Vice President Communications

Job Description

BENEFITS

Veolia's comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental and vision insurance. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement. Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement.

Position Purpose:

The Veolia North America Communications Department for the regulated utility is responsible for helping to shape and execute communication strategies for the company, advance key priorities to broad and diverse audiences, and connect these priorities to national, state and local conversations. The department also manages the daily operation of Veolia’s communications channels, including the company’s digital presence such as website and social media accounts, guides the company’s media engagement, and drives strategic communications and alignment across the business.

The primary responsibility of the Vice President, Communications is to provide strategic leadership for the utility business and to develop and implement a clear communications, customer education and community engagement vision/strategic plan for the company’s Utility Division. The Vice President will drive a comprehensive approach to both internal and external communications with the goal of elevating brand image and implementing internal communications that drive employee engagement. The candidate will implement strategic, comprehensive, and professional communications and community programs that educate all utility stakeholders The candidate has experience with regulated utility, industrial or infrastructure operations, and has both extensive skills and experience in customer communications, utility regulations and requirements, employee engagement, media relations, community relations, government relations, and stakeholder management.

Direct Reports:

• Director, Communications, NJ
• Director, Communications, NY
• Manager, Communications, DE
• Manager, Communications, PA
• Manager, Communications, ID

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Amplify Veolia brand awareness through the development and execution of strategic communication plans.
• Develop and drive communication strategies from the concept/planning stages through execution, ensuring on-time completion of deliverables and the ability to adjust plans as needed.
• Counsel the CEO and senior leadership team on effective communication strategies and emerging public issues.
• Partner with the VP, Customer Experience to design, develop and implement strategic communication and education programs for customers and call center talking points on topics such as emerging contaminants, affordability programs and rate changes.
• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance Veolia’s brand identity; broaden awareness of its programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of its programs across key stakeholder audiences.
• Lead the development and execution of communication plans that gain positive media and industry coverage, seek to raise customer engagement and attract industry recognition.
• Bring consistency to communications practices via best practice and standardization where appropriate, while satisfying an appropriate blend of global, national and local needs.
• Instill a customer-focused mindset and ensure that external communications are viewed through the lens of the customer.
• Champion customer needs through targeted communications on key issues of concern or interest.
• Build campaigns based on research data sets from surveys, social media responses, stakeholder dialogues, informational sessions, etc.
• Demonstrate strategic understanding and practical application of the full suite of communications channels.
• Develop a comprehensive issues management and crisis communications strategy for the business and play a lead role in the development of enterprise-wide issues management and crisis communications planning.
• Leverage strategic communications to help shape a culture of respect and integrity, to influence others to perform at their best, and to ensure compliance with company ethics and policies.
• Partner with Veolia North America and Veolia Group on corporate wide communication initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues across the enterprise; serve as a trusted advisor.
• Manage, mentor and develop a high-performing team of communications professionals; recruit new members to the team, as needed.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, and conduct annual performance appraisals.
• Manage department budget.

Key Focus Areas:

Customer Communications

• Drive a customer-focused organization through the development of communications that seek to increase engagement and brand perception.
• Enhance the customer experience by applying a systematic and omni-channel approach to strategic communication campaigns in partnership with the VP, Customer Experience.
• Build a collaborative culture whereby communications personnel across the division contribute to the development of company-wide strategic communications plans and programs.

Employee Engagement

• Direct the development of rich and meaningful internal communications that promote projects, champion change, foster employee pride, and inspire commitment to company goals.
• Foster the celebration of employees and their contributions through various company platforms and activities (e.g., award programs, newsletters, social media, storytelling, participation in company activities).
• Promote and develop employee skills through communications mentoring, coaching and training.

Community Relations

• Oversee the division’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programs (community and civic functions).
• Foster an inclusive external culture by building and maintaining relationships with local community NGOs and other influential stakeholders and incorporating their input where appropriate.
• Direct the development of community programs that further educate stakeholders on company initiatives, the water industry and the Veolia brand, including school programs, facility tours and community events.
• Manage local company’s charitable giving program and ensure alignment with corporate goals and policy.

Media

• Foster compelling stories and leads that cultivate journalists’ interest in the Veolia brand.
• Direct social media and digital content that champions the brand and supports local business strategies and goals.

Other Key Stakeholders

• Foster the development of strong working relationships with influential community and civic organizations and elected and municipal officials.
• Ensure that external stakeholders are informed of company practices, business decisions, and programs which impact customers and the community. Build stakeholder loyalty by responding with urgency to requests and concerns.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies.

Crisis Communications

• Act with expedience to develop and implement customer communications during emergencies. Command the use of multiple tactics and channels, accounting to customer preferences.
• Act as communications adviser for local leadership and foster communications best practices.
• Provide support for other business operations as needed.

Qualifications:
Qualifications

Education/Experience/Background:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, public relations or equivalent is required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 10 - 15+ years of experience in increasingly responsible communications leadership roles, ideally with corporate and agency experience and/or within a regulated utility environment.
• Well-rounded communications background, including external and internal communications; executive visibility and thought leadership; issues management and social/digital communications.
• Extensive experience in B2C environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to influence others in a complex matrixed organization.
• Excellent communications experience and skills, including professional and creative writing, media relations, government relations, internal and external stakeholder communications, community relations, and public speaking required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated success in managing complex challenges with broad scope and scale.
• Proven success in creating and executing high profile communication initiatives.
• Strategic thinker with exceptional communication skills.
• Ability to manage a diverse team and collaborate across a complex matrixed organization.
• Independent and highly motivated with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Keen understanding of utility regulatory environment.
• Ability to meet and exceed expectations of customers, regulators, elected officials and other key stakeholders.
• Advanced skills in public relations, media, public affairs, advertising and community relations.
• Ability to develop comprehensive communications programs that support local, national and global business objectives.
• Exceptional writing and oral skills with the ability to construct compelling stories that promote the company’s objectives, brand and its employees.
• Strong relationship-building skills with customers, employees, journalists, commissions and other key stakeholders.
• Thorough knowledge of traditional and digital communications tools and tactics, including advertising, social media, email platforms and web content, etc.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work with and engage management and employees of all levels.
• Ability to deliver targeted results to specification at cost and on schedule.
• Good balance of technical/task and people/team leadership skills and orientation.
• Excellent negotiating, networking, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively manage external agencies and vendors.
• Excellent negotiating, networking, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively manage external agencies and vendors.
• Intermediate working knowledge of Google Suite.
• Must be available for weekend and evening activities, as needed, including on-call emergency communications assignments.

Physical Requirements:

• Office job location in Paramus, NJ.
• 10% travel required.

Additional Information

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

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.