Director Corporate Communications & EA

Primary Role

The role develops and guides the application of state content to advocate and tell American Water’s story, using a variety of communication mediums.

Responsible for providing proactive and strategic communications counsel to the respective state president. Responsible for customer communications, brand reputation, media relations, public relations, external affairs, community outreach, government affairs, corporate responsibility and issue management for the state.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead state communications using a “One American Water” approach, aligning state teams with corporate teams on our collective campaign, advocacy and communications needs. Provides executive level strategic communications counsel to the state president to effectively address and manage all communications-related issues, challenges, and opportunities. Participates as an active member of the senior management team responsible for coordinating and managing all communications resources deployed across the state. Provides communication counsel, strategic recommendations, implementation oversight, and management in support of the state business plan. Ensure state communications issues are anticipated, planned for and materials          developed on a timely basis. (35%)

• Leads, develops, manages and oversees all communications strategies, plans, tactics and activities and manages a comprehensive and diverse array of staff resources operating in a matrix management environment supporting individual state needs in the areas of external affairs, media relations, community outreach including workforce development outreach and education, customer communications, government relations, internal communications, corporate social responsibility and call center communications management.  Ensures alignment with corporate communications strategies while effectively managing and deploying resources to meet each state's specific needs.  Leads, directs, manages and oversees the proactive development of all           communications materials, activities and tactics that produce cost, time and resource efficiencies. Develop third-party advocacy plans and campaigns. Possess a strong understanding of the media industry; understand the traditional and emerging press, and harness appropriate digital communications platforms for the benefit of customers and communities. (35%)

• Develops, leads, and directs issue management strategies and oversees the execution of all communications activities to reduce, mitigate or fully eliminate reputational damage arising from controversial and/or potentially damaging issues. Leads, directs, manages and assesses state specific media relations activities, customer communications activities, internal communications activities and all other related outreach activities and ensures the overall effectiveness of these strategies within the state. Sets metrics for accomplishment and tracks and reports results on a regular basis to state leadership and to Corporate Communications. (15%)

• Participates as an integral part of the Corporate Communications and External Affairs leadership team. Works to represent the needs of the state, while recognizing the strategic imperative to develop communication programs and plans that are aligned and integrated between corporate and the states. Works with the leadership team to assess and manage resource deployment ensuring accountability and accomplishment of strategic communications objectives at a state and corporate level. (15%)

Knowledge/Skills

• Creative thinker with an exceptional ability to write and communicate complex ideas simply and meaningfully to audiences of diverse backgrounds
• Analytical skills to solve problems and find the best way to convey a message.
• Proven ability to manage and complete projects and campaigns in a timely, cost-effective manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and maintain effective business relationships with executive leaders, state leaders and BD leaders.
• Ability to work as part of a team and act quickly with minimal supervision.
• Excellent and efficient working knowledge across Microsoft Office 365 and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Comfortable creating and delivering persuasive business development, advocacy and growth messages through a variety of platforms.
• Extensive experience in developing, implementing, monitoring and measuring integrated communications strategies, programs and campaigns.
• Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of the company’s business strategy and financial performance and the ability to deploy communications resources to support the accomplishment of state business plans.
• Experience leveraging and maximizing social media platforms and assets to support the company and increase social media presence.
• Detailed knowledge, experience and comprehensive understanding of regulatory issues.
• Demonstrated experience communicating successfully with public utility commissioners and their staff.
• Demonstrated experience working at the highest level of an organization and providing strategic communications counsel.

Experience/Education

• Bachelor's Degree in journalism, marketing, communications, public relations, advertising or related field required.

• Communications professional with ten plus (10+) years of comprehensive senior and executive level communications experience developing, implementing and managing integrated marketing and strategic communications campaigns that include public relations, media relations, community relations, marketing, advertising, government affairs, community relations, issues management and corporate responsibility activities in a corporate and/or agency environment.

• Experience working in a collaborative environment with executive leadership and a team of people/project leaders at the corporate and state subsidiary levels.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience successfully working within a regulatory environment preferred.

Work Environment

Located within the division providing executive-level communications counsel in support of division and state management to meet established business plans and operating objectives.

Travel Requirements

30% travel with the United States. 

Competencies