Community Relations Manager
Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects. By joining the Lightsource bp team, you will ‘be the change’ on the world’s energy transition to a more sustainable future.
We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to push the boundaries of an ever-changing energy landscape. By choosing a career with us, you can expect a challenging and fulfilling role surrounded by people who are passionate and have brilliant ideas about sustainable technology, innovation and making the world a better place.
We are also passionate about people. As part of our sustainability ethos, we work to ensure we’re making positive contributions to communities that host our solar projects across the United States. Our goal is for Lightsource bp to develop an industry leading community relations program.
What You’ll do
The Community Relations Manager is a leader with experience successfully developing and executing community engagement strategies, building positive and lasting relationships with communities. In this role, the Community Relations Manager will implement outreach strategies that align with local development milestones, build key stakeholder relationships, and will develop long-term programs designed to represent Lightsource bp favorably and make positive contributions to communities that are home to our solar projects across the United States – from early-stage development and permitting, through the operational life of the projects. As such, the position will work closely with Lightsource bp’s Development, Construction, and Asset Management teams. If you are passionate about renewable energy and have substantial experience in community relations, we want to hear from you.
Strategy
We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to push the boundaries of an ever-changing energy landscape. By choosing a career with us, you can expect a challenging and fulfilling role surrounded by people who are passionate and have brilliant ideas about sustainable technology, innovation and making the world a better place.
We are also passionate about people. As part of our sustainability ethos, we work to ensure we’re making positive contributions to communities that host our solar projects across the United States. Our goal is for Lightsource bp to develop an industry leading community relations program.
What You’ll do
The Community Relations Manager is a leader with experience successfully developing and executing community engagement strategies, building positive and lasting relationships with communities. In this role, the Community Relations Manager will implement outreach strategies that align with local development milestones, build key stakeholder relationships, and will develop long-term programs designed to represent Lightsource bp favorably and make positive contributions to communities that are home to our solar projects across the United States – from early-stage development and permitting, through the operational life of the projects. As such, the position will work closely with Lightsource bp’s Development, Construction, and Asset Management teams. If you are passionate about renewable energy and have substantial experience in community relations, we want to hear from you.
Strategy
- Develop and execute strategic community engagement and communications plans during development, construction, through operations
- Provide strategic community outreach advice to the Lightsource bp teams
- Effectively manage project related community relations concerns
- Develop and execute community education and programmatic outreach
- Consistently and equitably implement philanthropic programs in host communities
- Develop strategic platforms and tools for community engagement as we rapidly grow our business
Essential Job Functions
Supporting development success
Supporting development success
- Partner with the Development team on community outreach, events, creation of project materials and presentation materials to support a successful permitting process
- Research project locations and identify key stakeholders (elected officials, landowners, neighbors, community leaders.) in order to tailor strategies to the specific community
- Manage community engagement activities to grow key stakeholder relationships and foster support for the solar project
- Identify and engage local organizations to build long-term relationships in communities where our solar projects are located
- Identify opposition and related risks to project success and implement mitigation strategies
- Coordinate with the development team and third-party consultants on community outreach strategies, with an objective of achieving project success while also protecting the reputation and integrity of Lightsource bp
- Assist the Development team with logistics for venue and catering for community events
- Be the primary point of contract for communities in which we develop, construct, and/or operate a solar project
- Identify sponsorship/donation opportunities to increase our community outreach efforts during all phases of the project
- Develop communication material/newsletters to update the community during the construction and operation of our solar projects
- Ensure project-specific community engagement strategies align with company’s community giving practices and ESG goals
- Assist the Marketing & Communications team with the development and management of collateral materials for community and landowner communications
- Manage special projects and events, including community events, landowner events
- Collaborate with the Community Relations team to enhance process and platform for strategies and tools to effectively support project development and local community engagement activities as we rapidly grow our business
- Track key community relations success metrics
- Partner with the team on an iterative Community Engagement Playbook
- Help develop annual community outreach reports
Knowledge
- A general understanding of the solar/renewable industry
- Microsoft Office fluency (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) including Teams
- Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, or related field
- Demonstrated success in building strong community relations programs and relationships
- Strong presentation/public speaking, writing, and communication skills
- Great interpersonal skills with the ability to gain buy-in from other stakeholders
- Ability to travel 20-30 % for site visits, community information events and meetings with local officials, community leaders, and landowners
- 5-7-years of experience in a community relations role with a focus on rural communities or similar field in the renewable energy industry
- Some event planning experience preferred
- Experience working with rural communities
- Experience managing internal and external resources, working collaboratively on projects
- Be solutions oriented and translate project objectives into effective community outreach campaigns
- Manage and work together with internal stakeholders and many external parties to deliver projects to a high standard and to tight deadlines
- Enthusiastic multi-tasker, able to deal and co-ordinate multiple projects simultaneously
- Effectively manage changes in priorities, unexpected events or unanticipated demands
- Communicate information to others in a positive and professional manner
- Identify opportunities within the business to further drive community relations objectives and create project awareness and support
- Be a team player, sensitive towards targets, goals and objectives of the Marketing & Comms team as well as all other business units within Lightsource bp
Why you’ll want to work for us
Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.
Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.
Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.
Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.
We offer
Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.
Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.
Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.
Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.
We offer
- Health, dental and vision care for US team members starts on your first day of employment. US team members also receive no-cost life insurance and short- and long-term disability benefits.
- Our team members are eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, calculated based on corporate, team and individual objectives. Team members in the US may receive an additional 50% of their annual bonus in a “retention bank” as well, available for withdrawal after three years of bonus awards have accrued.
- Lightsource bp currently observes the following 11 holidays in the US: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- US team members accrue four weeks of vacation and three weeks of sick leave annually.
- Lightsource bp offers US team members immediate eligibility for a 401(k) plan, with a 3% nonelective employer contribution.
- Team members in the US enjoy a hybrid or remote work environment.
- US team members receive a monthly personal phone bill reimbursement of up to $100 and a monthly commuter benefit of up to $150. Team members also receive wellness and remote work allowances.