Community Engagement Specialist

Community Engagement Specialist

Application due date: January 10, 2025

Location: Maple Grove, MN (Eligible for hybrid schedule)

 Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without restriction. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Your perspective is powerful. To do what’s never been done before, we need to think differently. We seek out people with unique backgrounds, unique skillsets and unique perspectives who want to help shape what’s next.

Summary:

Are you passionate about building meaningful relationships, driving community impact, and working at the intersection of energy and innovation? Great River Energy, a leading electric cooperative, is seeking a Community Engagement Specialist to champion initiatives that align energy investments with the needs and priorities of the communities we serve.

In this role, you’ll collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including our member-owner cooperatives, tribal leaders, community members, and other key partners and stakeholders, to design, implement, and quantify the impacts of projects that deliver tangible benefits and foster strong community relationships. Your work will directly contribute to Great River Energy’s mission of providing reliable, affordable energy while enhancing the communities we serve.

Total Rewards:

A typical starting range for this position is $99,000 - $117,000 + annually. We offer this market competitive base pay and adjust our offer accordingly based upon the candidate’s knowledge, skills and experience. In addition, our Total Rewards strategy focuses on recognizing individual performance and rewarding business results. Our robust package includes exceptional benefits and retirement, a focus on continuous engagement, recognition, personal and professional development and training, hybrid work environment and an emphasis on work-life effectiveness.

Responsibilities: Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to

· Develop and execute strategies related to community benefits plans tied to federal and state initiatives.

· Engage with stakeholders to gather input and align plans with community needs.

· Track, analyze, and report on metrics to measure the success of key projects and initiatives.

· Ensure compliance with grant requirements and regulatory standards through comprehensive reporting.

· Build strong relationships with Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives, tribal nations, community organizations, and key external partners and stakeholders.

· Plan and execute community engagement events.

· Serve as a trusted liaison between Great River Energy and its member-owner cooperatives to ensure strategic alignment on outreach efforts.

· Collaborate with internal Great River Energy staff to develop impactful materials, including newsletters, social media posts, and reports.

· Deliver training and guidance to Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives on executing community benefit strategies.

· Partner with internal Great River Energy staff to drive workforce development strategies and initiatives.

· Lead projects from concept to completion, ensuring they meet stakeholder needs and align with Great River Energy’s strategic goals.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in business, energy management, public policy, or a related field, with a minimum of seven years in community engagement, economic development, or a similar sector. Experience with federal/state funding or regulatory compliance is a plus.

· Expertise in stakeholder engagement, benefit quantification, project management, and strategic communication. Knowledge of the electric utility industry, cooperative models, and federal grant processes is preferred.

· Ability to travel 20-30% to cooperatives, agencies, and events.

Apply: 

If you’re excited about leveraging your expertise to drive community benefits and foster strong relationships, we’d love to hear from you! Apply today and help us shape the future of energy together. Qualified candidates please apply at www.greatriverenergy.com (under the Careers tab) January 10, 2025. GRE values diversity, equity and inclusion and we are an equal employment opportunity employer.