Public Affairs Specialist -Fiber Project

Job Type: Business Operations

Pay Range $99,980 to $117,623

Location Colorado Springs, CO

Date First Posted 11/15/24

Applications are being accepted through: 11/19/24

*If no date is displayed, applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis; however, this job posting may close at any time after a minimum of 5 days of being posted.

Public Affairs Specialist – Fiber Project (temporary)

The Public Affairs team at Colorado Springs Utilities is seeking a specialist to augment the current Fiber Project specialist to assist in coordinating communications over the service territory to engage pending and active construction areas, HOAs and property management entities. This individual will report to the Network Transport Services department, directly to the Project Supervisor. The specialist will coordinate activities with the current Utilities Public Affairs Specialist, the Project Supervisor, and the individual Project Managers responsible for each of the three construction contractors.

If you have experience in public relations or strategic communications and are passionate about enhancing and maintaining relationships between Colorado Springs Utilities and the community, this is the opportunity for you!

This is a temporary at-will position. If hired, your employment with Colorado Springs Utilities is expected to last the length of the fiber expansion project, which is anticipated to last up to four years but may be modified as business needs dictate. Temporary employees are eligible for health care and related insurance benefits and other benefits, such as: paid time off for holidays, vacation time accrual, sick time accrual, and other state-mandated benefits according to Colorado Springs Utilities Personnel Policies Manual.

Key Areas of Focus:

Engaging media and responding to crisis communications needs
Developing and editing content for multiple communication channels serving internal and external audiences (e.g., news releases, social media posts)
Promotes effective public relations with various community, business and civic groups and organizations
Supporting message development, brand standards, and information dissemination
Assisting with the coordination and response to Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests
Coordinating schedules for Public Affairs support of projects across the organization
Communicating the needs and interests of community organizations to influence and provide input for internal decision-making and planning efforts
Facilitates and/or mediates internal and external groups
Creating and maintaining information files and systems to support the Public Affairs teams

Who You Are...

Demonstrated experience (e.g., five years) in a public relations, public affairs, or strategic communications capacity
Knowledge of public relations, advertising and marketing principles, strategic planning fundamentals, and project management principles
Familiarity with a variety of public affairs and communication-related platforms and technologies
Ability to prepare and deliver compelling and informative presentations
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to speak multiple languages to be able to connect and build relationships with a diverse community is valued
Competencies critical for success include project and time management and organization, collaboration, and continuous learning

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Business or a closely related field is highly desired
Possession of professional accreditation / certification preferred. Specialized training in facilitation, mediation and the development of Informed Consent may be required depending upon assignment.

A valid, unrestricted driver’s license is required for this role.

The military job codes/duty codes most closely related to this role are: 46A, 46Q, 46R, 46Z, 35P1, 35P2, 35PX, 3N031, 3N051, 3N071, 3N0X1, 1650, 1653, 1655, 1657, 4301, 4302, 9674

Who We Are...

For 100 years, we have proudly served the Colorado Springs community with safe, reliable and competitively priced utility services.
Since 1924, our focus has been on the basics - providing exceptional service while keeping costs low for our customers.
Today, we continue to deliver electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater services to the Pikes Peak region while our customers still enjoy competitive prices, exceptional hometown service, responsible environmental practices and a voice in how their utility operates.

Our Commitment to Our Employees…

Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We do not just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge
Vacation – New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year
Personal Leave –3 days per year of personal leave
Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather
Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time
Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire
Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $0 per month. Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and
Flexible Spending Account (FSA). (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements
Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans
Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental health, stress management, work-life balance, financial and legal matters, and much more
Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) – Whether it's due to an accident or a serious illness, LTC insurance is available for purchase to help you and your loved ones (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
Life Insurance – Company-paid life insurance and supplemental coverage available (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
Tuition Reimbursement – Employees are eligible to receive up to $5,250 annually for Tuition Reimbursement
Qualifying Public Service Employer – Payments made towards student loans may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

ATTENTION :

All positions will be posted for a minimum of 5 calendar days.
Starting pay will be determined within the posted pay range based on the experience, education, and training of the successful candidate; if there is a single pay rate posted, the job starts at that rate.
Colorado Springs Utilities does not sponsor work visas of any kind (including but not limited to F-1, H-1B, or TN visas with a STEM OPT extension). Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Colorado Springs Utilities is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Our differences make us richer. Learning and growing from one another makes us more than what we were. We want our workforce to be as diverse as our business and recognize the limitless benefits of this commitment. Our desire is to have the organization reflect the diversity of the Pikes Peak Region. As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, it is our commitment that no person shall be unlawfully discriminated against because of race, color, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, religious convictions, veteran status, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Affirmative Action is Colorado Springs Utilities’ effort to ensure positive steps are taken to have a representative workforce reflective of the relevant available labor force.

For more information regarding applicant rights, visit https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm

Accessibility Accommodations . If you are an individual with a disability or disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting us at accessibility@csu.org or by calling 719-668-7500. This option is reserved for individuals who are unable to use or require assistance with the online tools as the result of a disability and is not intended for other purposes.

E-Verify and Right to Work Notice . Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. Colorado Springs Utilities participates in E-Verify. For more information on your rights and responsibilities as an applicant, please visit: http://coloradospringsutilities.jobs/applicants-rights-and-responsibilities/ . If you have a legal right to work in the United States, there are laws to protect you against discrimination in the workplace. You should know that no employer can deny you a job or fire you because of your national origin. Unless mandated by law or government contract, employers cannot require you to be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident or refuse any legally acceptable documents. If any of these things have happened to you, you may have a valid charge of discrimination that can be filed with the OSC. Contact the OSC for assistance in your own language. Call 1-800-255-7688. TDD for the hearing impaired is 1-800-237-2515. In the Washington, D.C., area, please call 202-616-5594, TDD 202-616-5525 Or write to: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel NYA 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20530.

Have a question? If you have a question about a position or need assistance from a recruiter, email us at csurecruiting@csu.org or call 719-668-7500.

Job Type: Business Operations

Colorado Springs Utilities

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Public Affairs Specialist -Fiber Project