The Eugene Water & Electric Board is currently seeking a Limited Duration Communications Specialist I to join our team.  We are a team of six (you would be the seventh) ambitious, committed professionals who are passionate about energy, water, and public service. We work both independently and collaboratively on a wide variety of communication, public relations, and marketing initiatives. Our mix of generalist and specialist skills makes us highly productive and adept at tackling the challenges of informing, educating, and engaging our community on highly complex issues related to the electric grid, drinking water quality, climate change, watershed protection, major infrastructure projects, smart home technology, emergency preparedness, and more. 

This is Limited Duration position that is anticipated to last a minimum of 12 months. Limited Duration positions may last from six months up to three years, and the position will end on the projected end date, when the work is finished, or for any other bona fide business purpose, whichever comes first.

Communications Specialists at EWEB must have strong skills in:

• Writing: grammar, vocab, syntax, clear, concise, engaging, adaptable to various mediums
• Digital channels: email, web, social
• Communication planning: strategies, messaging, tactics
• Interpersonal communication: active listening, empathy, trust building, conflict resolution
• Strategic thinking: analyzing complex situations, anticipating problems and opportunities
• Personal effectiveness: attention to detail, organization, managing priorities

Example duties:

• Write and edit internal and external communication materials for print and digital, using a style that is engaging, concise and appropriate in tone for the audience.
• Represent EWEB at public events.
• Post content and interact with followers on social media platforms.
• Create multimedia content such as videos, podcasts, images, animations.
• Track data to evaluate effectiveness of communication programs and practices.
• Respond to crisis/emergency events such as widespread power outages.

The starting annual salary for this position is $60,216.44 - $72,549.93 commensurate with knowledge, skills, education, and experience as it relates to the position.

Minimum Training and Experience Required:
Equivalency: When reviewing applications, EWEB will consider an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to meet minimum qualifications for this position.

• Experience: One year of experience in professional communications for a utility or comparable business, industry, or public entity.
• Education: Associate’s degree from an accredited institution in Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Communications or related field.

Desirable education, experience, training, and certifications:

• Utility or other public service experience preferred.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish preferred.

Additional Requirements:

Valid Driver License: Yes, or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of appointment.
Post-offer background check required: Yes
Post-offer drug test required: No
Post-offer physical/functional test required: No

Please Note: Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. EWEB is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
 
Supplemental Questions: The application for this posting includes supplemental questions. Your responses will be scored and used to determine if you will proceed to the next step of the selection process. Provide detailed answers to each question. Please do not reference your resume or other areas of the application in your responses. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. You will also be asked to submit two writing samples.

Work Location: This position is based in Eugene, Oregon; however, it has been approved as a hybrid work arrangement involving a combination of telecommuting and working on-site (approximately 10%). The selected candidate must live in the state of Oregon. 

Why EWEB?
EWEB values total worker health both at work and at home, and provides a robust compensation & benefits package – Read more about our benefits.

EWEB offers employees a progressive work culture devoted to providing excellent public service. Our employees work in a fast-paced environment where creativity, innovation, involvement, teamwork, and professional development are supported and encouraged. EWEB is also committed to providing a work environment conducive to the safety, health, and well-being of its workforce, and offers great benefits, including but not limited to health care, vacation and sick leave, pension, holidays, and employee credit union. We consistently rank within the top 100 healthiest employers in the nation!

Founded in 1911, EWEB is Oregon's largest customer-owned utility. We provide water and electricity to the Eugene community, as well as parts of east Springfield and the McKenzie River valley area. 

As a public utility, we do not operate to earn a profit or to serve the investment needs of stockholders. Instead, EWEB is chartered by the City of Eugene to serve the interests of its citizens. We are owned by the people of Eugene and it's our job to provide reliable, affordable water and electricity for our customers. 

Our mission is to enhance our community's vitality by delivering drinking water and electric services consistent with the values of our customer-owners. And our vision is to do so while being a local utility that inspires our customers to invest in and rely on us.

Our core values:

• SAFE: We value the safety, physical and psychological wellness, of our workforce and the public, the security and integrity of cyber assets and data, and the protection of our customers’ assets. 
• RELIABLE: We value the ongoing continuous on-demand delivery of drinking water and electricity, and the dependability of our response to our customers.
• AFFORDABLE: We value and respect our customer-owners’ financial resources by making wise investments and controlling costs and rates.
• ENVIRONMENTAL: We value the prudent and sustainable stewardship of the environment and natural resources, including preserving our watershed, and our role in reducing the greenhouse gases (GHGs) contributing to Climate Change.
• COMMUNITY/CULTURE: We value a culture of intentional actions and outcomes, continuous improvement, diverse perspectives, that is trustworthy, respectful, equitable, and inclusive to employees and community members. We are dedicated to our public service, professions, local governance, and commitment to serve our community honestly and with integrity.

Why Eugene?
It’s a city big enough to boast excellent restaurants, arts, and events, but small enough to still feel like a community. It’s also easy to get out of town, making it an ideal place for lovers of outdoor activities, with world-class opportunities for fishing, rafting, bicycling, hiking, and camping. The city is just an hour to the Cascades Mountains or to the Oregon Coast, but you don’t have to leave Eugene to find nature. The Willamette River runs through the middle of the city and there are parks and trails throughout Eugene. Home to the University of Oregon, Eugene is proud to have hosted the 2021 Olympic Track and Field Trials and the 2022 Track and Field World Championships. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it here!

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
EWEB takes pride in our commitment to diversity and inclusion among our employees. We embrace and value differences of culture, education, experience, physical ability and unique perspectives in our workplace. We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to diversity. Attracting, retaining and advancing talent from all sources strengthens our bond with the multifaceted community we serve.

TOBACCO, SMOKE, AND VAPOR - FREE CAMPUS POLICY
EWEB fosters an environment promoting good health for both employees and the public. We want to enhance the quality of air, appearance, and employee health in and around EWEB facilities and equipment. Employees, contractors, volunteers, and visitors may not use, distribute, or sell tobacco while participating in EWEB functions, on EWEB property, or while performing right-of-way tasks.

Other Requirements
Note: This description is intended to represent key areas of responsibility.  It is not meant to be all inclusive and does not prescribe or restrict the work that may be assigned.  Nothing in this description restricts EWEB's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.  Job descriptions may occasionally be updated, as necessary, to reflect evolving business needs.

(AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER)