Senior Manager - Project Outreach

Iberdrola•Rochester, NY

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Leads the development and implementation of the organization’s enterprise-wide strategic Project Outreach Program encompassing all capital projects and programs across the Gas and Electric businesses. Safeguards the fulfillment of regulatory requirements, sustainability goals, environmental justice considerations, and community needs. Ensures that strategic initiatives align with community needs, the organizational mission, values and standards, and fosters trust and coordination with the public and key stakeholders. Drives public engagement efforts to build trust, transparency, and collaboration with customers, regulators, and both internal and external stakeholders. This position oversees the Project Outreach Center of Excellence as well as operational responsibility for leading the New York Outreach Team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
10+ years of experience in stakeholder management, project management, public affairs, or public relations.
Demonstrated success in driving cross-functional teams.
Strong leadership, exceptional communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Problem-solving abilities
Experience working with the public sector or mission-driven organizations.
Ability to influence others and move toward a common vision or goal.
Agility and presence to act in crises.
Track record of working with executive leadership.
Demonstrated ability to influence group and corporate culture and manage change resistance.
Working knowledge of state and municipal siting and permitting requirements, and regulator expectations
Strong analytical and creative thinking skills.
Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop and lead a multi- disciplined team.
Proven ability to successfully manage and influence in a highly matrixed environment.

Nice To Haves

Masters Degree
Change Management Certification
Crisis Communication Planning

Responsibilities

Leadership of Project Outreach Center of Excellence (COE) Strategic Planning & Process Alignment – Develop, manage, and ensure alignment of the organization’s Project Outreach Center of Excellence strategic plan across all jurisdictional operating companies, including both gas and electric businesses.
Support Capital Project Teams across all jurisdictional operating companies by providing comprehensive and strategic project outreach direction through Project Planning Templates , SOPs and internal trainings (Environmental Justice, Onboarding, etc.).
Establish best practices, process automation, and standardized branding to support capital projects and their jurisdictional compliance.
Encourage and facilitate in-person meetings with impacted stakeholders for effectiveness and training.
Centralized Systems - Spearhead the adoption of Salesforce as the centralized information repository and establish consistent processes and training.
Manage vendor relationship for website design and other enterprise-wide systems.
Change Management Provide enterprise-wide “Lessons Learned” insights to all Networks internal stakeholders through Project Outreach Spotlight and Change Management platforms to ensure and promote knowledge sharing
Performance Monitoring & Reporting Consolidates and distributes the bi-weekly Public, Municipal & Regulatory Meeting Tracker Report to Executive Leadership to ensure regulatory compliance.
Establish KPI for standardized process and response time to stakeholder inquiries.
Prepare reports and presentations for executive leadership, governing boards, and the public.
Leadership of Project Outreach Team – New York Planning Ensure project initiatives reflect community priorities, policy mandates, and organizational values.
Integrate public feedback into strategic decision-making processes.
Align project initiatives with regulatory mandates, infrastructure modernization, and clean energy considerations.
Monitor industry trends, emerging societal issues and concerns, and policy developments to dictate strategic direction for all Gas & Electric infrastructure work.
Public Outreach & Engagement Lead and oversee project outreach campaigns to communicate strategic goals and progress to the public.
Facilitate public meetings, hearings, and educational campaigns on key projects/initiatives (infrastructure upgrades, network expansions, and emerging technologies).
Build partnerships and develop trust with civic organizations, advocacy groups, and local leaders.
Serve as a critical liaison between the utility and impacted external stakeholders to ensure transparency and responsiveness.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Drive internal coordination with internal departments (Government Relations, Public Affairs, Corporate Communications, Permitting, Real Estate, Vegetation Management, etc.) to ensure strategic alignment and knowledge sharing.
Communications & Transparency Oversee the development of accessible, transparent, and valuable public-facing communication materials.
Provide preparatory tactics and talking points for strategic initiatives in public settings to ensure successful events.
Create and maintain project-specific websites for regulatory compliance, and stakeholder education (leverage COE vendor).
Comply with Avangrid reporting requirements established by the Project Outreach Center of Excellence.
Crisis Communication Ensure a comprehensive plan that includes the availability and sharing of timely, accurate, and helpful project information with all impacted stakeholders (both internal and external) in the event of unplanned circumstances, organized opposition, or negative publicity.