The Community & Project Outreach Specialist is responsible for serving as the primary face of Williams and central contact point for local outreach and engagement efforts. This is a highly collaborative position and will interact with operations personnel and internal business partners in addition to community leaders and organizations. The ability to guide the application of local/public outreach efforts communication strategies project management and change forward culture are keys to success.
Responsibilities/Expectations:
- Provides strategic direction for outreach and engagement activities; develops strategic plans to build and enhance our credibility and trust with local public officials and communities
- Reviews public landscape including market statistics key civil and political players and communications trends
- Supports business leaders in preparation to represent the company at public and trade association meetings; prepares and researches for presentations to local municipalities non-governmental organizations and special interest groups
- Identifies emerging issues and develops risk mitigation strategies
- Identifies outsourcing or consulting needs; handles third party firms that are hired to assist in local outreach or engagement activities
- Works with others to ensure project statuses are communicated to business partners; cultivates relationships with key business partners
- Assists with the generation of FERC regulatory deliverables; acquires knowledge of FERC pre-filing and filing requirements for outreach
- Analyzes the efficiency and effectiveness of outreach activities and interventions and provides recommendations for improvement
- Other duties as assigned
Education/Years of Experience:
- Required: Bachelors degree in public Affairs Communications or Political Science; a minimum of eight (8) years of experience in Public Relations Corporate Communications Government Affairs Project Management
- Preferred: Masters degree in public relations; a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in Public Relations Corporate Communications Government Affairs Project Management
Other Requirements:
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal/organizational skills and safety as the utmost priority
- Proficiency in Microsoft Applications and PC skills
- Ability to learn quickly and balance multiple projects
- Proficient knowledge of state and federal regulatory regulations and requirements groups
- Preferred: Settles differences with minimal disruption and can compromise without damaging relationships
- Travel up to 50%
- Preferred: Solid understanding of energy industry
- Preferred: Ability to describe sophisticated concepts in non-technical terms