Director, External Affairs

Responsibilities

• Establish a proactive stakeholder intelligence framework that enables executive leadership to anticipate and respond to emerging stakeholder, policy, and market risks with no material surprises.
• Serve as Core’s primary point of contact for state government affairs, anticipating legislative and executive priorities that may affect Core’s activities, and positioning Core as a credible, accessible resource for policymakers navigating the energy transition.
• Collaborate with internal counter parties to develop messaging and execute public communications and outreach campaigns that elevate Core's visibility and credibility.
• Build and maintain a consistent and visible presence in regional forums and stakeholder discussions, establishing credibility and serving as a trusted source of insight to inform and advance organizational priorities.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy that establishes Core as a trusted, proactive partner across the states, including utilities, regulators, policymakers, and regional forums.
• Deliver measurable progress in relationship depth and stakeholder awareness and maintain relationships moving forward.
• Be present, accessible, and credible in the regional forums and conversations to add value and bring needed insights forward.
• Collaborate closely with Corporate Communications to ensure all regional communications are consistent with Core's brand and corporate strategy, messaging standards, and brand, while remaining tailored to the unique context of Western stakeholders.
• Provide timely, candid strategic guidance to the Chief Power & Policy Officer on key stakeholder dynamics, local and state issues and opportunities, regulatory developments, and communications opportunities, with particular focus on areas where such dynamics create reputational risk or opportunity.
• Establish and monitor performance metrics to evaluate stakeholder engagement and the effectiveness of communications.
• Foster open, respectful, and professional communication directly within the team as well as with co-workers/ teammates and leaders across the organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Public Policy, Business, Energy Policy, or a related field.
• Minimum 7+ years of relevant experience in stakeholder engagement, public affairs, communications, regulatory policy, or energy industry roles.
• Demonstrated success managing stakeholder relationships in complex regulatory or policy environments.
• Prominent ability to influence and advise senior leadership on stakeholder engagement and communications strategy.
• Strong strategic communications and messaging development skills, with the ability to craft narratives that resonate across diverse and sometimes skeptical audiences.
• Ability to translate complex energy, regulatory, and market concepts into clear and compelling messaging for non-technical audiences.
• Strong facilitation, relationship-building, and executive presentation skills.
• A bias for action and demonstrated ability to build programs, relationships, and presence where little existed before.

Preferred

• Existing relationships within Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina utilities, with key stakeholders, county commissioners, and/or policy makers.
• Experience working with executive leadership, regulators, and energy industry stakeholders in a high-visibility, external-facing role.

Location: To be considered for the role, you must reside near Atlanta, GA. Travel: Frequent travel is required, approximately 30% (travel to GA, NC, AL and other markets, as needed).

Work Environment: This job operates in a data center, office, and shop environment. The role routinely uses standard maintenance equipment, including ladders, scissor lifts, forklifts, power tools, and voltmeters. While performing these duties, the employee will be exposed to both hot and cold environments.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands, and lift up to 25 pounds.

Position Type/ Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position. General hours and days of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some nights and weekends may be required.

Supervisory Experience: Yes