The Government & Community Relations Strategist will work with the Government and Community Relations Manager to implement business objectives using extensive knowledge of government and community relations¿ issues. This position will support the delivery of OPPD business objectives including communication and identification of issues impacting OPPD. This role will oversee timely resolution of internal and external inquiries from elected or appointed government officials. This role will also represent the Economic Development and External Relations Division's objectives both internally and externally.

1. Develop and maintain effective lines of communication and trust with local public officials regarding issues that impact OPPD.

   • Oversee timely resolution of government & community relations¿ inquiries and OPPD business objectives.

   • Acknowledge inquiry receipt, coordinate responses and resolve matters in collaboration with subject matter experts.

   • Track and regularly reports inquiry trends.

   • Attend meetings, present and build relationships externally on behalf of OPPD and under direction of the Government & Community Relations Manager and the Division Director.

   • Create and disseminate storm-related and power outage information to public officials.

   • Create and disseminate monthly government affairs newsletter to public officials in addition to other proactive outreach.

2. Consult with other business units or subject matter experts (SMEs) such as customer sales & service (account executives), economic development, community stakeholder outreach, and corporate communications to shape general response messaging, and explores opportunities for further interaction with public officials and their respective jurisdictions:

   • Execute on community support strategy with Community Stakeholder Outreach team.

   • Act as a resource for internal and external stakeholders.

3. Support the coordination and delivery of business objectives (examples such as: electric transmission and distribution system expansions, new generation facilities, etc.) with government and community leaders and internally with other divisions or SMEs.

4. Oversight of local issues and actions today or future trends for village boards, city councils and county commissions initiatives through research, attending meetings or hearings.

   • Monitoring public meeting minutes, testimony, hearings, debates, and resolutions.

5. Prepare, edit and review local government affairs updates for internal and external communications, reporting and measurement (weekly reports, directors¿ update, presentations, grant scorecard, outreach documents, monthly local GA newsletters, Everbridge for public officials communication, etc.).

6. Coordinate local government and community affairs' project needs.

   • Assist with strategic initiative-focused work and special projects.

   Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in political science, business, communications, psychology, marketing discipline or related field OR six (6) years of related customer, government, stakeholder and/or community relations experience.

• Three (3) years of experience working in government affairs, economic development or in community relations.

• Advanced critical reasoning skills demonstrating conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and/or evaluating information.

• Ability to attend night meetings of various government bodies as needed.

• Ability to quickly synthesize voluminous complex information into key concepts modeled for specific audiences.

• Advanced verbal and writing skills demonstrating clear, simple and precise content avoiding technical concepts and jargon.

• Extemporaneous public speaking skills.

• Competent with Microsoft Office suite of products with an emphasis on SharePoint, Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills and capability.

• Strong relationship skills.

• High work ethic and attention to detail.

• Strong organizational skills.

Desired:

• Demonstrated positive attitude, excellent human relations skills, ability to think creatively and conceptually, and the ability to motivate people in a professional manner.

• Knowledge of local development process, plans and ordinances.

• Ability to work independently, and to handle sensitive and confidential matters discretely and tactfully.

• Comfort in delivering customer service in various ways (email, phone, in-person, via presentations).

• Understanding of policy activities, industry trends and political landscape to achieve District's strategic goals and objectives at state and local governmental levels.

• Ability to analyze, anticipate, summarize and recommend ideas and concepts to management in a timely, clear, concise, and persuasive manner through various means of communication (reports, summaries, emails, presentations, verbally).

• High degree of creativity to find new ways to communicate with public officials.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

  Closing Statement

S4:

Base:

Midpoint:

At Omaha Public Power District, we're passionate about three things: power, the people who make it, and the people who rely on it.

WE ARE: Where the Light Starts. OPPD is the 12th-largest public power utility in the U.S., serving over 850,000 people across 5,000 square miles and 13 counties.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO: Each other and the people we serve. This commitment drives us. We're dedicated to providing our communities with affordable, reliable, and environmentally sensitive energy services today, tomorrow, and well into the future.

OUR JOB: To provide power with a purpose. We have real impact - on people's lives, on the environment, and on the future of energy. We're always looking for bright, capable people who want an opportunity to lead from where you are, wherever you are, and know that your ideas will be heard. If you want to be a source of real, positive change for the community and the people who live in this region, then working for a company acknowledged for caring about these same things is likely a priority for you as well.

Org Marketing Statement

EOE: Protected Veterans/Disability

How To Apply

Apply online at www.oppd.com on or before November 30, 2023.

Recruiter: Jennifer Skupa - jkskupa@oppd.com #LI-JS1

PLEASE NOTE - Your application has not been submitted unless you have applied for a specific requisition. If you have not chosen a specific opening, your application will remain in 'DRAFT' form and will not be viewed by our Human Capital staff.