Senior Communications & Economic Development Manager

Bring YOUR energy to Alliant Energy!

At Alliant Energy, our purpose is to serve customers and build stronger communities. We are passionate about powering beyond the market challenges of today, while powering what's next in energy. When our employees say "I am energy," it means they take pride in the work we do when disaster strikes, as well as all the days in between. We reward our highly hardworking and dedicated teams and give them the support they need to ensure their safety, wellness and financial security for themselves and their families.

If you enjoy challenges, have strong communication skills and are passionate about the work you do we invite you to consider Alliant Energy.

What sets us apart?

• Alliant Energy offers a full compensation package. Benefits include Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Health and Day Care Savings Accounts, Paid Vacation, 401K, Employer Cash Contribution, Long and Short-Term Disability, Tuition reimbursement, and Adoption assistance.
• Year after year, Alliant Energy is recognized by major publications and foundations as a top employer and leader in the areas of equity and sustainability. This includes Newsweek's list of Most Responsible Companies, Forbes list of Best Midsize Employers, a perfect Corporate Equality Index Score as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality and being named to the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index.
• Our employees make a difference through their work and personal activities. In 2021, employees, retirees and our charitable foundation collectively contributed $11.5 million and volunteered over 75,000 hours.

Job Summary

Alliant Energy is looking for a Senior Communications & Economic Development Manager. In this exciting role, you will be at the forefront of driving impactful communication strategies while also contributing to the economic growth of Alliant Energy!

This position is responsible for establishing, maintaining collaborative relationships and enhancing credibility, communications and relationships with key external partners, communities and community leaders. While applying these relations to assure company efforts are successful. Develops and leads comprehensive strategic programs that effectively promote the attraction, expansion and retention of business and industry and support our community relations efforts. May also be responsible for efforts to renew or enter into franchise agreements with the communities we serve.

What you will do

• Conduct in-market site visits, event coordination, and meeting facilitation with key external partners such as corporate real estate executives and site consultants. Promote our territories to target audiences through proactive outreach and creative marketing plans, and assist local communities in business/industrial park planning, development and attraction efforts.
• Work closely with new and existing businesses to gather and evaluate information needed to assist them in making sound location decisions as well as assist in expansion of existing facilities. Assist in the site selection process, identifying potential properties within Alliant Energy's territory based on specific real estate criteria.
• Work with key account managers to help leverage supply chain opportunities by identifying potential opportunities and leveraging customer relationships. Facilitate unique and innovative RFI responses with state and local partners generating and analyzing key demographic, employment, and industry statistics.
• Act as a professional resource and liaison to commercial businesses, industries, and communities with their development strategies and plans including information and technical advice on grants, loans, incentives, land use issues and community planning and development.
• Represent Alliant Energy to municipal, local, state and/or national agency officials for economic development committees, meetings and events and at national conferences and tradeshows in an effort to promote Alliant Energy's service area and regional business climate and strengthen relationships with key government agencies.
• Research current trends in community and economic development and determines program modifications and improvements that will keep the company's economic and community development offerings effective and competitive. Lead the implementation of strategic economic development programs and ensure that they are being supported and promoted effectively.
• May negotiate franchise agreements with communities and serves as company resource to coordinate the relationship between Community Relations, Legal and Energy Delivery. Maintain metrics on successful renewals and future renewal efforts and provides data to support internal and external regional partners.
• Assist leadership and management on critical community and customer issues, developing effective and timely solutions and customer support and works with peers in other parts of the company to ensure that the expansion and new development process is as cost- and time-effective as possible.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree Emphasis in business administration, planning, economics, marketing, communications, or related area Preferred

Required Experience

• 5 years professional/technical experience in industrial or commercial customer relations/account management or professional business experience in either economic or community development.

Other Requirements

• Must be willing to travel.
• Travel can include occasional overnight stays.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to interpret federal and state safety, energy and environmental regulations preferred.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate contracts and service agreements preferred.
• Ability to use computer software programs (e.g. e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet and project management) preferred.
• Ability to work in a diverse work environment.
• Advanced ability to connect with national, state, and community-level economic development officials and community elected and appointed officials to increase company visibility and the internal understanding of key economic policy and development issues.

It's not just what we do; it's how we do it.

Live Safety. Everyone. Always | Make Things Better | Care For Others | Do The Right Thing | Act For Tomorrow | Think Beyond. Be Bold

Alliant Energy is committed to providing an inclusive work environment for all and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All candidates selected for employment with Alliant Energy will be required to successfully complete a drug screen and background check.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been crafted to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not crafted to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Alliant Energy and subsidiaries is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in the workplace. Applicants in need of a reasonable accommodation for any part of the hiring process, please email [email protected].