Principal Strategic Communications Consultant
About the role
The Principal Strategic Communications Consultant is a senior-level position designed to drive growth and ensure excellence in project delivery within Strategic Communications. This role will embed strategic communication leadership early in the project lifecycle to manage risk, align messaging, and support critical permitting, siting, and program execution activities. It will also provide vital cross-sector support to local teams and focus on converting strategic communication opportunities into booked work, particularly within the MISO, SPP, and PJM markets. The successful candidate will strengthen service line integration and build our market position through active coordination with business development and sector leadership.
Responsibilities
- Provide senior strategic communications leadership and/or project management on infrastructure projects to manage risk, align messaging, and ensure consistent, high-quality delivery.
- Cook up strategic communication strategies and work products to support both Power and non-Power sector teams in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, and surrounding states.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, including regional cooperatives, and act as a trusted advisor.
- Lead media and public relations efforts, including developing key messages and written materials for various campaigns and outreach programs.
Requirements
- A Master's degree.
- Ability to handle multiple assignments at a time, prioritize among tasks, and set and meet deadlines.
- Track record of leading successful strategic communications strategy and work products.
- Professional experience in the infrastructure industry, specifically power and energy infrastructure.
- Deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that infrastructure is facing today and will continue to face in the future.
- Experience in the A/E/C industry.
- Proven skills in media relations, public relations, messaging, and professional writing.
- Track record of successful business development and client management.
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and provide senior leadership.
- Established connections with regional electric cooperatives and utilities.
- Experience working within the MISO, SPP, and PJM market regions.
- Familiarity with AI-powered tools such as Copilot and Google Gemini.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree.
- Ability to handle multiple assignments at a time, prioritize among tasks, and set and meet deadlines.
- Track record of leading successful strategic communications strategy and work products.
- Professional experience in the infrastructure industry, specifically power and energy infrastructure.
- Deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that infrastructure is facing today and will continue to face in the future.
- Experience in the A/E/C industry.
- Proven skills in media relations, public relations, messaging, and professional writing.
- Track record of successful business development and client management.
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and provide senior leadership.
- Established connections with regional electric cooperatives and utilities.
- Experience working within the MISO, SPP, and PJM market regions.
- Familiarity with AI-powered tools such as Copilot and Google Gemini.
Skills
- Master's degree.
- Ability to handle multiple assignments at a time, prioritize among tasks, and set and meet deadlines.
- Track record of leading successful strategic communications strategy and work products.
- Professional experience in the infrastructure industry, specifically power and energy infrastructure.
- Deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that infrastructure is facing today and will continue to face in the future.
- Experience in the A/E/C industry.
- Proven skills in media relations, public relations, messaging, and professional writing.
- Track record of successful business development and client management.
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and provide senior leadership.
- Established connections with regional electric cooperatives and utilities.
- Experience working within the MISO, SPP, and PJM market regions.
- Familiarity with AI-powered tools such as Copilot and Google Gemini.
Benefits
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve. Our Commitment As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
Pay
Salary range: $150,000 - $200,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
Schedule
Full-time.
Employee Status
Regular.
Business Class
Strategic Communications.
Job Posting Date
Jun 22, 2026.
Company Information
We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.