Lightsource BP

Community Relations Manager

Austin, TX

$125,000

About This Job

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonize.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security. Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What You’ll do

The Community Relations Manager is a leader with experience successfully developing and executing community engagement strategies, building positive and lasting relationships with communities. In this role, the Community Relations Manager will implement outreach strategies that align with project development milestones, build key stakeholder relationships in local communities, and will implement long-term programs designed to represent Lightsource bp favorably and make positive contributions to communities that are home to our solar projects across the United States – from early-stage development and permitting, through the operational life of the projects. As such, the position will work closely with Lightsource bp’s Development, Construction, and Asset Management teams.

Strategy

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Develop and execute strategic community engagement and communications plans during development, construction, through operations

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Effectively manage multiple projects across a multi-state territory.

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Consistently implement philanthropic programs in host communities

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Provide risk assessment reports for early-stage projects in our pipeline to ensure high value, sustainable projects in our pipeline

Essential Job Functions Supporting development success

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Partner with the Development team to develop and execute strategic community engagement and communications plans.

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Research project locations and conduct a community risk analysis to assess risk of opposition and overall project fit, recommend mitigation strategies.

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Identify key stakeholders in the community for relationship building and advocacy of the project.

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Coordinate with the development team and any third-party consultants on community outreach strategies, with an objective of achieving project success and promoting our brand and reputation.

Community relations for the full project lifecycle

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Be a primary point of contract for communities in which we develop, construct, and/or operate a solar project

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Identify sponsorship/donation opportunities to increase our community outreach efforts during all phases of the project

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Develop communication material/newsletters to update the community on our solar projects

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Ensure project-specific community engagement strategies align with company’s community giving practices.

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Work with the Marketing & Communications team on the development of collateral materials for community and landowner communications

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Manage special projects as needed

Building a best-in-class community relations program

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Enhance our Community Relations strategies with the expansion of stakeholder management tools and databases

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Track community relations success metrics using database tools and platforms

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Be a key strategic business partner in developing our pipeline with data and intel gathered about community sentiment, key stakeholders, and the political realities of the communities we site our projects in.

Who we’re looking for

Knowledge

• A general understanding of the energy industry • An expertise in the layers of local government, the power ecosystem of communities, and small-town politics.

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Microsoft Office fluency (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint) including Teams

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Proficiency in using CRMs, stakeholder management platforms, or similar databases required.

Qualifications

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Bachelor’s degree in public relations, political science, public administration or related field could be helpful, but any degree will do with demonstrated experience and knowledge.

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Demonstrated success in building strong community relationships and grassroots advocacy

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Strong presentation/public speaking, writing, and communication skills

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Great interpersonal skills with the ability to gain buy-in

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Ability to travel 40% for site visits, community information events and meetings with local officials, community leaders, and landowners

Experience

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5-7-years of experience in a community relations role with a focus on rural communities

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Experience working with rural communities

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Experience managing internal and external resources, working collaboratively on projects

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Strong project management skills

Why you’ll make a great member of the team

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Be solutions oriented and translate project objectives into effective community outreach campaigns

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Manage and work together with internal stakeholders and many external parties to deliver projects to a high standard and to tight and changing deadlines

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Enthusiastic multi-tasker, able to deal and co-ordinate multiple projects simultaneously

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Effectively manage changes in priorities, unexpected events or unanticipated demands

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Communicate information to others in a positive and professional manner

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Identify opportunities within the business to further drive community relations objectives and create project awareness and support

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Be a team player, sensitive towards targets, goals and objectives of the Environmental and External Affairs team as well as all other business units within Lightsource bp

We offer

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Competitive compensation: Up to $125,000 annually plus a discretionary 15% annual bonus.

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Health, dental, prescription, and vision care for US team members starts on your first day of employment.

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Retention bonuses

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11 paid holidays

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Four weeks of vacation and three weeks of sick leave annually.

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401(k) plan, with a 3% nonelective employer contribution.

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Hybrid working environment – Can be based out of Austin or Houston

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Monthly personal phone bill reimbursement of up to $100 and a monthly commuter benefit of up to $150/month.

Why you’ll want to work with us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.

Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.

Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.

Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation related to LSbp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us to request accommodations.

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