At La Plata Electric Association, our mission is to provide our members safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost while being environmentally responsible. We are shaping the future by building trustworthy community partnerships as an innovative, forward-thinking industry leader, delivering excellence in our member-owned cooperative. Summary The Strategic Communications Officer (SCO) ensures that LPEA is a member-focused and community-minded organization that offers valuable, relevant, and innovative communications to members, the service territory, and the communities within that deliver on LPEA's vision and mission. The SCO is also responsible for employee communications, board communications, and industry communications delivering on-brand relevant messaging. Essential Job Functions Create and implement comprehensive strategic plans, incorporating communications, and member outreach to better serve LPEA's members, enrich the local community, and deliver on LPEA's vision and mission. Develop and implement strategic communications and marketing campaigns to advance LPEA's brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and services, and increase participation in those programs and services. Act as project coordinator for the department's priority projects. Ensure they are completed on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards. Act as Editor in Chief and primary writer for the cooperative, crafting tailored messaging and quality-checking all written materials including promotional materials, board and committee documents, job postings, reports, and others as needed. Oversee the setting, monitoring, and reporting on metrics to gauge the success of ongoing communications and outreach efforts. Oversee management of the website, social media, graphic design, campaign design, branding, messaging, events, writing, video, and publication production. Manage all media engagement. Draft and distribute news releases and opinion editorials, and pitch feature stories and interviews with LPEA experts. Act as LPEA's Public Information Officer and company spokesperson. Design and conduct regular member surveys to measure the efficacy of LPEA's member service programs and communications efforts, and to make improvements and adjustments to internal strategies as needed. Oversee LPEA's stakeholder engagement. Ensure the right messages are reaching the right people at the right time to help achieve LPEA's goals. Oversee Community Outreach programming. Ensure that the essential duties and responsibilities are being met including that the cooperative successfully interacts with the local community, coordinating event marketing efforts such as outreach projects, fairs, educational events, site tours and expositions; coordinating the cooperative's grant programs, volunteerism, and special events and promoting the values and the vision of the cooperative. Oversee crisis and emergency communications campaigns and strategies for the co-op including, but not limited to, outages, wildfires, and cybersecurity. Support the leadership team and their departments as the communications partner on a variety of strategic initiatives. Coordinate communication efforts among the departments to create a unified approach. Oversee the Annual Meeting of Members, director elections, and other events assigned. Facilitate and enhance internal communication within the co-op. Develop department budget, conduct performance reviews, hiring, firing, coaching, and be a general advocate for all the department employees. Demonstrate and foster a sense of accountability, continuous improvement, leadership, and entrepreneurial commitment to achieving goals. Participate in LPEA's Leadership Team when necessary, working with the CEO and Board of Directors and sharing the responsibility for developing and implementing LPEA's vision, mission, core values, strategic planning, budget, organization planning, and policies. Assist the CEO in legislative engagement activities. Collaborates and partners with all departments and the executive team at LPEA to promote a culture of safety for employees and the community. Education and/or Experience Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in marketing, communications, public relations, or business and seven years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, and public relations required. Previous experience in the electric utility/energy industry is preferred. Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required abilities, knowledge, and skills as determined by LPEA may be substituted for the requirements above. Abilities and Skills Must have clear and concise written and verbal communication skills; Be a creative and innovative team member and leader with technical and strategic skills and be able to identify new technologies and trends in the fields of communications, marketing, member/public relations, and energy management; Have effective public speaking skills; Be detail oriented with strong organizational and analytical skills; Have the ability to handle situations with tact and diplomacy; Be proficient in MS Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and managing online content, digital marketing and social media; Have an understanding of mobile technology. General knowledge of graphic design and website layout. Compensation Annual salary range- $119,489 - $149,698 Medical Insurance Dental and Vision Insurance Paid Time Off 401(k) Education Assistance Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans. J-18808-Ljbffr
