Veolia Group aims to be the benchmark company for ecological transformation. With nearly 220,000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides game-changing solutions that are both useful and practical for water, waste and energy management. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources and replenish them. In 2021, the Veolia group provided 79 million inhabitants with drinking water and 61 million with sanitation, produced nearly 48 million megawatt hours and recovered 48 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 28,508 billion euros in 2021. www.veolia.com

POSITION PURPOSE

The Veolia North America Communications Department is responsible for helping shape and execute communications strategy for the company, advance key priorities and strategy to broad and diverse audiences, and connect these priorities to national, state and local conversations. The department also manages the daily operation of Veolia’s central communications channels, including the website and social media accounts, guides the company’s media engagement, and provides strategic communications counsel.

The Manager, Communications and Community Relations, develops and implements strategic, comprehensive, and professional communications and community programs that educate customers, elected officials, community groups, employees and other stakeholders about the Veolia brand and company objectives in Rockland, Westchester and parts of other counties in New York State. The Manager will work under the direction of the Director, Communications and Community Relations (New York Operations) and senior communications and operations leadership to deliver communications and community relations programs that align with and support both company and local goals. The candidate has experience with utility, industrial or infrastructure operations, and has both skills and experience in customer communications, employee engagement, media relations, community relations, government relations, and stakeholder management.

PRIMARY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and implements customer communications, community relations programs and external and internal stakeholder plans with strong emphasis on local projects and initiatives and national and global objectives
• Writes local communications, including strategic plans, articles, press releases, speeches/presentations, etc.
• Supports communications performance targets and goals established by Corporate Communications and the local business unit
• Manages local website, social media and digital networks, providing consistently fresh and relevant content.
• Other activities as deemed appropriate

Key Focus Areas:

Customer-Focused Communications

• Develop communications that seek to increase satisfaction, brand perception and support a customer-focused organization
• Satisfy customer preferences by applying an omni-channeled approach that includes a variety of digital and traditional communications channels
• Create and execute communications programs for targeted stakeholder segments, including informational sessions, stakeholder dialogues and customer advisory groups
• Contribute to the development of strategic communications plans and programs
• Monitor, collect and analyze customer data, including the identification of trending / emerging issues, including but not limited to customer advisory panels, stakeholder dialogues, client research, social media, customer web behavior, focus groups, surveys and customer service centers. Incorporate learnings with the aim of creating customer-focused solutions

Employee Engagement

• Develop rich and meaningful internal communications that promote projects, champion change, foster employee pride, and inspire commitment to company goals
• Celebrate employees and their contributions through various company platforms and activities (award programs, newsletters, social media, storytelling, participation in company activities, e.g.)

Community Relations

• Foster an inclusive external culture by building and maintaining relationships with local community NGOs and other influential stakeholders and incorporating their input where appropriate
• Develop community programs that further educate stakeholders on company initiatives, the water industry and the Veolia brand, including school programs, facility tours and community events
• Manage local company’s charitable giving and community programs, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and policy

Media

• Help develop compelling stories and generate leads that cultivate journalists’ interest in the Veolia brand. Convert meaningful conversations to earned placement
• Develop social media and digital content that champions the brand and supports local business strategies and goals

Other Key Stakeholders

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with influential community and civic organizations and elected and municipal officials
• Inform and educate external stakeholders on company practices, business decisions, and programs which impact customers and the community. Build stakeholder loyalty and satisfaction by responding with urgency to requests and concerns
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of state and local current affairs issues. Be the lead contact between strategic external stakeholders and company operations

Crisis Communications

• Act with expedience to develop and implement customer communications during emergencies. Command the use of multiple tactics and channels, accounting for customer preferences
• Act as communications adviser for local leadership and foster communications best practices
• Provide support for other business operations as needed

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Office job location in New York
• 10% travel required.

Education / Experience / Background

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, public relations or equivalent is required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Total work experience of 5+ years in media, communications and/or public relations.
• Working knowledge of the water services or utility industry, a strong plus.
• Sound communications experience and skills, including professional and creative writing, media relations, government relations, internal and external stakeholder communications, community relations, and public speaking required.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Exceptional writing and speaking skills with the ability to construct compelling stories that promote the company’s objectives, brand and its employees
• Data analysis skills with the ability to identify trends (particularly customer feedback) and facilitate action plans
• Strong relationship-building skills with customers, employees, elected officials, regulators, journalists, and other key stakeholders
• Thorough knowledge of traditional and digital communications and advertising, social media strategy and tactics, and visual and web content
• Knowledge of communication technologies including web, e-mail, print, graphics and AV production
• Demonstrated success in event planning and promotion
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work with and engage management and employees of all levels
• Ability to deliver targeted results to specification at cost and on schedule
• Good balance of technical/task and people/team leadership skills and orientation
• Excellent negotiating, networking, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to effectively manage external agencies and vendors
• Intermediate working knowledge of Google Suite
• Must be available for weekend and evening activities, as needed, including on-call emergency communications assignments.

Veolia's comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental and vision insurance. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement. Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement.

A subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. www.veolianorthamerica.com As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.