Southeast Michigan Media Relatons Specialist
Join a diverse and dynamic team that makes and delivers the most valuable services in the world:
electricity and natural gas. At Consumers Energy, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Our employees work around the clock to provide service to our customers in honor of our history and to fulfill our promise to Michigan - Count on Us! Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy and headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
Department Summary
Consumers Energy s Corporate Communications Department is a team of professionals who provide expert guidance and strategy on brand, external public relations and internal communications.
The Corporate Communications Department is seeking to fill a position within the company s Media Relations team. The successful candidate who joins this team will routinely collaborate with internal business partners, other departments, the executive team and several external stakeholders to serve as the lead Public Relations individual for the company in Southeast Michigan.
Job Description / Responsibilities
This individual will serve as the company s primary face and voice in the Southeast Michigan media market. You are responsible for developing effective relationships with print, radio and TV reporters for the company, Michigan s largest energy provider. This position will be filled by a candidate with a broad range of communications skillsets, including communications planning and project management, technical and creative writing, and Public Relations. This position will also be the main point of contact with reporters in the region, in particular the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw. This individual takes on a variety of Public Relations roles to ensure the company is recognized as a leader in the region.
This individual will need world-class presentation, verbal and written communications skills to present on-camera and on-the-record comments and interviews to local, statewide and national reporters. Additionally, the person filling this position must have tact, professionalism and strategic insight. The person will prepare statements, news releases, talking points, memos and advisories, and must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. The person will also work with senior management to coach, prepare and advise them on Media Relations best practices.
Essential duties include but are not limited to:
- Proactive storytelling in the region Work with other Media Relations and social media team members to develop positive, proactive story opportunities in your region for public consumption to achieve specific strategic and operational outcomes
- Be part of the company s media on-call rotation serving as a spokesperson for Consumers Energy when the company is experiencing natural gas emergencies, outages, large storms and other company-related events
- Strong presentation, verbal and written communications skills, be able to handle a multitude of issues at one time and accurately and clearly speak to those issues on behalf of the company
- Prepare and distribute news releases, briefing memos, marketing materials, photographs, fact sheets, etc. to media representatives and other interested parties
- Be able to build, maintain and enhance relationships with key reporters in your region
- Be comfortable with social media, both communicating proactively and reacting to activity on various channels
- Monitor and draw insights from data, and communicate your results on a daily, weekly and monthly basis
- Act as a consultant to officers, management, legal and field organizations on Public Relations, issues management and crisis communications
- Maximize the visibility of the company to ensure the company's brand positioning is understood and amplified
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The Media Relations Specialist must:
- Possess excellent communications skills such as public speaking, writing and problem-solving
- Understand the purpose and the triple bottom line of the company, and be able to effectively assist others in communication plans relating to the business
- Collaborate with other corporate communications teams including social media to ensure timely, seamless communication of the two forms of media
- Be adept at the use of mainstream social media channels to connect and communicate with influential external stakeholders
- Ability to work across functions to accomplish shared goals
The following skills may set you apart:
- Ability to build strong, collaborative work relationships with business partners, team members and leadership to build consensus, promote continuous improvement, and improve results
- Experience in the energy industry, including knowledge of distribution and transmission systems, renewable energy and industry trends
- Ability and willingness to bring creativity and seek innovative approaches to storytelling
Required
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism or equivalent experience
Preferred
Qualifications:
- At least five years experience in public relations and/or journalism is preferred
Hours and Travel
This position requires the individual to work 40 hours per week and be adept at working in virtual and office settings.
Physical Demands
This position does not require any special physical demands.
All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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