Senior Project Manager

Job Description: Senior Project Manager for Public Awareness/Engagement Effort

As Senior Project Manager for OPALCO (Orcas Power & Light Co-op), you will drive the communications and engagement strategy for a new broadband initiative that the OPALCO board is considering. The OPALCO board has made a decision to invest more than $34 million in communications and broadband infrastructure IF the community of co-op members will embrace and support it over the longer term. You’ll be the point person responsible for assessing community information needs, designing a communications strategy, and then working with the board and OPALCO staff to deliver and execute an effective communications and engagement program with the goal of determining whether there is enough community buy-in to proceed. You will focus on the communications aspect of the initiative, collaborating across groups within OPALCO, including the board, communications, customer service and engineering/operations. You’ll also be responsible for engaging with community stakeholders and the local media as appropriate to keep them informed of the initiative’s progress.

OPALCO is a member-owned, non-profit cooperative that has been providing electrical service to the San Juan Islands since 1937. Over the past year, the board has been investigating the feasibility of a long-term technology initiative to deliver: 1) high-speed Internet access to more than 90% of island households; 2) improve and upgrade the electric distribution system; 3) provide a foundation for improved wireless cell phone services; and 4) support improvements in emergency services/first responder communications.


Responsibilities:

•Drive overall community engagement strategy and implementation, in collaboration with OPALCO staff and board members.

•Champion the broadband initiative, working with the OPALCO board, OPALCO staff, and key stakeholders to gain support among the broader community. Work with all stakeholders to ensure the methodology and rationale behind decisions are clearly understood and accepted.

•Act as the escalation point for the initiative’s overall success.

•Develop a project tracking system, and be responsible to the board and senior OPALCO staff for tracking, reporting on progress, and measuring success.

•Partner with OPALCO communications manager to ensure timely delivery and positive outcomes of all related communication projects.

•Prioritize, scope and define requirements for longer-term success of the project; drive longer-term marketing and adoption strategy so that transition from buy-in phase to roll-out phase can be done seamlessly if appropriate.

•Contribute to developing OPALCO’s technology strategy and work with stakeholders to allocate resources appropriately to support that strategy.

•Build and maintain effective relationships with key internal business teams including OPALCO’s board, senior management, communications, engineering, and customer service staff.

Requirements:

•3-4 years experience communicating and prioritizing customer requirements in a role such as Product Planner, Product Manager, Program Manager or similar position.

•Ability to design communication programs and tools to reach specific customer segments and demographics.

•Experience managing complex communication projects from inception to successful outcome.

•Excellent negotiation skills, along with the ability to push back on business partners while maintaining productive relationships.

•Strong written and verbal communication skills

•Ability to present effectively to groups and individuals and be able to improvise and communicate ideas/positions on an ad hoc basis.

•Proven skills at cultivating strong working relationships and driving collaboration across multiple business and technical teams.

•Ability to spend a year in residence in the San Juan Islands.

•Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

•Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

•Bachelor’s degree required. MBA is strongly preferred.

Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Suzanne Olson
OPALCO
183 Mt. Baker Road
Eastsound, WA 98245

solson@opalco.com

Please include your salary requirements in the cover letter.

Position is open until filled.