Communications Specialist I: Translate Strategy into Clarity

Otter Tail Power Company; Fergus Falls (MN); Presencial; USD 69.000 - 96.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive wage & benefit package

Base compensation $69,000 - $96,000

Incentive plans

Employee Stock Ownership options

Retirement Savings Fund with employer?

Descripción de la vacante

Otter Tail Power Company in Fergus Falls, MN is seeking a Communications Specialist to turn complex business priorities into clear, engaging messages for diverse stakeholders. You will develop and execute plans, collaborate with leaders, translate strategy into action, and manage end-to-end communication projects, including content, channels, and measurement.

This role supports External Affairs and requires a bachelor’s in communications, strong writing and project management skills, and the

Formación

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, business, event management, community development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience in communications, public relations, communication planning, community engagement, project management, marketing, customer engagement, or a related area.
• Demonstrated ability to develop communication plans, identify audience and stakeholder needs, select appropriate messages and channels, and prepare clear, accurate, audience‑appropriate materials.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, organizational, and communication project‑management skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple plans, deliverables, deadlines, details, and stakeholder relationships from start to finish.
• Experience coordinating multi‑step communication projects, meetings, events, community activities, or stakeholder‑engagement initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal and customer‑service skills, with the ability to work professionally and collaboratively with leaders, coworkers, community partners, vendors, and external stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail, judgment, adaptability, follow‑through, and commitment to quality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn communication, project‑management, event, digital, collaboration, and AI‑enabled tools.
• Ability to travel as needed and work occasional evenings or nonstandard hours to support meetings, events, or stakeholder activities.

Responsabilidades

• Develop comprehensive communication plans that identify stakeholder and audience groups, communication objectives, information needs, key messages, credible messengers, timing, channels, responsibilities, dependencies, and measures of success.
• Partner with leaders and subject‑matter experts to understand business priorities, stakeholder perspectives, likely questions, potential barriers, and differing information needs before recommending an effective communication approach.
• Translate business strategy into coordinated action by recommending practical communication methods, channels, formats, sequencing, and engagement activities that support approved objectives.
• Create and adapt audience‑focused content, including stakeholder updates, presentations, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, talking points, invitations, newsletters, web and digital content, signage, handouts, and other supporting materials.
• Turn complex information into clear communication by translating technical, operational, regulatory, project, policy, or business content into accurate, useful, and accessible materials for the intended audience.
• Manage communication projects from beginning to end, including intake, planning, content development, review, approval, production, delivery, measurement, follow‑up, and closeout.
• Maintain organized project documentation, including communication plans, schedules, task lists, status updates, decision logs, records, and shared workspaces that provide visibility and accountability.
• Coordinate communication and logistical activities for stakeholder meetings, public‑engagement sessions, open houses, sponsorship activities, tours, events, and other community or business initiatives.
• Collaborate across functions and with external partners, coordinating handoffs among business teams, communication professionals, subject‑matter experts, creative resources, production partners, and vendors.
• Ensure communication quality and consistency by coordinating review, approval, design, production, publication, and distribution while maintaining version control, accessibility, factual accuracy, and alignment with established brand and communication standards.
• Identify and resolve communication risks, including missing information, conflicting messages, timing concerns, approval delays, resource constraints, and execution barriers. Escalate material stakeholder, reputation, legal, regulatory, safety, confidentiality, or policy concerns as appropriate.
• Monitor communication effectiveness by tracking deliverables, channel use, engagement activity, deadlines, stakeholder feedback, commitments, and follow‑up actions.
• Support continuous improvement by compiling performance information, sharing observations and recommendations, and identifying opportunities to strengthen communication plans, materials, events, tools, vendors, and processes.
• Use approved technology and AI‑enabled tools responsibly to support research, drafting, content adaptation, planning, summaries, checklists, and workflow efficiency while applying sound judgment and required governance.

Conocimientos

Strong writing

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Communication planning

Educación

Bachelor's degree in communications

Herramientas

Microsoft 365

Descripción del empleo

Otter Tail Power Company in Fergus Falls, MN is seeking a Communications Specialist to turn complex business priorities into clear, engaging messages for diverse stakeholders. You will develop and execute plans, collaborate with leaders, translate strategy into action, and manage end-to-end communication projects, including content, channels, and measurement.

This role supports External Affairs and requires a bachelor’s in communications, strong writing and project management skills, and the