Governmental Affairs Manager

Company Overview

We are committed to understanding the needs of the homes and businesses we serve. That's why we're always looking for driven, collaborative people to join our team. Because we believe that offering our customers the best service means bringing together the best people.

And we find the best by hiring those who share our values of safety, inclusion and integrity, and demonstrate the competencies that bring the Spire vision, mission and culture to life:

• Adaptability: We embrace change, continuously seeking opportunities for improvement while remaining open-minded and flexible in response to evolving conditions and customer, stakeholder and company needs.
• Collaboration: We achieve more together through a foundation of respect, embracing healthy conflict, actively seeking and providing actionable feedback and fostering an environment where everyone’s input is welcomed.
• Ownership: We see things through, demonstrate accountability, honor commitments, take responsibility for outcomes and demonstrate initiative.

By living our values and competencies, we strive to create an environment where employees feel welcome, respected and valued.

Summary

Spire is seeking a Governmental Affairs Manager in the Kansas City, MO region. The Governmental Affairs Manager is responsible for managing Spire Energy’s relationships with local and state officials, business leaders, and community organizations throughout Missouri. This role works independently to influence policy outcomes, support business objectives, and protects the Company’s image and reputation within the communities it serves. The Manager develops and executes strategies related to local government relations, community engagement, legislation, grassroots advocacy, municipal agreements, regulatory affairs, and issue resolution. This position represents the Company in strategic associations and serves as a key liaison between internal business units and external stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Engage with local and state elected officials and public leaders to influence legislation, ordinances, and policy proposals that impact Spire Energy’s business operations.
• Develop relationships with elected officials, policy makers, and peers. This could include the state’s federal delegation.
• Lead the execution of franchise agreements and municipal service agreements that maintain Spire Energy’s “license to operate” within municipal boundaries.
• Study and evaluate proposed ordinances to determine potential impacts on taxes, fees, service delivery, facility placement, right of way, and other operational considerations.
• Monitor political trends, legislative developments, and public policy issues relevant to the natural gas industry and Spire Energy.
• Build grassroots and stakeholder advocacy to support the Company’s business positions.
• Manage governmental, business, and community relationships within Spire Energy’s Missouri service territory to support business unit objectives and enhance the Company’s reputation.
• Develop formal legislative and public policy strategies to advance company priorities and support customer access to safe, reliable natural gas service.
• Represent Spire Energy at public meetings, hearings, political fundraisers, community events, and civic functions, occasionally serving as a spokesperson on local issues.
• Facilitate business planning with targeted municipalities and counties to support long term operational needs and community partnerships.
• Develop testimony, talking points, briefing materials, or presentations for legislative hearings, regulatory proceedings, and public policy forums.
• Monitor Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) activity and coordinate with Regulatory Affairs to ensure alignment on issues that intersect policy and regulation.
• Communicate with stakeholders about natural gas safety, infrastructure reliability, modernization, and related operational initiatives.
• Track political transitions, election cycles, and shifts in stakeholder positions to anticipate risk and inform leadership.
• Build and participate in coalitions with industry associations, chambers of commerce, advocacy groups, and peer utilities to advance shared policy objectives.
• Provide timely executive level briefings and scenario analysis to inform strategic decision making and enterprise risk assessment.
• Collaborate with Communications/Public Affairs to ensure consistent messaging for media inquiries and public statements related to government or policy issues.
• Identify emerging issues, policy trends, and community concerns that may affect Spire Energy, and develop strategies to resolve them.
• Support negotiation and issue resolution discussions on complex or high visibility matters affecting Company operations, partnering with internal stakeholders as appropriate.
• Maintain awareness of enterprise-wide issues such as environmental considerations, infrastructure matters, and land use or right of way issues that may affect operational planning. (Streamlined as recommended.)
• Coordinate with internal teams—including Operations, Regulatory, Communications, Legal, and Executive leadership—to ensure alignment on local issues and messaging.

Supervisory Responsibilities

N/A

Required Education (certifications, licenses)

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Business or Public Policy preferred.
• Five to seven years of related experience in governmental affairs, public policy, community relations, or related external affairs experience.
• Experience working with Missouri government and political structures preferred.
• Experience in a utility, regulated industry, or the natural gas sector preferred.

Required knowledge, skill and abilities

• Strong understanding of local and state government processes, legislative cycles, and political dynamics.
• Ability to analyze policy and regulatory issues and communicate implications clearly.
• Proven relationship building skills with elected officials, regulators, business leaders, and community partners.
• Ability to support negotiation and issue resolution on complex or high visibility matters.
• Skilled in public speaking, stakeholder facilitation, and representing the Company in formal and informal settings.
• Knowledge of natural gas operations, safety, infrastructure, right of way, and environmental issues (preferred).
• Strong planning, follow through, and organizational skills.
• Ability to operate independently with minimal daily oversight.

Physical demands, environment and schedule

• Frequent travel within the assigned Missouri service territory required.
• Will require attendance at public meetings, legislative activities, and community events outside standard business hours.

Posting Requirements

Spire accepts online applications through our career site at jobs.spireenergy.com

Posting requirements: The above posting description is intended to describe the general nature of the level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Spire, Inc., and its subsidiaries are Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all areas, including but not necessarily limited to, recruitment, selection, training, education, compensation, benefits, promotion, job transfer, upgrading, separation and recall regardless of the individual’s race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, and/or other protected categories under all Federal, State, and local laws. For more information, please view our Integrity and Inclusion pages of our career site.