The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to serve as a full-time Communications Coordinator. The agency is seeking a proactive and enthusiastic communicator that pursues opportunities to highlight the PUC's impactful and forward-looking work.

The electric, natural gas, and telecommunication industries are currently undergoing profound, if not revolutionary changes. Technology innovation, changes in market structures, and new environmental directives are all having a significant impact on the utility sector. PUC employees take pride in their work developing regulatory practices and policies that improve the lives of utility customers, community members, and our environment. As the Communications Coordinator, working as part of a two-person communications team and part of the agency’s executive office, you will have the opportunity to tell the story that helps the public and stakeholders appreciate and connect with the work of the PUC by creating a climate that cultivates transparency, best practices, and fresh perspectives.

About the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC):

The PUC sets utility rates and terms of service through broad delegated legislative powers and must balance the interests and rights of multiple organizations and individuals representing divergent and conflicting business, consumer, and public interests. Investor-owned utilities currently receive approximately $5 billion in revenues annually from 2.4 million Oregon consumers. The PUC’s decisions on individual issues may be more than $100 million in annual revenues paid by Oregon consumers. The PUC receives no General or Lottery funds, and instead is funded through a dedicated per-month fee on regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utility bills.

Our mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law. 

More information about the PUC can be found online at: www.oregon.gov/PUC.

Benefits for joining our Team:

• Become a critical part of an important state agency at a dynamic time.
• Play a central role in protecting Oregonian ratepayers and achieving climate objectives set for the agency by the legislature, while balancing the competing needs of utilities and stakeholders.
• Join colleagues who are innovative and passionate about public service.
• Enjoy work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.
• Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

What you will do as Communications Coordinator:

Work in partnership with the Communications Team to serve as media contact, as well as developing and implementing communication strategies to engage and educate diverse audiences on the work of the PUC. This is done by collaborating closely with all levels of PUC management and staff, stakeholders, and other state agencies, as well as participating in public meetings.

• Design and develop agency processes and policies that promote public awareness of PUC programs and decisions, representing the PUC through public speaking, legislative issue responses, pertinent policy implementation, and strategic communications to internal and external stakeholders.
• Serves as one of the PUC’s primary media contacts; receives external inquiries directed to the PUC and responds, or coordinates a response, to those inquiries. Develops expertise around utility regulatory principles and practices, as well as emerging issues so that information can be communicated clearly and accurately to the media, members of the public, and other stakeholders. Ensures complex regulatory issues are clearly and concisely communicated.
• Maintains current knowledge of principles governing media and public relations and provides effective input into agency policies and procedures governing communicative relations with the Governor’s Office, the legislature, other government agencies, and the public.
• Prepares press releases, reports, fact sheets, newsletters, specialized publications, and other important communications for distribution to the news media, government officials, stakeholders, utility service providers, consumer interest groups, members of the public, and other stakeholders with interests in PUC regulatory proceedings or utility safety matters.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with the media and press/public relations officers of agency stakeholders, including regulated utilities, the Governor's Office, the legislature, and other state agencies. Works cooperatively with these representatives to coordinate media events and/or publicity as required.
• Independently drafts and/or edits agency communications, including various reports, slide decks, the agency budget, filings with other state and federal agencies, and letters to external entities. Develops resources for staff including report and PowerPoint templates, and guidance to ensure written documents are clearly understood by the public.
• Provides insightful perspective and a desirable framework in the development of the PUC’s communication practices, public outreach activities, policies and procedures, and practices regarding the public affairs functions of the agency.
• Works with management to develop short-term and long-term objectives to enhance public awareness of the Commission through outreach and educational efforts. Identifies and publicizes newsworthy projects, events, and commission decisions.
• Serves as the agency’s webmaster for the external website and provides content for the internal intranet website for employees. Ensures web content aligns with State of Oregon online content standards and is professional in appearance.
• Stays informed on decisions before the commission to best handle inquiries and determine upcoming communication needs.
• Utilizes graphic design and video editing skills, as well as manages the various social media platforms of the agency to further reach the public on our work.
• Represents the Communications Team on internal committees, coordinates and completes internal communications in various capacities.
• Develops and maintains agency style standards, guiding staff in the development of presentations, reports, and publications, including reviewing content and design.

