Director of New Orleans Community Engagement

About the role

United Utility Services is seeking a passionate, deeply connected Director of New Orleans Community Engagement to serve as the vital bridge between the people of New Orleans and our critical work hardening the electric power grid for Entergy New Orleans.

This is not a traditional corporate communications role. We need someone who lives and breathes New Orleans—who understands its neighborhoods, its culture, its history, its politics, and its heartbeat. You will ensure that community voices, concerns, and aspirations directly shape how we plan and execute grid-hardening projects across the city.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary community-facing representative for grid-hardening initiatives, translating technical infrastructure work into clear, honest, and culturally resonant communication.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with neighborhood associations, civic groups, faith-based organizations, cultural institutions, and advocacy groups across all New Orleans wards and parishes.
• Proactively identify community concerns related to construction, outages, tree removal, visual impacts, and equity in infrastructure investment, then rapidly escalate and resolve them with operations teams and Entergy partners.
• Engage directly with New Orleans City Council members, their staff, and other local government stakeholders to provide timely updates, gather feedback, and build alignment.
• Develop and lead transparent public engagement strategies—including community meetings, neighborhood forums, digital communications, and creative outreach methods that respect local traditions and communication styles.
• Act as the “voice of the community” inside United Utility Services and Entergy project teams, ensuring local priorities (safety, equity, jobs, aesthetics, minimal disruption) are integrated into planning and execution.
• Monitor local sentiment and political dynamics, providing strategic guidance to leadership on potential issues before they escalate.

Qualifications (Must-Have)

• Deep, authentic knowledge of New Orleans communities, neighborhoods, political landscape, and power dynamics. (This is non-negotiable.)
• 5+ years of experience in community engagement, public affairs, government relations, or stakeholder management—ideally in utilities, infrastructure, energy, or New Orleans-focused nonprofit/government work.
• Proven ability to build trust quickly with diverse groups, including historically underserved communities.
• Strong facilitation and conflict resolution skills—able to de-escalate concerns while representing project realities.
• Able to maintain a steady hand in crisis management scenarios.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to speak plainly and powerfully to both everyday residents and elected officials. Skilled in using social media as a tool to gather and disperse critical information.
• Existing relationships with key community leaders, council offices, and civic organizations strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, political science, urban planning, public administration, or related field (or equivalent lived/professional experience).

What Success Looks Like

• Community members feel genuinely heard and respected during grid-hardening projects.
• Projects move forward with fewer delays due to community opposition.
• United Utility Services and Entergy are viewed as true partners in New Orleans’ resilience, not just contractors.
• You become a trusted advisor both inside the organization and across the city.

To Apply

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter (maximum 1 page) explaining why you are uniquely suited to represent New Orleans in this work to lisa.zimmerli@UnitedUtility.com

In your cover letter, please tell us about one specific New Orleans community experience or relationship that prepared you for this role.

United Utility Services

We do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from third-party recruiters or staffing firms. Resumes submitted without a signed, written agreement with the Company and outside the approved HR/Recruiter process will not be reviewed or considered, and the Company will not be responsible for any associated fees.

Email: HRSC@unitedutility.com