Director, Commercial Communications

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive enterprise communications strategy to support Xcel Energy's large load customer growth objectives.
• Create state-specific communication frameworks tailored to the unique regulatory, political, economic, media, and community environments within each jurisdiction.
• Position Xcel Energy as a leading energy partner for data center customers through strategic storytelling, media engagement, executive visibility, and stakeholder communications.
• Develop communication plans that support key customer projects, infrastructure investments, and economic development initiatives associated with data center growth.
• Establish trusted working relationships with large load owners, developers, hyperscale customers, site selectors, and industry partners.
• Partner with customers to identify and execute joint communications opportunities, including major project announcements, economic development initiatives, community engagement efforts, and thought leadership campaigns.
• Coordinate communication activities supporting customer acquisition and retention efforts.
• Serve as the communications advisor to business development leaders pursuing large load opportunities across the service territory, including development of local execution and stakeholder influence strategies that can be provided to state-level community teams and/or developers.
• Partner with state-level community teams in managing relationships with Economic Development Organizations and local NGOs.
• Design and manage a comprehensive monitoring and intelligence program focused on large load issues, stakeholder sentiment, public opinion, legislative activity, and media coverage.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Business, Political Science, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public affairs, media relations, reputation management, political communications or strategic communications.
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder communications initiatives across large organizations.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing enterprise-level communications strategies.
• Strong issues management, stakeholder engagement, media relations, and executive communications capabilities.
• Experience leading teams and influencing across matrixed organizations.
• Excellent strategic thinking, project management, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred

• Experience in the energy, utility, infrastructure, technology, economic development, or regulated industry sectors.
• Familiarity with data center development, hyperscale customers, digital/telecommunications/data infrastructure, energy policy, or large-scale economic development projects.
• Experience supporting highly visible public projects involving community engagement, permitting, regulatory processes, or public affairs.
• Experience using media intelligence, social listening, and reputation monitoring platforms.

Benefits

• Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process.
• Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.