Role Overview

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) seeks an experienced and highly skilled professional to manage and execute external communications campaigns for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico, as the External Communications Manager.

The successful candidate will have diverse community relations experience with a particular skillsets and proven track record in issues management, proactive media outreach, community relations, and project management gained by working in complex, highly-visibly environments or large-scale projects with perceived risks. This position will work with project leadership, external stakeholders and traditional and nontraditional media to ensure that information disseminated or written about the project is accurate, informative and timely.

Essential Job Duties:

Media Relations:

• Develops and implements with the team a media strategy that engages local, regional, national, trade and nontraditional media through ongoing media relations and proactive earned efforts such as pitches, news releases, briefings and visits.

• Provides counsel to employees and senior management in preparing for interviews and advises on strategy and best practices.

• Proactively identifies, tracks and follows through on potential multi-media story ideas to share progress, demonstrate the mission, vision, and values, and recognize employees externally.

Community Relations, Charitable Giving, Education Outreach:

• Serves as a contact for Eddy and Lea County organizations by building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders to promote positive community relations and educational outreach activities.

• Manages an annual charitable giving budget, and guides and directs standards for reviewing and allocating contributions to community non-profit organizations; and organizing employee-led charitable giving and volunteer campaigns.

• Guides annual Contractor Community Commitment Plan development and reporting requirements.

Issues Management:

• Collaborates with senior management, SIMCO corporate entities, and the DOE Carlsbad Field Office to identify potential issues, develop mitigation strategies and implement those strategies through written materials or other means for internal and/or external audiences.

• Manages and executes specific proactive public outreach issues management activities. This includes researching and analyzing complex communications issues, being familiar with project risks and milestones, knowing customer requirements, and having a thorough understanding of technical, legal, and other challenges to achieve successful outcomes of large-scale, highly complex projects.

Emergency Response Communications:

• Leads process development for emergency response public communications program to employees and the public. Coordinates program development and requirements with Emergency Response Organization and the DOE Carlsbad Field Office.

Additional Activities:

• As needed, serves as a lead communicator assisting in public speech writing, presentation development, brochure and fact sheet content.

• Manages complex special activities and projects, as assigned, such as but not limited to coordinating all-hands meetings, rolling out major internal and external initiatives, participating in site tours by VIPs, organizing video/photo shoots, digital media and public relations campaigns.

Internal Communications:

• Provides support to Manager of Communications & Public Affairs and internal communications lead in developing products and articles from project leadership to employees such as such as all-workforce communications; and progress, community relations, and education outreach related articles.

Expectations of the Position/Successful Candidate:

o Experience working with local, regional, national and trade media.

o Proven ability to develop and implement strategic communications plans and measure results demonstrating value add to organization.

o Demonstrated experience in external communications, internal communications, and executive support experience in public affairs issues management, media relations, public information and public affairs management, and communications.

o Demonstrated skills in identifying and developing integrated communications campaigns that include digital communications, internal communications, and media outreach.

o Ability to excel in a detail-oriented, deadline-drive environment.

o Proficient user of the Microsoft Office suite of products.

o Must be self-motivated.

o Strong relationship building and management skills.

o Experience identifying newsworthy stories, developing them, and pitching and placing them in media outlets.

o Skill in oral and written communications.

o Ability to build and manage positive relationships with Communications team members, peers and senior leadership.

o Ability to develop solutions to problems where guidelines are not well defined.

Exempt Grade Level 36-37

Minimum Qualifications:

o Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Political Science, or related field with at least 15 years of progressive related experience+.

• +A combination of education and/or relevant experience is acceptable, wherein the skills and abilities to perform the previous position duties and accountabilities are exceedingly significant, as determined by the Hiring Manager for this role.

o Strong writing skills a must.

o Demonstrated experience in project management including managing an informal or formal team, assigning and tracking tasks, coordinating with customers or other entities, and delivering results.

o Available during non-work hours for on-call and emergency situations with ability to attend to after hours functions as needed.

o Ability to walk on construction and/or mining sites (including some areas of uneven terrain) for extended periods of time.

o Ability to wear personal protective equipment in construction and/or mining zone, to include but not limited to, hardhat, safety glasses, reflective vest, and steel-toed shoes.

Must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in limited circumstances. See
DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

Preferred Qualifications:

o Knowledge of nuclear, security, environmental, energy services industry, and/or experience working in a matrixed organization or government project environment.

Starting salary $140,000 per year *

• Base salary will be dependent upon candidate's background (i.e. education and experience)

EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

If you are an applicant with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact (575) 234-8405 or email wipprecruiting@wipp.ws for assistance. Upon receipt of this information, we will respond to you promptly to obtain more information about your request.

Reviews, and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR 707.4, will be conducted by SIMCO and a background investigation by the Federal government may be required to obtain an access authorization prior to employment, and subsequent reinvestigations may be required.