Dir, Communications and Public Affairs

Location: Salt Lake City, UT 84116

About the role

PacifiCorp is seeking customer-centric candidates to grow and sustain our commitment to a culture of customer service excellence, environmental sustainability, inclusion, and belonging. This role provides strategy and leadership in media relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, and reputation management for PacifiCorp and Rocky Mountain Power. You will manage a team of communications specialists, develop strategic communications strategies, and work with internal stakeholders to position the company as a relevant and credible energy services leader.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team including their direct day-to-day activities, training, and professional development.
• Set strategic communications strategy including outage communications, legislative communications, wildfire communications, energy transition, transmission growth, and regulatory strategy and filings.
• Determine the appropriate mix of communications activations using a comprehensive communications skill set.
• Develop and implement communications plans with internal stakeholders, senior, and business unit leaders to enhance PacifiCorp and Rocky Mountain Power’s brands and reputation.
• Handle reputation management, issues management, and develop communications materials and messages on volatile and sensitive topics.
• Develop and implement strategic communications that are highly sensitive, complex, and political in nature.
• Interact with media, offer interviews, and act as a spokesperson for the company.
• Serve as a key contact for media on volatile and sensitive topics; ensure coverage of media hotline for Rocky Mountain Power and timely response to media inquiries.
• Develop executive communications materials including talking points, speeches, and presentations.
• Establish and maintain operational/customer service outage response communications plan.
• Establish and maintain a wildfire mitigation communication program showcasing company work across the service area.
• Establish and maintain a peak load response communications plan.
• Influence programs addressing ongoing issues and initiatives that protect and enhance business objectives and reputation.
• Promote understanding in support of the company’s overall strategy, policies, and priorities.
• Provide communications counsel and support to the company, focusing on strategic communications that are prioritized, proactive, integrated, and consistent.
• Collaborate with colleagues responsible for customer communications, energy efficiency communications, brand awareness, government affairs, and regulatory communications to ensure consistency.
• Apply project management skills to ensure timely production, management, and measurement of marketing and customer communications campaigns.
• Oversee work of agencies supporting the communications function.
• Develop and implement crisis and emergency response activities.
• Develop resources enabling shared information across the communications team, ensuring cross-training and bench strength in public spokesperson roles, issues management, and proactive reputational management.
• Review, measure, and evaluate the effectiveness of communications efforts and incorporate findings to improve subsequent activities.
• Stay current on communications trends and implement new processes and tactics to maintain best-in-class function.
• Responsible for employee performance reviews, performance management, and personnel issues for team members.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field; or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of ten years of experience in communications, media, or public relations roles.
• A minimum of 5 years’ functional or people management experience.
• Proven experience translating complex issues into understandable language.
• Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive strategic communications plans and programs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish trust and maintain confidence.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-channel communications management.
• Ability to work with all levels of an organization to influence actions and negotiate outcomes.
• Ability to listen and communicate effectively through oral and written means.
• Ability to operate in a complex and rapidly changing business environment.
• Ability to judge priorities for the best interests of the company while meeting multiple deadlines.
• Experience working with media deadlines and information needs, including trades, newspapers, and broadcast reporters.
• Proficient with personal computers to gather, analyze, and summarize data.
• Proficient with MS Office suite.
• Interest in adapting and implementing new technologies that benefit the company’s communications.
• Proven ability to plan, execute, measure, and correct.

Preferences

• Advanced Degree.
• Knowledge of the service area, customer demographics, and policy environment.
• Knowledge of research, analysis, and consulting techniques, company policies, procedures, practices, and applicable federal, state, and local governmental laws and regulations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k with match fixed contributions, including Roth and savings options. For union employees, matching contributions vary by union. For nonunion employees, PacifiCorp makes a fixed contribution equal to 4% of eligible pay each year for new hires. Additionally, PacifiCorp matches 100% of the first 6% you contribute.
• Life insurance.
• Additional voluntary benefits, including pet insurance.
• Tuition Assistance.
• Mass Transit Pass for employees in Portland and Salt Lake City offices.

Work Life Balance

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) – varies by employee type (Union or Non-Union).
• Paid short-term disability leave and long-term disability insurance.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• Paid Bereavement Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program supporting mental and emotional wellbeing.

Pay

$134,800 - $185,350

Schedule

Full time