Sr. Manager, Community Affairs & Stakeholder Relations

The Opportunity

The Manager, Community Affairs & Stakeholder Relations is responsible for developing and executing community engagement strategies that support successful project development and long-term business growth. This role serves as the primary liaison between the company, local communities, government entities, economic development organizations, and other external stakeholders. The position builds trusted relationships, creates positive project narratives, mitigates risks through proactive engagement, and helps accelerate project success by fostering alignment among community, political, and business interests.

The role partners closely with project development, permitting, communications, legal, engineering, and executive leadership teams to ensure stakeholder perspectives are integrated into project planning and execution. Success in this position is measured through relationship effectiveness, stakeholder sentiment, regulatory process support, community engagement outcomes, and business value generated through strategic stakeholder partnerships.

The Team

Diode Ventures is an industrial land use and infrastructure developer focused on creating infrastructure-ready sites for the world's leading technology and manufacturing companies. Founded in 2017 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Black & Veatch, Diode brings together the agility and entrepreneurial mindset of a focused development team with the global engineering, infrastructure, and technical capabilities of its parent company. Diode de-risks the critical elements of large-scale development, including land, power, cooling, and community engagement, helping clients move complex projects from opportunity to execution with greater speed and certainty.

Key Responsibilities

Community and Stakeholder Strategy

• Develop and implement immediate and long-term community engagement and stakeholder relations strategies that support business objectives and project development efforts.
• Identify key external stakeholders, community leaders, public officials, economic development organizations, and civic groups that influence project outcomes.
• Establish engagement plans that promote transparency, trust, and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.
• Build and maintain durable relationships with political, governmental, business, and community stakeholders in current and prospective project locations.

Community Outreach and Engagement

• Design and lead outreach activities including public meetings, listening sessions, focus groups, surveys, educational events, and community forums.
• Foster positive relationships with residents, community organizations, educational institutions, and business leaders.
• Represent the company at community events, public hearings, industry meetings, and stakeholder engagements.
• Create educational programming and materials that increase awareness of company investments, project activity, economic impact, and community benefits.

Stakeholder Communications

• Serve as the primary point of contact for community questions, concerns, and feedback regarding development projects.
• Communicate project objectives, status updates, opportunities, and potential impacts through a variety of channels and audiences.
• Shape and promote positive narratives regarding data center development and the company's integration into local communities.
• Develop stakeholder communication materials, presentations, and messaging tailored to diverse audiences.

Government and Economic Development Relations

• Cultivate relationships with local, regional, and state government officials, economic development partners, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Support and represent the company during public processes, Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) presentations, permitting discussions, and other government-related forums.
• Assist project teams in navigating community, regulatory, and governmental processes that may impact project timelines or outcomes.
• Help identify and resolve community-level obstacles that create project delays or risks.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with project development, permitting, communications, legal, engineering, and operations teams to ensure stakeholder considerations are integrated into project planning and execution.
• Facilitate alignment between community needs and business objectives.
• Support regional project managers by addressing stakeholder concerns and helping manage community engagement activities.
• Establish effective communication and coordination across business functions to ensure consistent messaging and strategic alignment.

Key Responsibilities Cont.

Community Insights and Performance Measurement

• Gather, analyze, and synthesize community feedback to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and stakeholder sentiment.
• Maintain accurate records of engagement activities, stakeholder interactions, commitments, and outcomes.
• Develop and track key performance indicators related to stakeholder engagement efforts, including fiscal value realization, project acceleration, permitting efficiencies, and relationship effectiveness.
• Prepare reports and executive-level updates regarding community engagement activities, emerging concerns, risks, and successes.

Program and Budget Management

• Evaluate external consulting, public relations, and community engagement services to identify opportunities for insourcing or optimization.
• Develop and manage budgets associated with community engagement programs and initiatives, including educational materials, public outreach campaigns, economic impact studies, and community events.
• Recommend strategic investments that support community relationships and project success.

Diversity and Inclusion

• Ensure all engagement activities are culturally appropriate, inclusive, and accessible.
• Promote equitable participation among diverse stakeholder groups and underrepresented communities.
• Foster engagement approaches that reflect community values and local priorities.

Management Responsibilities

Individual Contributor

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, industrial, real estate, or data center development projects.
• Experience working with permitting, land development, zoning, public policy, or governmental processes.
• Knowledge of economic development programs and incentives.
• Experience managing community engagement consultants, communications firms, or public outreach programs.
• Demonstrated success influencing complex stakeholder environments and achieving business outcomes through relationship management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Public Administration, Political Science, Economic Development, Community Development, Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years of experience in community relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, economic development, government relations, or a related field.
• Experience building and managing relationships with government officials, economic development organizations, community leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Experience facilitating public meetings, community engagement programs, or stakeholder outreach initiatives.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple organizational levels and functions.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Travel up to 50%
• Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Relationship Management
• Public Affairs & Government Relations
• Community Engagement
• Executive Communication
• Stakeholder Influence
• Conflict Resolution
• Project Coordination
• Political Acumen
• Business Partnership
• Program Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Change Leadership

Salary Plan

ADM: Administrative/Business

Job Grade

018