Sr. Director, Stakeholder Engagement

RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Regulation / Risk Management
Remuneration: Exempt

The Senior Director, Stakeholder Engagement leads the creation of RWE’s Stakeholder Engagement strategy and execution and manages a team of stakeholder & community engagement professionals to identify and mitigate social risk,  result in a social license to operate for RWE’s energy generation projects across the United States. Manage a nationwide team as part of a regionally-matrixed Corporate Affairs team, ensuring close collaboration with, and support of, relevant personnel from Development, Operations, Project Execution, and other relevant departments, leading to successful project permitting, favorable local sentiment, and positive long-term relationships with local communities which host our projects. In addition, the role will have a portfolio overseeing stakeholder and social risk management for the West Region (CAISO/WECC). In these capacities, the Sr. Director will partner closely with the leadership of the Development, Project Execution, and Operations teams to ensure stakeholder engagement and risk mitigation strategies are executed to support business priorities and protect and grow the social license to operate.  

Role Responsibilities:

• Manage a nationwide Stakeholder Engagement team, as part of a regionally-matrixed Corporate Affairs team, ensuring standardized processes and consistent risk analysis, planning, and mitigation efforts are executed to proactively mitigate social risk to energy development projects and secure social license to operate.  This will include managing the core disciplines of stakeholder engagement, social risk and impact assessment, stakeholder matricies and mapping, and community investment and relationship management
• In addition to leading the Stakeholder Engagement department, this position will be responsible for the Stakeholder Engagement activities in the West Region (CAISO, WECC – ~25-30% of expected time), managing the Stakeholder Engagement Sr. Manager – West Region in executing stakeholder engagement and social risk mitigation strategies in support of business priorities 
• Oversee the design and execution of stakeholder management, social risk mitigation, and community investment strategies to protect the value of priority projects and operational assets across RWE’s US portfolio
• Proactively identify issues and potential resolution options and build integrated support from state and local stakeholders for RWE projects. Work with organizational leadership and project teams to ensure necessary budgets and capacity are secured to mitigate opposition risk to energy development projects
• Create strategic frameworks to guide the team in identifying, evaluating, and directing external consultants in promoting the Company’s projects, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance with all RWE policies and performance standards
• Interact with local governmental officials, community stakeholders, and RWE teams to manage social acceptance risk for wind, solar, energy storage, and flex-gen technologies in local areas, with a focus on the West Region
• Coordinate coalition building and strengthen relationships with strategic non-profit organizations, associations, and other national or regional partners who support energy project siting and deployment
• Oversee and execute Salesforce CRM strategic campaigns for use by Community Engagement, Development, Project Execution, Operations, Communications, Government Relations, and other departments to effectively communicate, and build long-term relationships, with local stakeholders, identify energy project supporters, and ensure relationship continuity across all phases of a project’s lifecycle
• Ensure consistent internal communication on community engagement activities and risks or issues impacting the Company and projects
• Manage the implementation of community benefit initiatives throughout the lifecycle of a project, from small donations, sponsorships, and memberships during early-stage development and operations to long-term Community Benefit Agreements and strategic, life-cycle oriented relationships 
• Develop the talent of the Stakeholder Engagement team members to ensure continuous growth in their skills as practitioners and leaders in the field
• Provide strategic counsel and recommendations on Stakeholder Engagement, social risk management, and community engagement best practices to VP, State Government Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement and others in the o