Public Relations Manager

VEIC offers high-impact energy solutions that decarbonize buildings, transportation, and utility grids, today. We customize our field-tested solutions to our clients’ specific needs. We give our clients the expertise and confidence they need to meet their clean energy goals through innovative and equitable solutions that benefit them, their partners, and their communities. This is a hybrid role and will include time working out of DCSEU's Washington DC office. Job Summary: The Public Relations Manager oversees the effective management of VEIC and the DCSEU’s reputation and promotion of brand awareness in order to meet strategic and operational business goals. They serve as the public relations lead for VEIC, the DCSEU and will provide PR support on behalf of our clean energy clients when necessary. Key responsibilities include planning, budgeting, and execution of initiatives across all earned media channels, including statewide and local press, social media, blogs, and other owned content. They work collaboratively with the Communications and Policy leads to set the overarching strategy, deliver results, measure performance, and drive continuous improvement. Essential Functions:·

• Leads public relations planning and implementation for VEIC and the DCSEU, translating strategy into action in order to bolster the brands leadership position in nationally , share awareness of our innovative and equitable decarbonization solutions to accelerate the clean energy transition.
• Ensures that the public relations plan is aligned with and supports the long-term brand strategy and is aligned with marketing and outreach plans.
• Serves as the first point of contact with reporters, journalists, and bloggers: cultivates relationships, responds to information requests with alacrity, quickly mobilizes public responses when needed, submits relevant and timely pitches, arranges media availabilities, prepares spokespeople for interviews, ghostwrites for spokespeople, and more.
• Partners with brand directors  in developing proactive campaigns across multiple channels to build third-party credibility, focusing on rapid and flawless execution.
• ·Drafts and communicates talking points on public-facing issues to internal leaders to ensure that spokespeople are well supported and are speaking with one voice. Supports training and practice of key staff.
• Develops communications materials as needed, such as presentations, speeches, talking points, fact-sheets, web content, and more. Maintains a suite of standard tools for use throughout the organization.
• Oversees press coverage of our brands and competitor and industry topics and develops an effective mechanism for keeping internal stakeholder apprised of critical press.
• Sets and monitors public relations protocols, including internal procedures for vetting and responding to inquiries, responding to negative news, responsibilities of spokespeople, key messages, and more.
• Represents VEIC and the DCSEU in a variety of public forums, as required.
• acilitates collaboration across staff to align messaging and content consistent with organizational policies, public relations and communications objectives.
• Evaluates the performance of public relations initiatives and drives continuous improvement based on results.
• Manages sub-contractors as needed. This includes leading and implementing the competitive bid processes, writing scopes of work, supporting the execution of contracts, setting and managing to a budget, and supervising contractors.
• Demonstrates regular and effective use of project management tools and practices to ensure that work is completed on time and within budget.
• Stays abreast of trends and best-practices in public relations, and applies those learnings to their work. Teaches and shares knowledge inside and outside of the department.
• Advocates internally for the role of public relations in order to leverage the skills and knowledge within the organization.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Strong personal commitment to the mission of VEIC.
•  A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and eight years of experience or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
• Strong internal drive, tenacity, and perseverance to deliver high impact PR results.
• Political and interpersonal savvy: ability to read an audience, attune messages for highest impact, deliver critical feedback respectfully, and guide leaders in high touch situations.
• Has developed strong relationships with reporters across the country
• A demonstrated understanding of integrated public relations (including traditional and digital approaches), and use of data to drive strategy
• Demonstrated ability to build constructive and trusting relationships through use of diplomacy, humility, political savvy, tact and patience.
• Demonstrated excellence in all forms of written and oral communication, including the proven ability to work effectively with members of the media in advancing public relations goals and strategies.
• Proven experience leading and facilitating teams in a cross-functional environment—mobilizing organizational resources to accomplish shared goals.
• Proven time management skills and excellent attention to detail. The ability to juggle competing priorities at once with poise and resiliency.
• Proven track record and commitment to work, learn, and grow in a large organizational environment.
• Experience and capability with Microsoft Office applications.

Working Conditions: Internal - Work is mostly performed in climate controlled office environment, where exposure to conditions of extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes and gases is very limited. Noise level is moderate and includes sounds of normal office equipment (computers, telephones, etc.).  No known environmental hazards are encountered in normal performance of job duties. External – Some travel within Vermont is required. Physical Demands: Work involves standing and walking for brief periods of time, but most duties are performed from a seated position. There is potential for eyestrain from reading detailed materials and computer screen. Deadlines, workloads during peak periods and changing priorities may cause increased stress levels. Work may include occasional pushing, pulling, or carrying objects weighing of approximately 40 pounds such as files, documents, and computer equipment and materials. Work normally requires finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination to operate computer keyboards at a moderate skill level. Repetitive motion injuries may occur. Company will provide adaptive devices as needed.