and regulatory processes.
Working knowledge of the communities and organizations served by the company and of issues facing the company and utility industry.
Working knowledge of federal, state, economic, business, and political environments.
Knowledge of communications and information-dissemination techniques and an understanding of how people communicate, listen, and learn.
Working knowledge of computers and related software applications.
Ability to handle difficult or sensitive issues with tact, courtesy, and discretion, and to navigate internal and external organizational networks with interpersonal and political savvy.
Excellent oral, written, facilitation, and presentation skills, including the ability to respond clearly and credibly to customer or community inquiries.
Ability to enter a community without prior relationships and earn long-term respect and credibility.
Ability to remain flexible, adapt to changing priorities, and deliver work efficiently and on time in a demanding environment.
Ability to quickly develop ideas and explain complex issues and technical information in terms understandable to broad audiences.
Analytical and conceptual skills to assess issues, recommend actions, and coordinate and follow through on implementation details.
Strong initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision.
Strong organizational and project-management skills to handle concurrent projects and programs.
Ability to work collaboratively with people at all levels and across diverse company departments.
Ability to direct work and manage department personnel or volunteer groups when required.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license issued by Hawaii or another U.S. state or territory and meet the standards in the Company Driver Safety policy.

Nice To Haves

Experience in strategic planning, community development, program development, or a related field is desired.
Background in a utility environment, financial analysis, or technical analysis is highly desirable.
Working understanding of utility industry operations is helpful.

Responsibilities

Plan, develop, and manage programs, workshops, communications, and services that foster customer and community understanding of company initiatives, including Integrated Grid Planning, grid reliability and resilience, energy-system hardening, and wildfire mitigation.
Use business and technical knowledge to communicate about customer concerns and escalations and help maintain customer satisfaction.
Research and evaluate strategies, educational resources, regulatory applications, and programs, and share best practices and knowledge internally.
Serve as a company spokesperson and liaison with the community; develop and strengthen relationships with community organizations, leaders, and groups.
Facilitate two-way communication and explain company strategic goals and priorities from an informed company perspective.
Monitor community meetings, social media, and communications to track community sentiment and provide proactive advice to the company.
Develop and implement strategies and projects that foster stakeholder relationships, public understanding, and a favorable attitude toward the company.
Anticipate, analyze, plan for, and manage critical company issues, including potentially controversial community perspectives, environmental issues, company projects and programs, and complex regulatory and technical matters.
Develop an understanding of political, community, business, and technical issues and implement issue-management strategies; participate in corporate task forces to provide community perspectives on projects of public interest.
Work with Corporate and Digital Communications, Government Relations, and company process areas to support company goals, policy positions, and projects.
Recruit, manage, and supervise large groups of company volunteers for high-visibility community projects, ensuring safe work practices and conditions.
Provide volunteers with communication and information tools to prepare them to answer customer and community inquiries about company goals, projects, and services.
Plan, implement, and monitor program budgets to ensure compliance with approved expenditures.
Participate in company emergency-response activities as assigned, including activities required to prepare for emergency response.