The Vice President, Government and External Affairs will be responsible for building, preserving, and improving relationships with key state and federal government agencies and officials, industry associations, opinion leaders, and other relevant constituencies as well as being responsible for directing all Media Relations activities for the Company.

This position will be a member of the Vineyard Wind senior management team, and will work in a multi-state geography, supporting business operations by managing the company’s high-level visibility, building, and maintaining key high-level relationships, and growing our government affairs capabilities. As the leader of the Government and External Affairs team, the position will report to the CEO, will be the functional manager for the Director of Communications, and will be a key external facing position.
We are looking for a dynamic leader equipped with excellent communications skills who understands political and legislative implications of Company and industry actions. This role will operate in a fast moving and dynamic environment and must balance the different varied internal and external interests. The Director will be responsible for providing management of short term matters as well as long term strategic planning and additionally, may serve as a media spokesperson, as needed.

 

Responsibilities:

• Build, preserve, and improve relationships with key state and federal government agencies and officials, industry associations, main community opinion leaders, as well as with other relevant constituencies.
• Develop and implement state and federal policy strategies.
• Coordinate Vineyard Wind’s government affairs and communications activities with the relevant individuals at the shareholder companies.
• Direct and manage the company’s lobbying activities, including required lobbying disclosure reports.
• Provide strategic counsel to industry campaigns, lobbyists, and consultants on company’s positions on policy development.
• Recommend, activate, track, and report on suggested memberships, contributions, lobbying activity, and other community participation by the Company.
• Monitor key local and national media outlets for coverage of interest to the Company. Provide strategy on proactive media outreach and reactive response plans. Serve as media spokesperson, as needed.
• Be accountable for ongoing public relations and community relations activities in the areas that we do business.
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public relations, communications or similar.
• Significant experience with the energy industry, preferably within the renewable energy space.
• 7+ years’ experience working in government relations, Media/external affairs, public relations, and/or on staff with an elected official.
• In depth knowledge of the political landscape of New England, the Northeast US and the federal government.
• Understanding of legislative and regulatory process.
• Experience with crisis management.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• The capability to establish and build solid relationships with relevant audiences at all management levels.
• Proven ability to get things done without close supervision.
• This position will be located in the Company’s Boston office. Ability to travel – approx. 50%