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Conducts advanced professional public relations work for the
Public Utility Commission's Office of Communications, under the supervision
of the Director of Communications and in conjunction with the Press Secretary
and a Senior Communications Specialist.
Maintains an office in Pittsburgh, travels to Harrisburg as needed for
meetings and work in conjunction with colleagues, and travels to other
regions of Pennsylvania to support other public outreach as needed.
Educates the media, community organizations and utility customers about the
Commission's role and jurisdiction, particularly related to public water
issues.
Develops public messages and crisis communications plans related to public
water and other consumer utility issues.
Works in partnership with other Office of Communications, as well as Bureau
of Consumer Services, staff to review utility customer notices particularly
related to public water issues.
Coordinates with the Bureau of Consumer Services to provide messaging and to
receive briefings on consumer inquiries, in association with a Senior
Communications Specialist.
Staffs media, community and stakeholder events and meetings – sometimes
scheduled at the last minute, and on evenings and weekends.
Provides support to other Commission staff at hearings and agency meetings,
particularly related to public water issues.
Develops, plans and staffs informational roundtables, workshops,
train-the-trainer and other community events in Southwestern Pennsylvania,
with a focus on public water issues.
Writes, develops, edits and coordinates press releases for dissemination to
news organizations, industry publications, TV stations and newspapers,
publicizing PUC actions, particularly Public Meeting activities and special
public information campaigns.
Monitors social media, particularly related to public water and Southwestern
Pennsylvania issues, and participates in the PUC social media team in
coordination with the Director of Communications, the Press Secretary and the
social media coordinator.
Partners with the Press Secretary and other staff to develop ways to
proactively promote the Commission and its mission to the public, including
interview opportunities, op-ed submissions and contributed articles.
Serves as a media consultant and adviser for the Commission on public
relations matters, particularly as they relate to providing information to
the public.
Analyzes and evaluates the public relations impact of programs and policies.
Collaborates with the Press Secretary and the Director of Communications with
the development and execution of communications plans and media outreach
proposals, to help guide the Commissioners on key issues.
Assists with the tracking of major news coverage involving the Commission, or
key issues that impact the Commission, to identify opportunities for
proactive media outreach.
Writes and edits speeches and talking points, scripts, quotes, op-eds, fact
sheets, correspondence and other material to be used by the Commissioners in
contact with the public.
Independently uses consumer outreach skills, contacts and experience to
implement the Office of Communications' strategy; inform consumers about
critical utility issues; and increase the awareness of the Commission among
consumers, particularly related to public water issues.
Interfaces with individual consumers and organizations seeking educational
brochures or answers to often complex utility questions particularly related
to public water issues.
Develops educational materials to distribute to utility consumers, and to
organizations and legislative offices that will handle the distribution to
their constituencies, with a focus on public water issues.
Develops contacts among utility advisory panels, Chambers of Commerce,
small-business groups and utilities to enhance the Commission's public
outreach.
Prepares and contributes to Commissioner briefing materials, employee
newsletter articles and PUC annual reports.
Completes other duties as assigned by the Director of Communications.
Essential Functions:
Knowledge and experience with Southwestern Pennsylvania media,
community organizations, public officials and utilities, and ability to
establish and maintain effective working relationships with these entities.
Ability to work from a state office building in Pittsburgh.
Ability to travel when necessary to provide staffing from a media and public
outreach
perspective.
Knowledge of all media used in communications, public relations and social
media communications.
Knowledge and experience with developing and implementing crisis
communications plans.
Skill in writing and editing various forms of informational material.
Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, and to
speak effectively before large groups.
Ability to convey very technical issues to the public.
Knowledge of the structure and mission of the Public Utility Commission.
Ability to use a computer and computer word-processing programs.
Ability to develop various forms of informational materials and to utilize
diverse media in the
presentation of such materials.
Ability to maintain current knowledge of Commission decisions and activities,
and to answer
media questions on these issues.
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