Senior Community Relations Specialist

Eversource Energy•Yarmouth, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under minimal supervision, this role manages and strengthens favorable relationships with the surrounding community. It involves participating in the organization's charitable giving programs as they affect community initiatives, and representing Eversource at community gatherings or forums. The specialist supports ES initiatives, priorities, and responses by serving as a single point of contact for various government officials, economic development agencies, business leaders, and non-profit and community organizations. The role educates the company on community viewpoints to accomplish business objectives and ensures the company is best positioned to receive favorable support from our municipalities and communities. It also strengthens the economic growth of the communities and customers served through economic development initiatives engineered at the regional, state, and local levels, regular and active engagement with the business community, and by establishing public and private partnerships. Eversource will not offer immigration-related sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

Understanding of municipal, state, and regional government as well as the regulatory process.
Knowledge of utility business, regulatory, and energy supply issues.
Experience in crisis communication and media relations.
Ability to use PC desktop applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, company outage management systems, virtual meeting software).
Ability to use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to support and promote company initiatives.
Ability to produce and deliver in-depth reports and presentations to executives, and internal and external partners.
Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills and the ability to work with confidential information with integrity.
Ability to work independently in a high-profile role and to take initiative to build relationships that will support company strategies.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills to present and share information with internal and external audiences.
Excellent collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively in sensitive, political environments.
Strategic, critical, and analytical thinking with a strong understanding of short- and long-term consequences of decisions and the ability to use sound judgment.
Excellent organizational skills to analyze, coordinate, and implement strategic initiatives.
Diplomacy and the ability to get along well with all levels of management and government officials.
Project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
Experience and knowledge to know when to recommend, develop, and execute strategic outreach to achieve company objectives.
Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public/Government Administration or related discipline or equivalent experience.
Five (5) or more years of experience in community/customer care or government relations.
Requires significant experience preparing and delivering presentations involving complex issues and in handling difficult and controversial situations in public forums.
Valid motor vehicle license is required.
Must be available to work emergency storm assignment as required.
Must be available to travel between MA/CT/NH as necessary.
Extended work hours during emergency preparedness and significant events.
Emergency response responsibilities require night and weekend availability.
Evening work is expected to attend public hearings, town and city council meetings, business association meetings and company sponsored events.
Expected to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
Must be comfortable leveraging mobile and virtual technologies to work remotely as needed.
General understanding of utility operations, electric distribution and transmission systems, customer care, emergency preparedness, energy efficiency, energy markets, rates and regulations, and company policies and procedures.
Collaboration with all corporate organizations, including senior leadership, Corporate Communications, Governmental Affairs, Media Relations, Electric and Gas Operation and Transmission and Regulatory Affairs.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree strongly preferred – Law, Public Affairs, Business Administration, Communications
eight or more years preferred (experience)
Previous project management or cross-functional teams experience preferred.
Relies on experience and judgement to plan and accomplish goals.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Community Relations Team, provides input into the development of Community Relations strategies and implements strategies for community and municipal outreach and relationship development; emergency preparedness and response; local and regional economic development; strategic corporate giving; and employee engagement, volunteerism, and business membership activities.
Represents the company to all constituents, leaders, and communities by identifying and supporting initiatives, proposals, concerns, or issues related to the company’s reputation. This responsibility includes working with communities on project timing and coordination as well as partnering with municipalities to promote state and local economic development initiatives.
Serves as liaison with various internal partners and shares value-added municipal and community knowledge to move projects towards successful outcomes while balancing company and community needs during medium and small-scale project meetings, municipal project briefings, and town/city council, board, commission, committee, and other municipal organization meetings.
Supports the strategic goals of the company by participating in influential community, business, and civic organizations that will build positive relationships and partnerships.
Establishes corporate giving opportunities within assigned territory and at regional and statewide levels.
Solicits, screens, and makes recommendations for grant awards to build strong, sustainable communities, increase local visibility, and support company priorities.
Coordinates with Media Relations on promotion of contributions in the community.
Responds to both routine and unique community and customer questions, issues, and concerns.
Ensures timely and effective communications with municipal leaders on siting, permitting, construction, and maintenance activities involving transmission, distribution, vegetation, and reliability projects.
Monitors and analyzes local government policy changes, elections, city and town ordinances, board, and council activities and serves as liaison with Eversource colleagues to ensure timely awareness and participation.
Advises internal business partners on local political activities, sensitivities, and emergent issues that may impact state and federal government relations.
Develops and strengthens relationships with essential community, private, and non-profit agencies and organizations.
Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience; may lead small projects with manageable risks and resource requirements.
Functions independently; impacts a range of customer, operational, project, or service activities within own team and other related teams; prepared to act on behalf of the manager in key situations.