Community Engagement Organizer

RWE Clean Energy, LLC

Functional area: Regulation / Risk Management
Remuneration: Exempt

The Community Engagement Organizer works with internal Development, Operations, Communications, and Government Relations teams to achieve a social license to operate for RWE’s onshore renewable energy projects in the Central Region. This position will be responsible for creating and implementing community engagement plans, educating local stakeholders, organizing public events and recruiting attendees, building relationships with renewable energy supporters, and representing RWE in communities that host our projects. This position reports to the Senior Director of Community Engagement.

Responsibilities: 

• Support community engagement and outreach activities across RWE Clean Energy’s portfolio of operating and development projects in the Central Region (primarily IN, IL,MI, OH, KY, ND, SD, NE, IA, MN, WI)
• Collaborate with onshore wind, solar, storage, and hydrogen project development teams to integrate community engagement and public education into development plans in order to achieve a “social license to operate” for RWE’s renewable energy projects
• Conduct Social Risk and Community Assessment research and stakeholder mapping exercises to analyze relative likelihood of organized opposition and identify strategies to ensure local approval of development projects
• Create and implement community engagement plans for onshore development projects
• Support development and operations teams with maintaining a contact or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database for local stakeholders at each assigned RWE onshore renewable energy project in the Central Region
• Plan and attend in-person community events, including wind farm tours, open houses, landowner dinners, school or community group presentations, and local fairs or festivals
• Provide input to Communications on project-specific marketing, such as project websites, newsletters, fact sheets, and other communications materials
• Manage community relations purchases, invoices, and external consultants supporting social media, digital marketing, media relations, project logos, or other community engagement campaign activities
• Work with project development teams to set up local offices and, where requested, recruit local hires as community liaisons
• Meet with project stakeholders, track community concerns, and report on organized opposition around development projects
• Design social investment plans that help RWE achieve its corporate goals while meeting the particular needs of local communities
• Build productive internal/external working relationships to resolve mutual problems by collaborating on procedures or transactions. Focus on providing standard professional advice and creating initial reports/analyzes for review by experienced team professionals
• Work on problems of moderate scope which are often varied and routine where analysis of situations or data requires a review of a variety of factors. Exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. Applies learned techniques and contributes to analysis and investigation to solve problems
• Develop professional expertise, and apply company policies and procedures to resolve a variety of issues. Determine a course of action based on guidelines and modify processes and methods as required

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred
• Minimum 2 years experience working in community organizing, outreach, strategic communications, or political campaigns, strongly preferred
• Knowledge of the structure and function of US, state, regional and local government including experience with renewable energy permitting and regulatory issues is preferred
• Experience working in renewable energy, rural communities, political organizing, environmental management, agriculture, or real estate development is a plus
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
• Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
• Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines
• Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables
• Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team
• Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable
• Is detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts

• Office location preferred. Travel – Up to 40%. Comfortable with overnight stays in remote areas

• Must be able to drive, sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

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We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. No matter who you are, we welcome your application irrespective of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

RWE Clean Energy is one of the biggest names in the US renewables industry – and No.2 in solar. With a 1,500-strong team, the business has over 15 years’ experience of developing, constructing and operating renewable energy facilities, and ambitious plans for the future.

As part of the RWE Group’s Growing Green strategy to expand globally its green portfolio to more than 65 GW of installed capacity and to invest globally more than EUR 55 billion gross by 2030, RWE Clean Energy is determined to significantly increase its operating asset base in the U.S. This is backed by a project pipeline of more than 24 GW in onshore wind, solar and battery storage which provides for one of the largest development platforms in the United States.

Every project brings constantly-evolving technical, practical and social challenges – and drives a culture where everybody thrives, has fun and feels excited by each day. Our financial stability also means you’ll have the freedom to act with conviction and courage as we pivot to new technologies – and continuously improve, together.