SDG&E is not just an energy company, we are the architects of a brighter, cleaner future. Our employees power everyday life for 3.7 million people - bringing the energy to support their passions, ambitions, and the heartbeat of our community.

We call Southern California our home. It's where we chase our dreams and raise our families. That's why the people who live here deserve an energy company unlike any other, and that's why every day, SDG&E employees strive to be at the forefront of innovations to reduce emissions, modernize the electric grid, and enable our customers to make the transition to clean technologies. We're redefining sustainability, advancing zero-emissions solutions, and driving the electric vehicle revolution.

It takes the best to build the best - join us!

Primary Purpose:

Responsible for weaving together articulate and impactful messages for the CEO and executive leadership team. Distill complex ideas into clear, persuasive narratives for communications opportunities such as major announcements, speeches, and public appearances. Responsible for the development and execution of the company's thought leadership platform.

Provide strategic guidance and leadership in the development and implementation of external communications strategies, policies, plans and programs to support the strategic goals and business objectives of San Diego Gas & Electric. Anticipates issues that may impact the company and work with different work groups to ensure the company's communications are coordinated. Oversee the management of a team of senior-level media relations professions that work on proactive story-telling and high-impact issues and reputation management topics.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage the team responsible for proactive storytelling and high-impact issues and reputation management topics. Manage, motivate, mentor, and develop staff to ensure accuracy, timeliness of deliverables, and consistent quality of work product. Provide direction, feedback, and coaching to employees to ensure performance standards, goals, and key performance indicators are met. Foster a collaborative team environment; own all aspects of employee management and engagement for direct reports and matrixed staff, including responsibility for all aspects of performance management, training and development.
• Drive strategic and multi-dimensional communications and engagement initiatives critical to SDG&E's business objectives developing strategy on reputation management. Anticipates issues that may impact the company and work with different work groups to ensure the company's communications are coordinated.
• Support CEO and executive communications to develop clear and compelling thought leadership strategy and messages that align with the organization's objectives, ensuring consistency and impact across various communication channels.
• Lead and direct collaboration with other departments to develop/implement successful media relations and executive communications social media strategies for the company.
• Oversee and direct media relations efforts and serve as a corporate media spokesperson with national and local news media, and community, government, industry, and trade organizations.
• Identifies, develops, and leads initiatives to improve operational efficiency, the customer experience, process improvement and maximize areas of operational goal achievement. Develops methods and procedures by implementing process/system improvements and the utilization of key performance indicators and data analytics to make operational decisions.
• Oversee and guide 24-hour media and social media response during emergency/crisis situations. Manage rotating after-hours beeper duty.
• Responsible for directing, planning, preparation and administration department budgets, process improvements and workforce plans.
• Performs other duties as assigned (no more than 5% of duties).

Hybrid Schedule:

• Although the schedule may vary, typically this will allow the employee to work onsite three days per week and remotely on the remaining workdays.
• Must reside in Southern California or be willing to relocate upon hire.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications or Public Relations or other related field of study or equivalent training and/or experience.
• 8 years experience in corporate, agency or public-sector public relations.
• 2 years experience leading or directly managing employees including performance management, training and development.
• Ability to clearly articulate ideas and convey messages across audiences, utilizing formal and informal communication modes such as presentations, written documents, and one-on-one conversations.
• Project management principles knowledge including managing scope, schedule, budget, risks, compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to gather data and information then analyzing and evaluating it to make recommendations.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with individuals at various levels within the company, as well as external vendors, agencies and/or companies.
• Demonstrated understanding of communications channels, production and distribution.
• Ability to understand different audiences, their needs and potential reactions to communications strategies, and corporate intranets.
• Ability to build stakeholder relationships and driving cross-functional workflows and communication to achieve efficient and effective crisis resolution.
• Knowledge of the Energy Industry and able to maneuver through regulatory communications process.
• Strategic expertise in handling crisis communications and significant media relations issues.
• Travel is required within the service territory to various company locations in addition to potential travel outside of the territory to attend meetings, training, and conferences.
• Required to work outside normal business hours during emergency situations such as Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2 years experience as a media spokesperson, on-the-record.
• 1 year experience with executive communications.
• Bilingual in Spanish.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.

Note: SDG&E strives to ensure that employees are paid equitably and competitively. Starting salaries may vary based on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, and education.

SDG&E offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond base salary. This position is eligible for an annual performance-based incentive (bonus) as well as other merit-based recognition. Company benefits include health and welfare (medical, dental, vision), employer contributions to retirement benefits, life insurance, paid time off, as well as other company offerings such as tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, and employee assistance programs.