Senior Communications Strategist

Title: Senior Communications Strategist
Company: Peoples Gas System
State and City: Florida - Tampa
Shift: 8 Hr. X 5 Days | Onsite

Turn Communication Strategy Into Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement

At Peoples Gas, great communication helps employees, customers and stakeholders understand our priorities, navigate change and make informed decisions. It also strengthens trust and supports our ability to respond clearly and confidently during emerging issues and critical events.

We're seeking a Senior Communications Strategist with exceptional writing and communication skills who can lead integrated communications from strategy through execution. In this role, you'll serve as a trusted communications advisor while also remaining deeply involved in the day-to-day development and delivery of high-quality communications across multiple channels.

The position leads and supports strategic communications related to business initiatives, employee and stakeholder engagement, media relations, reputation management, emerging issues and crisis response. It also serves as an alternate company spokesperson and media relations lead during select critical events.

This is an opportunity for an experienced communications professional who combines sound judgment, business acumen and strategic planning with hands-on writing, editing, publishing and real-time execution. The successful candidate will work independently, manage multiple high-visibility priorities and consistently deliver accurate, audience-focused communications under tight deadlines.

Why Join Peoples Gas?

As a Senior Communications Strategist, you'll shape communications that advance business priorities, strengthen stakeholder trust and protect the company's reputation. You'll provide strategic counsel while personally developing and delivering communications across internal, external, executive, digital and media channels.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Lead integrated communication strategies and plans from development through execution and measurement.
• Advise leaders on complex business initiatives, organizational change, emerging issues and stakeholder needs.
• Create clear, compelling and accurate communications for internal and external audiences.
• Lead proactive and reactive media relations and serve as an alternate company spokesperson.
• Support crisis communications, issues management and reputation management with timely, coordinated messaging.
• Work as part of a collaborative, high-performing team that values accountability, sound judgment and strong execution.

What You'll Do

Lead Strategic Communications Planning and Execution

You'll take ownership of communications initiatives from initial assessment through implementation and measurement. You'll:

• Develop and execute integrated communication strategies and actionable plans aligned with business objectives, stakeholder needs and reputation considerations.
• Define audiences, objectives, key messages, channels, responsibilities, timelines and measures of success.
• Anticipate communication risks and opportunities and recommend practical solutions to leaders and business partners.
• Coordinate implementation across functions and channels while adapting plans as business conditions change.
• Evaluate communication effectiveness using analytics, audience feedback and business outcomes.

Deliver High-Quality, Engaging Communications Across Multiple Channels

You'll develop, edit, publish, and manage a variety of communications materials, including:

• Employee and organizational articles and newsletters.
• Customer and stakeholder communications.
• Executive communications, speeches, presentations and leadership messages.
• News releases, media statements, talking points, FAQs and spokesperson materials.
• Crisis and issues messaging, holding statements, response materials and communication toolkits.
• Website, intranet, email, social media and other digital content.

Serve as a Strategic Communications Advisor

• Partner with leaders across the organization to develop communication solutions that support business priorities.
• Translate complex information into clear, consistent and audience-focused messaging.

• Build relationships with leaders, colleagues and external stakeholders and influence communication decisions.
• Use sound judgment to anticipate risks, identify opportunities and recommend approaches that support business outcomes and protect reputation.

Manage Communications

• Coordinate content publishing across digital and traditional communication platforms.
• Manage content calendars and communication schedules.
• Ensure communications are accurate, timely, accessible, and aligned with company branding.
• Utilize communication metrics and analytics to improve audience engagement and channel effectiveness.
• Support intranet, website, email, and other digital communications platforms.

Support Media Relations, Issues and Crisis Communications

You'll play a key role in protecting and advancing the company's reputation through proactive and responsive stakeholder communications. You'll:

• Contribute to reputational management efforts and issue management communications.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with media and other external stakeholders.
• Monitor emerging issues, assess communication implications and coordinate timely cross-functional responses.
• Prepare media statements, news releases, key messages and briefing materials.
• Support crisis communications planning and response, including after-hours and on-site assistance when needed.
• Serve as an alternate company spokesperson and media liaison during select events, crises and issues.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will:

• Own complex, high-visibility initiatives from strategy through execution and measurement.
• Deliver high-quality communications with minimal editing.
• Manage multiple priorities independently and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Help employees understand company priorities and business objectives.
• Anticipate risks and opportunities and respond effectively during fast-moving issues and crises.
• Strengthen stakeholder relationships and represent the company effectively as an alternate spokesperson.
• Use best practices, audience insights, analytics and outcomes to improve communication effectiveness.

Required Qualifications

Required Education:

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing or a related field.

Required Experience

• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, corporate communications, journalism and/or marketing.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic communication plans that support business objectives, issues management and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience providing strategic communications counsel to leaders on complex business initiatives and emerging issues.
• Experience leading proactive and reactive media relations, crisis communications and reputation management.
• Exceptional professional writing, editing and message development experience across multiple channels and audiences.
• Experience with digital communications, content publishing and channel management, including websites, intranets, content management systems and email platforms.
• Experience developing executive communications and stakeholder communications consistent with brand standards.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strategic, results-oriented communications professional with sound judgment, strong problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to translate business priorities into actionable communication plans and deliverables. Build consultative relationships with leaders, colleagues and external stakeholders; communicate effectively with senior management. Works well under pressure in a lean communications environment that requires both strategic planning and hands-on content development.
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders, influence business outcomes and lead communications for complex, sensitive and high-visibility initiatives, including expertise in media relations, spokesperson responsibilities, issue management, crisis communications and reputation management.
• Exceptional writing, editing, message development and executive communications skills, including proficiency in AP Style and the ability to create and publish clear, audience-focused content across internal, external, digital and stakeholder channels.
• Strong business acumen, sound judgment and ability to anticipate communications risks and opportunities, recommend practical solutions and make decisions that support business priorities and protect the company's reputation.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

Advanced degree in strategic public relations, marketing, communications or journalism.

Certifications

Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) certification, the Strategic Communication Management Professional certification (SCMP) or equivalent certification.

Industry Experience

Knowledge of the energy industry, preferably natural gas utility experience.

Working Conditions

Available for on-call and after-hours work on projects and issues or crisis management.

Travel Requirements

Expected to travel to company events or crises, at times with minimal warning, to provide on-site media relations/media liaison services.

Our Competencies

• Puts Safety First - Protect people and the environment every day
• Be Curious & Adapt - Welcome change and keep learning
• Create Value for Customers - Build relationships and deliver quality work
• Be Accountable & Respectful - Do what's right and follow through
• Foster Strong Teams - Build trust through teamwork and help people grow

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