Community Engagement Specialist

The Community Engagement Specialist plays a critical role in enhancing the Cooperative’s public image and fostering positive relations with both internal and external audiences. This role involves planning and managing public relations initiatives, organizing community engagement programs, and ensuring consistent messaging aligned with REC’s mission and values. The Specialist will collaborate with internal teams, manage public-facing events, and assist with communications, including crisis management.

• Plan, develop and coordinate projects and programs to increase public and employee understanding and acceptance of Cooperative policies, procedures, services and goals.
• Plan and administer community programs to keep REC’s members and the public informed about services, activities, and events affecting them and their cooperative.
• Administer the planning, coordination and execution of Community Scholarships, sponsor ships, and goodwill donations, which includes annual review and recommendations for evolving/maintaining the programs.
• Facilitate community scholarships, goodwill and sponsorship donations.
• Coordinate and implement community involvement activities, programs and events in partnership with the regional offices' Directors of Operations and Construction and Directors of Member Services and Community Relations.
• Collaborate with regional offices and other departments to promote positive public relations and increase awareness of the Cooperative in support of strategic goals.
• Collaborate with the department staff to develop, plan, and coordinate activities that increase public and employee awareness, understanding, and acceptance of REC policies, procedures, services, and goals.
• Assist with maintaining positive relations with community leaders.
• Maintain an awareness of local, state, and national current events and their impact concerning matters of interest to the C Cooperative and the electric industry.
• Prepares timely reports on Public Relations programs and activities for departmental and corporate use.
• Recommend program and policy changes associated with Public Relations programs.
• Contribute to achieving departmental goals through participation in planning and administration of department budget and strategic plan and by supporting team efforts.
• Support promotions of REC’s community programs including scholarships, Youth Tour, The Power of Change and Project Big Heart.
• Professionally represent the Cooperative, enhance the Cooperative’s image, and maintain positive public relations through active participation in business, community and professional organizations.
• Collaborate with the department staff and other departments to implement the Cooperative’s community involvement and outreach strategy to keep REC’s members and the public informed about services, activities and events affecting them and their cooperative.
• Monitor ongoing public relations activities and develops and propose appropriate modifications as needed.
• Serve as the liaison between offices in an effort to share information between the regions, and plan for community involvement activities and initiatives. Work with the Managing Director and Director to obtain interpretations of policies and procedures, understanding of expectations, interpretation of corporate objectives, and REC’s position on legislative and public policy matters, and approval of goals, plans and budgets.
• Work together with members of the Communications and Public Relations department as a team to provide the highest level of customer service in support of the department’s goals and objectives.
• Maintain good rapport with all employees to facilitate a consistent flow of information between departments.