Senior Community Engagement Specialist, NA - Central

Vantage; Port Washington (WI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401k with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Vantage in Wisconsin is seeking a Senior Community Engagement Specialist to lead the company's local external affairs strategy in the Central Region, with Port Washington as a base. You will build and manage relationships with local officials, workforce partners, educational institutions, and community groups to support project success and strengthen Vantage's social license to operate.

Working with Public Policy, Marketing, Construction, and Operations, you will shape engagement plans, monitor

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in community engagement, stakeholder relations, nonprofit partnerships, or public affairs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with proven ability to build trust across diverse communities.
• Organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work across departments and regions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with CRM or impact reporting tools is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Political Science, or related field preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% or more based on business needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute Vantage's community engagement and local external affairs strategy in Wisconsin.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local elected officials, business organizations, community leaders, workforce development partners, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Monitor community sentiment, local issues, and stakeholder dynamics, providing market intelligence and strategic recommendations to project teams and leadership.
• Partner with Public Policy and project teams to develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies that support development, permitting, construction, operational priorities, and long‑term trust.
• Identify and help mitigate stakeholder, community, and reputational risks through proactive engagement and relationship‑building.
• Represent Vantage in the community and build strategic partnerships that advance workforce development and community investment.
• Additional duties as assigned by Management.

Skills

Stakeholder relations

Public affairs

Communication

Organizational skills

Collaboration

CRM

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs

Tools

CRM

Impact reporting tools

Job description

About Vantage

Vantage powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

About Vantage

Vantage powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Global Public Policy Department

The mission of Vantage’s Global Public Policy team is to help deliver the best possible digital infrastructure for the world’s leading technology companies. By advocating for positions, advising on issues, building relationships with customers, through a combination of creativity, resourcefulness, trust, problem-solving, and an outward approach, we aim to create a more favorable and resilient public policy environment for our company. Our work ensures success across the asset lifecycle, mitigates risks and fosters sustainable, long-term growth for Vantage and our customers, and establishes Vantage as a value‑adding member of the community. Global Public Policy is responsible for Vantage’s government relations, economic development, and community engagement. The team partners with our New Site Development, Construction, Engineering, Legal, Tax, Operations, and other departments to grow market share, acquire and retain customers, navigate through regulatory and policy developments, mitigate risk, and expand into new geographies. We are a dedicated team of problem solvers who strive for excellence and drive value‑creation in our work. We practice empathy, humility, curiosity, and accountability, and we strive to support and empower each other to promote the value that Vantage generates for our customers, investors, employees, and communities.

Position Overview

This role can be based in Port Washington, Wisconsin. As a Senior Community Engagement Specialist, you will lead Vantage's community engagement and local external affairs strategy in Wisconsin and across the Central Region, serving as the primary representative for community and stakeholder engagement across one of the company's most highly visible markets. This role will be responsible for building and managing relationships with local elected officials, government staff, community leaders, workforce development partners, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, business groups, and other key stakeholders to support project success, strengthen Vantage's social license to operate, and reinforce the company's reputation as a trusted long‑term community partner.

Working closely with Public Policy counterparts, Marketing, Construction, Operations, Sustainability, and People & Culture, you will enhance and execute market‑specific engagement strategies, oversee local external affairs efforts, identify and mitigate stakeholder and reputational risks, advance community investment and workforce development initiatives, and provide strategic counsel to internal teams throughout the development, construction, and operational phases of Vantage's projects.

As the lead community engagement representative in Wisconsin and across the Central Region, you will serve as a trusted advisor to project teams and company leadership, providing market intelligence, monitoring community sentiment, identifying emerging issues and opportunities, and helping shape engagement strategies that build trust, foster meaningful partnerships, and maintain Vantage's social license to operate in the communities where we invest and operate.

Essential Job Functions

• Lead and execute Vantage's community engagement and local external affairs strategy in Wisconsin, ensuring alignment with business objectives, project milestones, and long‑term market priorities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local elected officials, business organizations, community leaders, workforce development partners, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other key stakeholders to support project success and strengthen Vantage's presence in the market.
• Monitor community sentiment, local issues, and stakeholder dynamics, providing market intelligence and strategic recommendations to project teams and company leadership to support informed decision‑making and maintain Vantage's social license to operate.
• Partner with Public Policy and project teams to develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies that support development, permitting, construction, operational priorities, and long‑term community trust.
• Identify and help mitigate stakeholder, community, and reputational risks through proactive engagement, issue management, and relationship‑building efforts.
• Represent Vantage in the community and build strategic partnerships that advance workforce development, community investment, and other initiatives that create shared value for both Vantage and the communities where we operate.
• Additional duties as assigned by Management

Job Requirements

• 5–8 years of experience in community engagement, stakeholder relations, nonprofit partnerships, or public affairs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including writing and public speaking, with a proven ability to build trust across diverse communities; a natural relationship builder and people‑oriented professional.
• Organized, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work across departments and regions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project tracking tools; experience with CRM or impact reporting tools a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Political Science, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience supporting community programs in regulated industries, capital intensive sectors, or infrastructure development is preferred.
• Comfort navigating both grassroots and executive‑level engagement is preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% or more based on business needs.

Physical Demands And Special Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop or kneel; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Details

• Salary Range: $130,000-140,000 Base + Bonus (this range is based on Colorado market data and may vary in other locations)
• This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long‑term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits.
• Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including your qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Vantage is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Vantage does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage.