WGL - Senior Advisor, Communications

Oil Authority; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

PTO and bonus program

Job summary

WGL in Washington, DC is seeking a Senior Communications Advisor to lead strategic communications for Utilities leadership, shaping reputation, media relations, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement.

You will translate complex business initiatives into clear narratives for employees, customers, regulators, and partners, collaborate across functions, and guide executive messaging and thought leadership.

The role offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of progressively responsible communications experience.
• Proven ability to develop strategic communications plans and counsel senior leaders.
• Experience in executive communications, media relations, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary communications advisor to Utilities leadership, providing strategic counsel on business priorities, reputation, stakeholder engagement, and communications strategy.
• Develop and execute integrated communications plans that align with business objectives and strengthen trust with key audiences.
• Lead executive communications, including speeches, presentations, talking points, key messages, and thought leadership initiatives.
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations activities and support the organization's response to complex or high-profile issues.
• Anticipate emerging risks and develop communications strategies that protect and enhance organizational reputation.
• Identify and coordinate executive visibility opportunities, including conferences, speaking engagements, awards programs, and external events.
• Build strong partnerships across Public Affairs, Customer Experience, Operations, and other functions for consistent messaging.
• Support emergency response communications, crisis planning, and incident response activities.

Skills

Strategic counsel

Executive communications

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis communications

Speechwriting

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's in Communications

Job description

Job Description

WGL - Senior Advisor, Communications

Help shape the conversation behind the energy that powers our communities. Washington Gas and SEMCO Energy are seeking a Senior Communications Advisor to serve as the lead strategic communications partner supporting Utilities leadership and key business priorities. In this highly visible role, you will help protect and enhance the reputation of our utilities through integrated communications strategies, executive communications, media relations, thought leadership, stakeholder engagement, issues management, and crisis communications. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you'll translate complex business initiatives into compelling narratives that resonate with employees, customers, communities, policymakers, regulators, and the media while helping shape the future of energy delivery.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the primary communications advisor to Utilities leadership, providing strategic counsel on business priorities, reputation, stakeholder engagement, and communications strategy
• Develop and execute integrated communications plans that align with business objectives and strengthen trust with key audiences
• Lead executive communications, including speeches, presentations, talking points, key messages, and thought leadership initiatives
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations activities and support the organization's response to complex or high-profile issues
• Anticipate emerging risks and develop communications strategies that protect and enhance organizational reputation
• Identify and coordinate executive visibility opportunities, including conferences, speaking engagements, awards programs, and external events
• Build strong partnerships across Public Affairs, Customer Experience, Operations, Community Investment, and other business functions to ensure consistent and aligned messaging
• Support emergency response communications, crisis communications planning, preparedness exercises, and incident response activities

What You'll Bring

• 7-10 years of progressively responsible communications experience
• Demonstrated success developing strategic communications plans and providing counsel to senior leaders
• Strong experience in executive communications, speechwriting, media relations, issues management, and stakeholder engagement
• Proven ability to manage sensitive, high-profile, or complex communications challenges with confidence and sound judgment
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of an organization
• Experience supporting crisis communications, emergency response activities, or business continuity initiatives
• Bachelor\'s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Affairs, Government Relations, or a related field
• Experience supporting regulated utilities, energy, infrastructure, public sector, or other critical services organizations is considered an asset
• Experience managing executive social media and thought leadership programs is considered an asset
• Incident Command System (ICS) training or experience working within an emergency management environment is considered an asset

Why Join

• Lead communications that impact customers, communities, regulators, policymakers, employees, and industry partners
• Drive executive visibility, media relations, reputation management, and crisis communications for a trusted utility provider
• Help tell the story of how we\'re delivering safe, reliable energy while supporting the communities we serve

The role offers a competitive salary range of $95,400 to $138,075 per year, commensurate with experience, education, and skills. In addition, this position is eligible for our Short-Term Incentive compensation program. Employees also enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes health and wellness coverage, retirement savings programs, and paid time off.

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For Canadian hires AltaGas hires personnel on the basis of job-related qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to a person's ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

For U.S. hires WGL/SEMCO/AltaGas offers a total rewards package that includes competitive pay, incentive bonus plans, holiday pay, 401K matching and a wide array of benefits. These benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage are designed to help you and your family stay healthy. We also have paid time off (PTO) to balance the demands of your work and personal life. Available benefits vary depending upon the specifics of the role.

U.S. affiliates of AltaGas are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical or mental disabilities, political affiliation, genetic information, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.