Hybrid Work Environment:

The PUC offices are located in downtown Salem, in close proximity to the State Capitol, and we maintain a Portland satellite office.

Currently, employees who live in the State of Oregon may request approval for hybrid work (generally performed from the employee’s personal residence). The ability to report to Salem and Portland is required when business or operational needs are necessary for onsite activities. Hybrid work is evaluated periodically by the agency to ensure business needs are being met and can be adjusted at any time.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, the Behavioral or Social Sciences or related degree and two years professional level experience in Public Relations or Affairs

OR

Five years experience directly related to the position under recruitment; two of the five years must have been at the professional level.

Requested Skills:

The most competitive candidates will demonstrate the following requested skills:

• Advanced education in Communications, Journalism, or English.
• Work experience with a public utility commission, energy utility provider, regulated utility, or consumer advocacy organization.
• Work experience developing and effectively disseminating information about an organization to maintain and promote the organization's mission, goals, and values.
• Work experience that demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills; including the ability to comprehend complex material and express it clearly to the public.
• Work experience analyzing information, identifying the target audiences, and determining the most effective communication techniques to reach audiences.
• Work experience facilitating and leading meetings independently and/or leading staff training on communication-related topics.
• Work experience operating business software such as desktop publishing, Microsoft Office, and web-based document sharing systems.
• Work experience creating and maintaining an organization's social media and website content, that includes developing graphic design and editing video content.
• Work experience that demonstrates excellent time management skills and the ability to follow through on multiple initiatives and produce results under short timelines and changing agendas.

How to Apply:

To submit a complete application, you must use the State of Oregon “Workday” recruitment system. Using the Workday system:

1) Click “Apply” at the top of this job announcement.

2) Create a new Workday account OR login to your existing Workday account;

3) Complete and submit your electronic application; and

4) As an attachment to your Workday application upload a resume detailing how you meet the “Minimum Qualifications” and “Requested Skills” for this position.

The PUC will consider only complete applications submitted online by the closing date/time posted on this announcement.

**If you are a current employee of the State of Oregon, you MUST apply through your internal State of Oregon employee Workday account and attach the requested resume.**

Please ensure you’ve provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. If you are hired, your application materials will be used to determine salary based on an equal pay calculator. For further information, please visit the Oregon Department of Administrative Services’ Equal Pay homepage.

How to Get Noticed:

Qualified candidates whose training and/or work experience most closely match the requested skills of the position may be eligible for an interview. Applications will be screened for consistency of information and professional communication skills (i.e., clarity, conciseness, attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc.).

Veterans:

Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans, Disabled Veterans & State Servicemembers Resources. NOTE: If requesting preference, please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section.

Questions/Need Help?

If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact PUC Human Resource Analyst Jessica Leedham at 503-580-5740.

Additional Information about Employment with PUC: 

The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.

The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance, or graduations dates from an educational institution during the application process.

United States Employment Eligibility: The PUC does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. The PUC is an E-Verify employer. If you are a successful candidate, you must present your I-9 acceptable documents for employment verification.

If you are hired, you may be required to provide facts about past employment and present financial interests if they could be connected with the businesses regulated by the PUC.

Hybrid work may be provided to PUC staff in accordance with the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) statewide policy, 50.050.01. Currently, employees may request approval for hybrid work (generally from the employee’s personal residence). Requests are evaluated based on the agency’s business needs. Staff with approval for hybrid work must demonstrate suitability for hybrid work, have access to a high/speed internet connection that meets or exceeds the minimum acceptable requirements, and maintain a workspace supporting confidentiality of protected/sensitive information.

This is a Management Service, non-supervisory, exempt position and is not eligible for overtime. This position is classified as Public Affairs Specialist 2.

The salary listed is the non-Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95%. Employees new to State of Oregon employment, or who are not yet a PERS participating member, will receive the 6.95% increase upon meeting PERS eligibility, generally, after completion of six-months of qualifying State of Oregon employment.

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates; this list will be used to fill the current opening and may be used to fill other openings as they occur.

The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.

The PUC is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce.

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