Regional Director, External Affairs NYC

Job Purpose

This role is seen as a critical strategically important role within National Grid. The managing community engagement, local government relations, local community investment, and mitigating reputational risk amongst the most senior elected and appointed officials in New York City, advancing the Company’s Government relations, and communications strategy in collaboration with the Downstate Communications team, collaborating with the Economic Development group to advise on decisions related to the Company’s Eco Dev programming, helping to drive National Grid’s future operation and policy priorities by educating decision makers at a state and regional level to guide outcomes in line with Company priorities.

The individual will also lead the accountability for the two-way relationship between National Grid and the communities we serve in the NYC region. The Regional Director will oversee and strategically drive community relations activities in support of business goals established by the company, and act as the advocate of the needs and interests’ communities we serve to internal National Grid departments and leadership. The position will drive the efficient deployment of Company resources to achieve strategic goals, assembling and maximizing a durable team to advance the Company’s priorities.  They will collaborate with other groups internally on key accountabilities to deliver first class customer service, and represent National Grid on the key organizational boards that strategically enhance relationships, advance regional economic development initiatives and/or are positioned to advocate in partnership with National Grid on key issues tied to energy delivery (chambers of commerce, business organizations, etc.), and inform the company’s local community investment plans.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and execute strategies to build and maintain strong relationships with local government officials, civic and nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Protect and enhance National Grid’s reputation as a leader in energy and environmental stewardship through effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Build and maintain senior-level internal and external networks, fostering collaboration across National Grid and with external partners.
• Develop and communicate external affairs strategies, policy positions, and community initiatives that advance and protect National Grid’s interests in New York.
• Manage relationships with local government officials and lobbying activities in New York City, partnering with State and Federal Government Relations teams on policy and legislative priorities.
• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team of public affairs, community relations, and municipal account professionals while fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture.
• Partner with Strategic Communications to deliver media, public relations, and stakeholder engagement programs that enhance visibility, messaging, and community impact.
• Oversee community investment programs, including strategy, planning, execution, budgets, and key initiatives such as Grid for Good, clean energy transition efforts, and community engagement programs.
• Manage departmental and community investment budgets with fiscal accountability.
• Collaborate with Economic Development and Customer teams to maximize strategic partnerships, grant programs, and key customer relationships.
• Lead external engagement and coalition-building efforts in support of operational, regulatory, strategic, and clean energy transition initiatives.
• Monitor emerging issues, risks, opportunities, and stakeholder trends, providing strategic counsel to senior leadership on change management and organizational priorities.
• Direct external coordination and stakeholder engagement during emergency events, leading interactions with elected officials, emergency managers, critical customers, and community stakeholders as part of the Company’s emergency response program.
• Stay informed on external affairs, community relations, social equity, and industry best practices to ensure responsive and effective stakeholder strategies.
• Provide leadership and direction on strategic initiatives and action plans to achieve organizational goals and business growth.
• Manage designated municipal gas customer relationships within the region.
• Organize and execute external affairs support for emergency response activities across the NYC region.

Qualifications

•    Bachelor’s degree or higher with 10 years’ of experience in business, marketing, public administration, government affairs, public and or community relations.

•    Demonstrated success in lobbying activity.

•    Significant pre-existing network on NYC of current relationships, including those with the Company’s key stakeholders.  Ability to scale relationships to non-traditional stakeholders.

•    Experience interacting with senior executives internally and externally.

•    Substantive experience in build strong partnerships with stakeholders.

•    Experience with successful Corporate Giving programs and their governance. 

•    Must possess strong management skills, excellent verbal, and written communication skills along with the ability to write reports and develop presentations for senior management as required.

•    Experience in crisis or external emergency management.

•    Must possess exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to provide positive influence in customer and community matters, as well as facilitate the resolution of internal and external issues/conflicts.

•    In depth experience of working and influencing in a large complex organization, working in a collaborative manner to address and plan stakeholder engagement.

•    Understanding of the environment and key external industry and non-industry stakeholders which relate to and have an impact on the utilities sector (governmental, regulatory, communities, agencies, industry bodies).

•    Able to manage and explain complex, competing issues working with and through others - maintaining alignment with National Grid strategic direction and goals.

•    Exceptional networking skills, including the ability to influence and negotiate with a range of external stakeholders (individuals, agencies and groups).

•    A strategic and proactive leader and influencer.

•    Energy utility experienced preferred.

About us

National Grid is hiring a Regional Director of External Affairs for New York City. The position will be located in our Hanson Place office in Brooklyn NY.
 

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry.
 

To be successful we must work collaboratively with our key stakeholders, advance and protect the Company’s reputation, anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

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