Lead, External Affairs; State

Job Title:

Lead, External Affairs (State)

Posting

Start Date:

2/26/26

Job Description:

The primary role of this position is to provide senior-level communications counsel to the state president and the state senior management team and to develop, coordinate, implement and manage all external communications activities to support the success of the state business plan and operating objectives. The primary areas of responsibility include media relations, public relations, community relations, corporate social responsibility and local support to government relations activities and meeting the information needs of customers.

This professional is poised to respond rapidly and tactically to unanticipated events and critical issues such as main breaks and other critical incidents, and is equally focused on providing proactive and strategic communications counsel and advise to the state senior management team. This role is focused on anticipating and managing local communications issues and effectively positioning the company with key opinion leaders and key constituencies.

The External Affairs Manager is the critical communications resource maximizing the company's communications effectiveness, flexibility and responsiveness within the communities we serve. This professional has a comprehensive depth of communications knowledge and experience with demonstrated expertise in implementing integrated, strategic communications programs. While not directly responsible for customer communications or internal communication, the External Affairs Manager is an active and vital component of an integrated communications team operating through a matrix management model that is responsible for functional excellence reaching all audiences with a full array of internal and external communications messages, tactics and activities.

This role is responsible for identifying, developing, nurturing and sustaining strong and enduring relationships with the media not only during unanticipated events but also to proactively to leverage media coverage. This function ensures that American Water is aligned with key community groups and organizations and well regarded and respected as a "good corporate citizen". Leads and directs all communications activities to reflect American Water’s commitment to its customers and communities.

Working closely with the State President and the state senior management team, the manager ensures that the company is effectively aligned and positioned to develop and sustain key relationships with community leaders, government and regulatory authorities, as well as elected and appointed officials. The External Affairs Manager will report to the Director of Communications and External Affairs and indirectly to the State President and to the Director of External Affairs at corporate.

• Directly supports the strategic communications needs of a state and the state senior management team.
• Provides senior-level communications counsel and ensures the effective implementation of external affairs and related communications activities.
• Assists in strategy development and the proactive development of communications materials/tactics that produce cost, time and resource efficiencies across the business as well as ensures consistent messaging for all audiences.
• Ensures wise budget management.
• Works directly and closely with the State President to equip the state management team to develop and sustain key relationships - with community leaders, the media, elected/appointed officials, regulators and their staff members, and to manage and advance important communications objectives to these target constituencies.
• Employs a keen awareness and knowledge of community resources and contacts; understands the attitudes and concerns of the community.
• Implements communications strategies, tactics and activities to ensure ongoing, consistent and targeted communications before, during and after rate case filings (20%)
• Develops, manages and directs comprehensive strategic communications plans and supporting materials for public communications including media relations, conference participation, community…