Senior Communications Strategist Jobs

Title: Senior Communications Strategist

Company: Peoples Gas System

State and City: Florida - Tampa

Shift: 8 Hr. X 5 Days

Who We Are

Founded in 1895, Peoples Gas is Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, delivering safe, clean, affordable and reliable natural gas to serve nearly 470,000 homes and businesses across the state. Through investments in people, technology, infrastructure and environmentally focused innovations, we are committed to fueling Florida’s clean energy future responsibly and sustainably.

Peoples Gas cultivates a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace that includes varied backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. The company supports the communities it serves through stewardship and economic development efforts. We are a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

WHY YOU’LL LIKE WORKING HERE

Peoples Gas offers a competitive salary, Pension Plan, 401k Savings Plan w/company match, Paid Time Off, Paid Holiday Time, Paid Parental Leave, Bonus Plan with individual multiplier, Tuition Assistance, Adoption Assistance, medical, prescription drug and dental coverage, Wellness Programs, Fitness Centers(at some locations), and an Employee Assistance Program.

What You’ll Do

The Senior Communications Strategist is responsible for various communications activities for Peoples Gas and affiliated companies, including developing and managing communication plans and strategies, internal and external communications projects, public relations and issue management and other special projects as assigned. Audiences include employees, customers and other external stakeholders, and communications support business strategy and company goals and initiatives.

Be a part of a fast-paced team that focuses on corporate and customer communications, media relations, crisis communications and issues management strategies. Be a partner with internal clients and company leaders to identify key communications objectives and target audiences. Be a subject matter expert and serve as a communications liaison providing sage insight on trends in communication and marketing, and expert analysis on the effectiveness of the stakeholder, media and customer communications.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

• Special additional responsibility to act as an alternate company spokesperson in partnership with the Manager of Strategic Communications & Media Relations. In addition to handling day-to-day media activity, the Sr. Communications Strategist will provide advice to senior leadership on media relations, including analysis of the journalists, their past trends in reporting and the likely risks associated.
• Develops executive-level speeches and presentations. The Sr. Communications Strategist makes recommendations on elements that should be included, appropriate tone and key messages that should be included with officer remarks. Responsible for grammatical accuracy. Writes effective and compelling speeches and presentations that convey impactful information and presents the officer in a manner consistent with the Peoples Gas brand and culture.
• Assists in the development of strategy and plans for proactive and reactive communications related to media, issues and crisis management. Ensure that external communications are aligned with the Peoples Gas brand and positioning strategies.
• Assists in the development and implementation of employee, customer and stakeholder communications and appropriate alignment to the integrated marketing and communication plan for Peoples Gas. Partners with other business units and affiliates to coordinate planned customer, stakeholder and employee communications.
• Accountable for leadership on tracking and developing strategic communications for complex or critical issues affecting the company and industry; drafting comprehensive communication plans, position papers, talking points, message boxes and FAQs as required and in coordination with subject matter experts.
• In coordination with the other Peoples Gas Marketing & Communications team members, develop and manage channel strategies, ensuring KPIs are met and/or exceeded including marketing goals, communication recall and positive sentiment.
• With the Manager of Strategic Communications & Media Relations, actively promotes a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Responsible to provide seasoned advice on communication solutions, successful approaches utilized by other relevant organizations (benchmarking) and accurate estimates on costs and benefits.
• Works in conjunction with Marketing & Communications team to develop and implement public relations strategic plans to support proactive positioning of the Peoples Gas brand, leaders and broader business initiatives, helps to establish executives as thought leaders, and builds earned media opportunities across Florida and within the natural gas industry.
• Required to maintain strong collaborative and supportive relationships with External Affairs, the Strategy team, the Business Development team, Regulatory and Safety teams, and always working across business functional areas, sharing expertise across the disciplines, and working closely to provide the optimum solution for the business, our team members, and ultimately for customers.
• Maintains a deep knowledge of the local media market and key influencers. Expected to foresee potential challenges related to company initiatives and announcements and take a proactive approach to business support, at times, alerting leadership of impending opportunities or threats even before leadership is aware.
• During critical events, company crises or severe weather, the Sr. Communications Strategist will be expected to travel, at times with minimal warning, to provide on-site media relations/media liaison services as needed.

What We’re Looking For:

Must Haves:

• Strategic thinking; superior project management skills; thorough knowledge of strategic communications, public relations and marketing; knowledge and expertise will encompass best practices in providing guidance for media relations and paid, owned, earned and shared channels.
• Innovative thinker, with a proven track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output. Energetic, self-reliant, good problem solver and results oriented. The ability to form effective, consultative working relationships with colleagues at all levels and external stakeholders.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in strategic communications roles is required with demonstrated experience developing comprehensive and strategic communication plans including, media relations, digital marketing and communication, brand strategy, advertising, extensive writing and editing experience, and employee communications.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing or related field is required.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management. Comfortable working under pressure and meeting deadlines, exceptional prioritization and organizational skills.

Nice-to-Haves:

• Experience in developing crisis communications or critical public relations would be considered a benefit.
• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) certification, the Strategic Communication Management Professional certification (SCMP) or equivalent certification.
• Knowledge of the energy industry, especially natural gas utility experience
• Experience in excess of 15 years in a strategic communication role could be considered a substitute for certification.
• An advanced degree in strategic public relations, marketing, communications or journalism would be an asset.
• Familiarity with AP Style; project management.

Leadership Competencies:

• Builds Collaborative Relationships
• Takes Ownership and Acts with Integrity
• Thinks Strategically and Exercises Sound Judgment
• Develops People and Teams
• Cultivates Innovation and Embraces Change
• Drives Business Excellence for Customers
• Champions Safety, Health, and the Environment

STORM DUTY REQUIREMENTS....Please make sure to read below!!! Responding to storms will be considered a condition of employment.

TECO Energy and its companies serve a role in providing critical services to our community during an emergency. Team members are required to participate in the response/recovery activities related to emergencies/disasters to maintain service to our TECO Energy customers. Team members are required to work in their normal job duties or other assigned activities. Proper compensation will be made in accordance with the company's rules and procedures.

TECO Energy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

TECO Energy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law, except where physical or mental abilities are a bona fide occupational requirement and the individual is unable to perform the essential functions of the position with reasonable accommodations.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities for all individuals, employment decisions at TECO Energy will be based on skills, knowledge, qualifications and abilities.

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination Statement

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

ADA policy

It is the policy of TECO Energy to provide reasonable accommodation for all qualified disabled individuals who are employees and applicants for employment, unless it would cause undue hardship. The corporation will adhere to applicable federal and state laws, regulations and guidelines, including, but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1970s.

Application accommodations

Applicants may request reasonable accommodation in the application process five business days prior to the time accommodation is needed.

Pre-employment physical exams may be required for positions with bona fide job-related physical requirements regardless of disability.