Director of Communications and Public Relations

Director of Communications and Public Relations

Incorporated in 1948, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) provides reliable, cost-effective, environmentally balanced, wholesale electric services to our 11-member distribution cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Our core business is generating, purchasing and delivering electricity to our members. ODEC is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative that operates for the benefit of our members, who are our owners. Our home office is located in Glen Allen, Virginia.

ODEC seeks a creative, energetic, and passionate communications professional to serve as our Director of Communications and Public Relations in Glen Allen, VA. This position is responsible for all aspects of ODEC’s communications, marketing, and public relations efforts, and will have the exciting opportunity to develop and implement external communications strategies which position ODEC as a forward-thinking, not-for-profit cooperative. The Director will maintain ODEC’s external-facing communications channels (including websites and social media platforms) targeted at policymakers, the media, and other stakeholders. The individual will develop and implement strategies to enhance ODEC’s public image and work closely with ODEC’s 11 distribution cooperative members to tell our shared story.

Essential responsibilities include:

• Develop, implement, and annually refresh ODEC’s strategic communications plan
• Manage ODEC’s external-facing communications channels to effectively deliver core messages to key external stakeholders
• Manage ODEC’s media relations activities
• Collaborate with ODEC members, VMDAEC, NRECA, Touchstone Energy, other Generation and Transmission (G&Ts) companies, and similar electric cooperative groups
• Manage emergency communications
• Manage Communications and Public Relations’ budget

Work Experience: 

• 10 years’ experience in public relations including, but not limited to acting as corporate spokesperson or media liaison, creating news releases, managing social media platforms, writing speeches, handling marketing and PR tactics, managing corporate image and messaging and managing crisis communications

 Critical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Effective communicator
• In-depth understanding of social media, marketing, media buys, corporate branding and corporate messaging
• Advanced level proficiency in Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Publisher
• Experience effectively managing consultants and vendors
• Experience with photography and videography

 Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Utilities industry, especially generation, transmission, and distribution desirable

Education:  Four-year college degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, or related discipline

Travel details: Regular overnight travel and frequent day trips are required in this position

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:  Ability to use a keyboard and monitor the majority of the day, interact effectively with others through verbal communication, video, email and text, work full days (8 hours) in an office environment with occasional evening and weekend work, conduct regular travel via automobile and/or commercial airline for regular overnight and frequent day trips.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Please apply via this link www.odec.com/careers for consideration. 

ODEC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

 This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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