7+ years of experience in consumer or community affairs, with progressive responsibilities.
Strong understanding of utility operations and regulatory processes.
Technical knowledge of finance, budgeting, and forecasting.
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with facilitation and presentation abilities.
Proven ability to manage sensitive issues with tact and discretion.
Experience in strategic planning and community development is preferred.
Valid driver's license and compliance with company driving standards.
Responsibilities
Lead reputation management efforts and prepare the company for complex issues.
Develop and manage programs to enhance community understanding of company initiatives.
Act as a spokesperson and liaison with community organizations and stakeholders.
Monitor community sentiments and provide proactive advice to management.
Anticipate and manage critical company issues and regulatory matters.
Recruit and supervise volunteers for community projects, ensuring safety and effective communication.
Plan and monitor program budgets to ensure compliance with expenditures.
Benefits
Opportunities for professional development and training.
Engagement in high-visibility community projects.
Collaborative work environment with diverse teams.
Participation in emergency response activities.
Access to company resources and support for community initiatives.
Full Job Description
BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:
The P QE EDUCATION & CONSUMER AFFAIRS Department of the P COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 1 Management vacancy available. (Role: PROFESSIONAL)
JOB FUNCTION:
Collaborates with management and takes a lead role in Company reputation management, helping Company prepare for and manage issues to further Hawaiian Electric goals and priorities. Handles issues of a highly complex and potentially controversial nature that may involve stakeholders with disparate viewpoints. Develops clear and credible strategies, programs and communications to foster positive relationships with employees, customers, regulators, elected officials, communities and other key stakeholders vital to the company.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Plan, develop and manage programs, workshops, communication and services to foster customer and community understanding of large company initiatives including Integrated Grid Planning, along with grid reliability and resilience, which includes hardnening the energy system and wildfire mitigation. Use understanding of business and technical knowledge to communicate with and manage customer concerns and escalations to maintain customer satisfaction. Research and evaluate strategies, educational resources, regulatory applications, and programs to contribute best practices and knowledge internally to achieve company strategic goals and increase customer satisfaction.
Serve as a credible spokesperson and company liaison with the community and develop and strengthen professional relationships with community organizations, leaders, and groups. Facilitate two-way communication and effectively communicate the companies strategic goals and priorities with a knowledgeable company perspective. Monitor community meetings, social media and communications to track community sentiments; provide proactive advice to the company. Develop and implement strategies and projects to build positive relationships with key stakeholders to foster public understanding and a favorable attitude toward the company.
Anticipate, analyze, plan for and manage critical company issues including potentially controversial community perspectives, environmental issues, critical company projects and programs, complex regulatory and technical matters. Develop detailed understanding of political, community, business and technical issues to formulate and implement issues management strategies, including participating on various corporate task forces to provide community perspective on company projects in which there is customer/public interest.
Works closely with Corporate and Digital Communications, Government Relations, and Process Areas across the company to support goals, policy positions, and projects.
Recruits, manages and supervises large groups of company volunteers for high visibility community projects, ensuring safe work practices and conditions. Provides communication and information tools to prepare them to respond to customer and community inquiries about company goals, projects and services.
Plans, implements and monitors program budget to ensure compliance with approved expenditures.
Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge Requirements
Technical knowledge of finance and accounting concepts; working knowledge of budgeting and forecasting processes
Working knowledge of utility ratemaking and regulatory concepts and process.
Working understanding of utility industry operations helpful
Working knowledge of varying communities and organizations the Company serves
Working knowledge of issues facing Company and industry
Working knowledge of federal, state, economic, business and political climates
Demonstrated knowledge of communications and information dissemination techniques; working understanding of the ways people communicate, listen and learn
Working knowledge of computers and related software applications
Skills Requirements
Ability to handle difficult and/or sensitive issues using tact, courtesy and discretion. Demonstrates interpersonal and political savvy to navigate through internal and external organizational networks.
Excellent oral, written, facilitation and presentation skills, including ability to think on one's feet and respond to customer or community inquiries in clear, credible and concise terms.
Demonstrated ability to successfully go into a community "cold" and gain long-term respect and credibility.
Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment, adapt to rapidly changing priorities and deliver work products in an efficient and timely basis.
Ability to conceptualize ideas quickly and translate complex issues into terms understandable by a broad range of audiences.
Analytical and conceptual skills to assess issues, to recommend proper actions and to coordinate/follow through on the implementation of details.
Demonstrates strong initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision.
Strong organizational and project management skills to handle many concurrent projects and programs.
Ability to work well with people at all levels and from diverse departments in the company. Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team.
Ability to take statistical, complex and highly technical information and accurately simplify into terms understandable by a broad range of audiences.
Ability to give work direction and manage department personnel or groups of volunteers when required.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license issued by the State of Hawaii or another U.S. state or territory. Must meet the standards for driving positions stated in the Company Driver Safety policy. These standards may be adjusted periodically to meet business and safety needs.
Experience Requirements
Multiple 7+ years of related business experience, preferably with progressive responsibilities in consumer related or community affairs fields or equivalent.
Experience in the area of strategic planning, community development, program development, or related field, desired. Background in utility environment, financial or technical analysis highly desirable.
Role: PROFESSIONAL
Number of Vacancies: 1
Location: Honolulu - Oahu
Hiring Range: The hiring range for the SR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST [Req ID 10813] position is $89,100.00 to $113,700.00. The person selected will be placed according to his/her skills and qualifications.
Interested individuals should apply online. The application must clearly indicate the demonstrated experience/knowledge/skills/abilities the candidate possesses which specifically qualifies him/her for the position.
