Associate, Communications and Community Engagement

Position Purpose:
This full-time, exempt role reports to the Director, Public Affairs and Community Relations. The Associate, Communications and Community Engagement supports strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and public-facing initiatives across KCE's projects and corporate activities. This role is well-suited for an early-career professional seeking to build experience at the intersection of communications, community engagement, and energy-sector public affairs.
Key Responsibilities:
Communications (approximately 40%)

• Assist with communications and public relations activities including media monitoring, message development, and development of a variety of written materials for internal and external audiences, including KCE leadership.

• Support KCE team members in preparing public-facing presentations and materials for conferences, public meetings, and other events.

• Support management of KCE’s branding and public messaging across corporate and project websites, social media, FAQs, and other materials.

Community Engagement (approximately 60%)

• Conduct initial analysis and desktop research to identify state and local permitting requirements and potential permitting risks for KCE’s projects related to political, environmental, community, regulatory, and technical factors.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of community stakeholder engagement tracking mechanisms and tools including data entry and management.
• Participate in the development of community engagement campaign strategies.
• Help train and support team members in community outreach and engagement.
• Draft, design, and edit community engagement materials including FAQs, presentations, talking points, briefing materials, summaries, and other collateral for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), local stakeholders, and others.

• Support the planning and execution of public engagement strategies including community forums, open houses, meet-and-greets and other community facing events, including attending these events.
• All other duties as required.

Work Experience & Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in community relations, communications, public relations, political science, environmental studies, journalism or similar.
• Years of experience: 0–2 years of relevant experience in communications, public affairs, community engagement, organizing, political or issue advocacy campaigns, or a related area.
• Strong writing, editing and research skills. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled research or writing tools, with the ability to validate outputs for accuracy and appropriateness.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a small, fast-paced team environment.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.