Public Affairs Communications Manager

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states:
Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.

Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

Position Summary This position is responsible for providing strategic public affairs and communications direction, counsel and support to executive leadership and business units, and individual project teams and management. Along with individual project participants, this position will: lead the development of public affairs and communications strategies to promote the success of Operations business areas. Lead multi-utility teams in the development of plans to build relationships and conduct effective communications with media, governmental units, tribal nations, city, county and township organizations, the public and affected landowners, and other stakeholders as identified in project areas (e.g., local business community, neighborhood organizations and others);

manage communications in support of the collaborative planning effort; and serve as liaison between project management and legislative, regulatory and technical project areas.

This role is based in Denver and will support Xcel Energy Transmission capital projects for our Colorado and Texas/New Mexico service territories. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience supporting major infrastructure projects requiring public outreach, including education and engagement, serving as public spokesperson, and managing public affairs consultants. This role requires strong interpersonal and organizational skills, working with internal and external stakeholders, and will involve travel across our service territory.

Essential Responsibilities Public affairs strategic direction, counsel and support:
Works with executive staff and project teams to identify critical issues that may impede or enhance the success of Operations projects and develops strategic plans to effectively address such issues. Establishes and manages system to monitor related developments in the utility and related industries and brings current knowledge and best practices to the organization. May include leadership of one or more staff responsible for managing interface with critical local, state or federal officials and agencies that have significant influence on business area projects (e.g. city councils, legislators, government agencies, etc.).Strategic

communications:
Develops and implements communication strategies, key messages, presentations and public events to enhance the public perception of the Company. Provides communications guidance, support and counsel on legislative and regulatory relations. Leads communication team and coordinates communications strategies with project management, community relations, regulatory and project…