Communications Specialist I

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive communication plans that identify stakeholder and audience groups, communication objectives, information needs, key messages, credible messengers, timing, channels, responsibilities, dependencies, and measures of success.
• Partner with leaders and subject-matter experts to understand business priorities, stakeholder perspectives, likely questions, potential barriers, and differing information needs before recommending an effective communication approach.
• Translate business strategy into coordinated action by recommending practical communication methods, channels, formats, sequencing, and engagement activities that support approved objectives.
• Create and adapt audience-focused content, including stakeholder updates, presentations, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, talking points, invitations, newsletters, web and digital content, signage, handouts, and other supporting materials.
• Turn complex information into clear communication by translating technical, operational, regulatory, project, policy, or business content into accurate, useful, and accessible materials for the intended audience.
• Manage communication projects from beginning to end, including intake, planning, content development, review, approval, production, delivery, measurement, follow-up, and closeout.
• Maintain organized project documentation, including communication plans, schedules, task lists, status updates, decision logs, records, and shared workspaces that provide visibility and accountability.
• Coordinate communication and logistical activities for stakeholder meetings, public-engagement sessions, open houses, sponsorship activities, tours, events, and other community or business initiatives.
• Collaborate across functions and with external partners, coordinating handoffs among business teams, communication professionals, subject-matter experts, creative resources, production partners, and vendors.
• Ensure communication quality and consistency by coordinating review, approval, design, production, publication, and distribution while maintaining version control, accessibility, factual accuracy, and alignment with established brand and communication standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, business, event management, community development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience in communications, public relations, communication planning, community engagement, project management, marketing, customer engagement, or a related area.
• Demonstrated ability to develop communication plans, identify audience and stakeholder needs, select appropriate messages and channels, and prepare clear, accurate, audience-appropriate materials.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, organizational, and communication project-management skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple plans, deliverables, deadlines, details, and stakeholder relationships from start to finish.
• Experience coordinating multi-step communication projects, meetings, events, community activities, or stakeholder-engagement initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills, with the ability to work professionally and collaboratively with leaders, coworkers, community partners, vendors, and external stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail, judgment, adaptability, follow-through, and commitment to quality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn communication, project-management, event, digital, collaboration, and AI-enabled tools.
• Ability to travel as needed and work occasional evenings or nonstandard hours to support meetings, events, or stakeholder activities.

Preferred

• Experience in a utility, energy, infrastructure, government, public affairs, human resources, nonprofit, economic development, or another stakeholder-intensive environment.
• Experience supporting community relations, external affairs, public affairs, governmental affairs, human resources, major projects, or stakeholder-engagement programs.
• Experience coordinating public meetings, open houses, community events, sponsorships, tours, conferences, or similar activities.
• Experience partnering with specialists in design, print, digital content, social media, content management, or production.
• Familiarity with project-management platforms, content-management systems, stakeholder databases, survey tools, or communication analytics.
• Experience responsibly using AI-enabled tools to support research, communication planning, content development, or workflow efficiency.

Benefits

• Competitive wage & benefit package.
• The actual compensation within the compensation range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
• Incentive plans
• Employee Stock Ownership options
• Retirement Savings Fund with employer match
• Health, disability and life insurance plan options
• Our employees are provided training and development opportunities each year, including education reimbursement. This includes safety – one of our values and key to our success – technical, compliance and developmental training.
• Career development is critical to our long-term success. Otter Tail Power employees have opportunities to participate in various leadership development programs, gain access to an a la carte online leadership course catalog, receive mentorship from current leaders and more!
• Mental health support from the experts at SupportLinc as well as competitive vacation and sick leave to ensure employees are at their best when they’re working.