Communications Coordinator

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to serve as a full-time Communications Coordinator. The agency is seeking a proactive and enthusiastic communicator that pursues opportunities to highlight the PUC's impactful and forward-looking work.

The electric, natural gas, and telecommunication industries are currently undergoing profound, if not revolutionary changes. Technology innovation, changes in market structures, and new environmental directives are all having a significant impact on the utility sector. PUC employees take pride in their work developing regulatory practices and policies that improve the lives of utility customers, community members, and our environment. As the Communications Coordinator, working as part of a two-person communications team and part of the agency’s executive office, you will have the opportunity to tell the story that helps the public and stakeholders appreciate and connect with the work of the PUC by creating a climate that cultivates transparency, best practices, and fresh perspectives.

The PUC sets utility rates and terms of service through broad delegated legislative powers and must balance the interests and rights of multiple organizations and individuals representing divergent and conflicting business, consumer, and public interests. Investor-owned utilities currently receive approximately $5 billion in revenues annually from 2.4 million Oregon consumers. The PUC’s decisions on individual issues may be more than $100 million in annual revenues paid by Oregon consumers.

The PUC receives no General or Lottery funds, and instead is funded through a dedicated per-month fee on regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utility bills.

is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest.

More information about the PUC can be found online at:(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). .

• Become a critical part of an important state agency at a dynamic time.
• Play a central role in protecting Oregonian ratepayers and achieving climate objectives set for the agency by the legislature, while balancing the competing needs of utilities and stakeholders.
• Join colleagues who are innovative and passionate about public service.
• Enjoy work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package .
• Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .

Work in partnership with the Communications Team to serve as media contact, as well as developing and implementing communication strategies to engage and educate diverse audiences on the work of the PUC. This is done by collaborating closely with all levels of PUC management and staff, stakeholders, and other state agencies, as well as participating in public meetings.

• Design and develop agency processes and policies that promote public awareness of PUC programs and decisions, representing the PUC through public speaking, legislative issue responses, pertinent policy implementation, and strategic communications to internal and external stakeholders.
• Serves as one of the PUC’s primary media contacts; receives external inquiries directed to the PUC and responds, or coordinates a response, to those inquiries. Develops expertise around utility regulatory principles and practices, as well as emerging issues so that information can be communicated clearly and accurately to the media, members of the public, and other stakeholders. Ensures complex regulatory issues are clearly and concisely communicated.
• Maintains current knowledge of principles governing media and public relations and provides effective input into agency policies and procedures governing communicative relations with the Governor’s Office, the legislature, other government agencies, and the public.
• Prepares press releases, reports, fact sheets, newsletters, specialized…