Community and Government Relations Consultant Southern Spirit Transmission

Pattern Energy Group is hiring a Community and Government Relations Consultant for the Southern Spirit Transmission project in Louisiana. The role involves managing community relations, stakeholder communications, and political engagement across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Responsibilities include developing strategies to engage public officials, collaborating with local stakeholders, executing campaign strategies, and launching community education initiatives. A strong understanding of local political dynamics is essential.
About the position

Pattern Energy is seeking an experienced Community and Government Relations Consultant to support community relations, stakeholder communications, political engagement, and meetings with government officials for Pattern's Southern Spirit Transmission project located at the Texas border and across the Southeast. This position is crucial for managing and executing daily strategies and tactics related to engaging public officials and community engagement plans. The consultant will collaborate with local community members, engage with local stakeholders, attend and support events, and represent Pattern across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. A strong comprehension of the state and local political dynamics is essential, as the consultant will gather intelligence that could impact the project and adjust strategies accordingly. The role requires the consultant to develop and maintain a close pulse on the state and local political dynamics that impact the project. This includes collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to identify and evaluate public engagement-related risks and opportunities, and implementing tactics to mitigate them. The consultant will design and execute campaign strategies to engage communities, community groups, local leaders, and elected officials at both state and local levels to cultivate relationships and garner support for advancing Pattern's development pipeline. Building a coalition of community leaders and organizations to support the project is also a key responsibility. Additionally, the consultant will participate in relevant meetings with elected officials, NGOs, and other stakeholder groups to disseminate project information and cultivate relationships. They will support the development and execution of communication plans in coordination with the communications team, which involves creating and distributing messaging and materials. The consultant will also launch community education campaigns, programs, and tactics to inform and mobilize residents in support of projects, plan and execute events, and support initiatives such as regulatory applications, permitting processes, legislative and policy activities, and public meetings and hearings to advance project development.

Responsibilities
• Manage and execute daily strategies and tactics related to engaging public officials and community engagement plans.
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• Collaborate with local community members and engage with local stakeholders.
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• Attend and support events representing Pattern across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
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• Develop and maintain a close pulse on state and local political dynamics that impact the project.
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• Identify and evaluate public engagement-related risks and opportunities with stakeholders.
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• Design and execute campaign strategies to engage communities and local leaders.
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• Build a coalition of community leaders and organizations to support the project.
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• Participate in meetings with elected officials, NGOs, and other stakeholder groups to disseminate project information.
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• Support the development and execution of communication plans with the communications team.
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• Launch community education campaigns to inform and mobilize residents in support of projects.
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• Plan and execute events related to the project.
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• Support regulatory applications, permitting processes, legislative and policy activities, and public meetings.

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, political science, public policy, or a related field preferred.
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• Minimum of five years of experience in government or community relations, project management, community organizing, or related areas.
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• Preference for experience in political and/or issue-based campaigns.
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• Experience and interest in renewable energy/environmental issues.
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• Strong relationship management skills and experience in coalition building.
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• Experience working with diverse stakeholders involved in complex projects.
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• Experience in addressing oppositional stakeholders and mitigating the influence of opponents.
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• Valid transportation and willingness to travel for in-person meetings as needed.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience in political and/or issue-based campaigns.
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• Interest in renewable energy/environmental issues.

Benefits
• Monthly retainer of $10,000- $12,500 USD per month.
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• All expenses associated with this position, including travel costs, will be fully reimbursed.