VP of Public Affairs

About the Public Affairs Department

The Public Affairs department leads MCE’s marketing, communications, community engagement, and business development. There are three teams within the department that work closely together to deliver a high standard of professionalism representing MCE: Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement, and Business Development. The teams provide clear, informative, and engaging information to our communities, serving as a trusted partner to our customers and bringing the voice of the customer and community back to agency planning and decision making to further increase effectiveness.

As a Vice President of Public Affairs 

You will be responsible for overseeing the Public Affairs department, including the development, management, and implementation of marketing, communication, business development, and community engagement plans to promote and market MCE and its programs and services. You will be responsible for leading and overseeing internal staff and external consultants to increase MCE program participation and awareness through relationship building with member communities and large businesses. This includes but is not limited to overseeing service area expansion; implementing earned, owned, and paid media campaigns, spearheading publicity, and media relations; and deepening relationships with community organizations, businesses, and local governments. 

You’re A Great Fit For This Position If:

• You understand and believe in MCE’s Vision and Mission "To confront the climate crisis by eliminating fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions, producing renewable energy, and creating equitable community benefits."

• You’re an amazing communicator. You can hold an engaging conversation with anyone, from elected officials to business owners to neighborhood residents, explaining simple and complex topics, and can put yourself in others’ shoes to empathize with a variety of perspectives.

• Your writing is top-notch. You’re a stickler for grammar, a creative, engaging storyteller, and your editing skills are sharp.

• You are a creative problem solver – not one to shy away from complex challenges that require new thinking and a willingness to take chances. You contribute innovative ideas that build on data and analytics in order to meet business goals.

• You are a people person who builds deep, trusting relationships with your colleagues regardless of organizational hierarchy. You truly care about how your team is feeling and keep morale high because you prioritize employee happiness and wellbeing.

• You are an empathetic leader, tech-savvy, nimble, and are filled with genuine enthusiasm for tackling the climate crisis and building equitable communities.

Role Specific Responsibilities 

Supervisor Duties

• Plan and prepare for Public Affairs staffing and hiring needs, including organizational structure.

• Lead departmental annual goal setting and planning process in collaboration with the Public Affairs department.

• Manage the following:  Business Development staff, Head of Marketing, and Head of Communications and Community Engagement and identify and troubleshoot issues within and between these three Public Affairs team units and collaboration with other departments. 

• Identify where collaborative initiatives between the three Public Affairs teams, as well as the agency at large, can magnify our messages, reach, and impacts. 

• Help address barriers in support of teams achieving their goals.

• Supervise budget allocations and spending for maximum ROI with customers.

• Provide guidance and review, in collaboration with staff and consultants, on strategic marketing and communication campaigns, web content, collateral, and assets that support business and community development goals.

Communications and Community Engagement

• Provide guidance and review community outreach plans for the enrollment of new communities during service area expansion, including meeting legal compliance requirements.

• Provide direction and guidance for strategic communications with member municipal agency staff and elected officials, which may include engaging with community-based organizations, and advocates.

• Provide oversight for event and sponsorship opportunities and strategies.

• Develop strategies and respond to media inquiries and publicity, including misinformation campaigns, and guide staff sharing this responsibility. 

• Review, edit, and approve public messaging including press releases, blogs, newsletters, and social media posts to ensure simplicity and brand consistency. 

Marketing

• Provide guidance and review, in collaboration with staff and consultants, on strategic advertising campaigns, web content, collateral, and assets that support business and community development goals.

• Provide strategic guidance on MCE’s brand strategy. 

Business Development 

• Provide guidance for marketing MCE and its programs to top 250-500 largest customers.

• Provide guidance for positioning MCE as a thought leader in the business community. 

• Provide direction, guidance, and review of plans to increase customer acquisition, encourage participation in various programs, and support customer retention.

Internal & External Communications

• Update Board of Directors and its committees on marketing, communications, and public relations progress, projects, and programs at Board meetings (as needed).

• Advise and support creation of information for the Board of Directors and staff to utilize for external and internal meetings and presentations.

• Develop and maintain relationships with other public agencies and governmental representatives.

 Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in communications, public administration, environmental planning, business, marketing or a related field. 

• Ten (10) years of progressively enhanced experience in a supervisory or management role in the field of public affairs or in a closely related field that includes customer care. 

• Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and vulnerable customers.

• Excellent oral and written presentation skills 

• California residence is preferred with a strong preference for a candidate residing within commutable distance of MCE offices. MCE offices are located in San Rafael, and Concord CA.

Strongly Preferred

• Bilingual proficiency in English plus a second language

• Experience working for a public utility or a Community Choice Aggregation program is desirable.

Knowledge of: 

• MCE’s business model and the value the customers provide MCE to reach collective operational and value goals.

• The organization of local government and concepts of public administration.

• Administration of a proactive marketing and public affairs programs.

• Principles, techniques, and methods of public information, integrated marketing communication, community and media relations, and public education.

• Methods, operational characteristics, services, and activities necessary for effective community outreach.

• Public policy process, local and regional government, and environmental issues.

• Principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation in a public agency.

Ability to: 

• Take responsibility and work independently, as well as coordinate collaborative efforts and achieve work goals through first-line supervisors.

• Convey complex information in a simple and understandable manner.

• Manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and quickly adapt to changing priorities in a fast paced dynamic environment.

• Achieve goals while providing accurate, timely, and meaningful progress updates.

• Work well under pressure.

• Be a creative problem-solver. 

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive compensation package offered, based on candidate experience along with generous benefits and perks, including fully paid premiums for health insurance, parental leave, dependent care subsidies, student loan repayment, and employee wellness program. 

Starting Salary Range for a Vice President of Public Affairs:  $192,275.90 - $253,043.64.

Application Process

As a part of the application process, all candidates must submit the following: 

• Cover letter (maximum one page) describing why you’re the best candidate for VP of Public Affairs.  If applicable, please note your key professional connections and influencers, and how these relationships could contribute to your success in this role. 

• Current Resume 

• Answers to all the applicable questions within the application

As we narrow to our top applicants, candidates may participate in an Initial Call, Cross-team Panel Interview, and/or Executive Interview. An additional skills assessment may be requested. Initial Calls will be scheduled when a qualified pool of candidates has been identified. MCE reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time. 

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