Sr Community Affairs Specialist - Oahu

hawaiianel; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 89,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawaiian Electric Company is seeking a PROFESSIONAL in Community Affairs to lead reputation management, engage stakeholders, and shape communications for large company initiatives. You will coordinate with regulators, customers and communities to advance goals and address complex issues.

The role requires coordinating programs, supervising volunteers, managing budgets and contributing to emergency response efforts. Strong communication and strategic thinking are essential.

Qualifications

• Technical knowledge of finance and accounting concepts; budgeting and forecasting processes
• Working knowledge of utility ratemaking and regulatory concepts and process
• Experience with communications and information dissemination techniques
• Ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders including employees, customers, regulators and communities
• Strong understanding of company goals and ability to translate complex issues for broad audiences
• Experience in program development, community engagement and issues management

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop and manage programs and communications to foster understanding of large company initiatives
• Serve as spokesperson and liaison with the community to build relationships with stakeholder groups
• Anticipate and manage critical issues, including regulatory and environmental matters
• Collaborate with Corporate Communications, Government Relations and Process Areas to support goals
• Recruit, manage and supervise volunteers for high-visibility community projects
• Plan and monitor program budgets and participate in emergency response activities

Skills

Communication skills

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Public speaking

Diversity collaboration

Job description

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Company: hawaiianel

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company.

Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

Posting End Date: This position will remain open until filled.

BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:

The P QE EDUCATION & CONSUMER AFFAIRS Department of the P COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 1 Management vacancy available. (Role: PROFESSIONAL)

JOB FUNCTION:

Collaborates with management and takes a lead role in Company reputation management, helping Company prepare for and manage issues to further Hawaiian Electric goals and priorities. Handles issues of a highly complex and potentially controversial nature that may involve stakeholders with disparate viewpoints. Develops clear and credible strategies, programs and communications to foster positive relationships with employees, customers, regulators, elected officials, communities and other key stakeholders vital to the company.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Plan, develop and manage programs, workshops, communication and services to foster customer and community understanding of large company initiatives including Integrated Grid Planning, along with grid reliability and resilience, which includes hardnening the energy system and wildfire mitigation. Use understanding of business and technical knowledge to communicate with and manage customer concerns and escalations to maintain customer satisfaction. Research and evaluate strategies, educational resources, regulatory applications, and programs to contribute best practices and knowledge internally to achieve company strategic goals and increase customer satisfaction.
• Serve as a credible spokesperson and company liaison with the community and develop and strengthen professional relationships with community organizations, leaders, and groups. Facilitate two-way communication and effectively communicate the companies strategic goals and priorities with a knowledgeable company perspective. Monitor community meetings, social media and communications to track community sentiments; provide proactive advice to the company. Develop and implement strategies and projects to build positive relationships with key stakeholders to foster public understanding and a favorable attitude toward the company.
• Anticipate, analyze, plan for and manage critical company issues including potentially controversial community perspectives, environmental issues, critical company projects and programs, complex regulatory and technical matters. Develop detailed understanding of political, community, business and technical issues to formulate and implement issues management strategies, including participating on various corporate task forces to provide community perspective on company projects in which there is customer/public interest.
• Works closely with Corporate and Digital Communications, Government Relations, and Process Areas across the company to support goals, policy positions, and projects.
• Recruits, manages and supervises large groups of company volunteers for high visibility community projects, ensuring safe work practices and conditions. Provides communication and information tools to prepare them to respond to customer and community inquiries about company goals, projects and services.
• Plans, implements and monitors program budget to ensure compliance with approved expenditures.
• Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Requirements

• Technical knowledge of finance and accounting concepts; working knowledge of budgeting and forecasting processes
• Working knowledge of utility ratemaking and regulatory concepts and process.
• Working understanding of utility industry operations helpful
• Working knowledge of varying communities and organizations the Company serves
• Working knowledge of issues facing Company and industry
• Working knowledge of federal, state, economic, business and political climates
• Demonstrated knowledge of communications and information dissemination techniques; working understanding of the ways people communicate, listen and learn
• Working knowledge of computers and related software applications

Skills Requirements

• Ability to handle difficult and/or sensitive issues using tact, courtesy and discretion. Demonstrates interpersonal and political savvy to navigate through internal and external organizational networks.
• Excellent oral, written, facilitation and presentation skills, including ability to think on one’s feet and respond to customer or community inquiries in clear, credible and concise terms.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully go into a community "cold" and gain long-term respect and credibility.
• Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment, adapt to rapidly changing priorities and deliver work products in an efficient and timely basis.
• Ability to conceptualize ideas quickly and translate complex issues into terms understandable by a broad range of audiences.
• Analytical and conceptual skills to assess issues, to recommend proper actions and to coordinate/follow through on the implementation of details.
• Demonstrates strong initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational and project management skills to handle many concurrent projects and programs.
• Ability to work well with people at all levels and from diverse departments in the company. Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team.
• Ability to take statistical, complex and highly technical information and accurately simplify into terms understandable by a broad range of audiences.
• Ability to give work direction and manage department personnel or groups of volunteers when required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license issued by the State of Hawaii or another U.S. state or territory. Must meet the standards for driving positions stated in the Company Driver Safety policy. These standards may be adjusted periodically to meet business and safety needs.

Experience Requirements

• Multiple 7+ years of related business experience, preferably with progressive responsibilities in consumer related or community affairs fields or equivalent.
• Experience in the area of strategic planning, community development, program development, or related field, desired. Background in utility environment, financial or technical analysis highly desirable.

Role: PROFESSIONAL

Number of Vacancies: 1

Hiring Range: The hiring range for the SR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST [Req ID 10813] position is $89,100.00 to $113,700.00. The person selected will be placed according to his/her skills and qualifications.

About Hawaiian Electric Companies
Hawaiian Electric Companies provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs.

The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric Companies for well over a century. And as the next millennium unfolds, the company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come. Visit us at http://hawaiianelectric.com .

Applicant Certification
By submitting an application for the position, candidates:
1. Authorize the Hawaiian Electric Companies to confirm all statements contained in the application and/or any materials submitted and made a part of the application as they relate to the position and to the extent permitted by law;
2. Authorize and consent to, without reservation, the Hawaiian Electric Companies sharing any and all information regarding previous or present employment, educational training or personal information from their records and from any other source with the hiring department or subsidiary company;
3. Release, discharge, and hold harmless, Hawaiian Electric Companies, from any and all liability for any damage which may be claimed as a result of furnishing such information to the hiring department or subsidiary company;
4. Authorizes release and transfer of all personnel records to be maintained by the hiring company in the event of an inter-company transfer; and
5. Authorize, direct, and consent to Hawaiian Electric Companies and/or its authorized agents to conduct investigations into candidates' background. These investigations may include, but are not limited to searches for information about applicants; record of criminal convictions to the extent permitted by law, education records, professional certifications, personal character references, and employment history.

EEO Statement

Hawaiian Electric Companies is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

Hawaiian Electric Companies complies with all applicable laws, including Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the candidate to the HR Service Center at [phone].

Affiliate Disclaimer

The relationship between Hawaiian Electric and unregulated, energy-related affiliate companies is governed by the Affiliate Transaction Requirements (ATRs) established by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The ATRs were established with the PUC's Decision and Order No. 35962 issued on December 19, 2018, and subsequently modified by Order No. 36112, issued on January 24, 2019, in Docket No. 2018-0065. With Decision and Order No. 42409, issued on March 23, 2026, in Docket No. 2025-0391, the PUC indefinitely suspended certain sections of the ATRs.

The ATRs address many issues related to Hawaiian Electric's interactions and transactions with Affiliates and Affiliate-Related Entities. If you'd like more information about these rules/regulations, you can email [e-mail].