Director, Stakeholder Engagement and Community Relations

Purpose

Provides leadership for Liberty’s external affairs, government relations, and stakeholder engagement activities with a primary focus on Missouri.  This position supports the local operating company’s ability to achieve its core objectives: maintaining a reasonable opportunity to earn a fair return while providing safe, reliable, and affordable utility service.  In doing so, the role advances the balanced approach that recognizes the interests of the Company’s key stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and stakeholders (regulators, policy makers, and other interested parties).

The incumbent works with internal operating company business leaders, policy makers, regulators, industry groups, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop, draft, and advance legislation and public policy initiatives that support a healthy and sustainable utility.  This includes building coalitions of aligned parties, coordinating with external consultants and advocacy groups, and communicating to community members the value that a financially healthy and operationally capable utility brings to local communities and residents. While the role will initially focus primarily on Missouri, it may support similar efforts in other Central region states as future opportunities develop.

Accountabilities

• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the operating company’s business, including utility operations, financial performance, regulatory obligations, customer impacts, and strategic priorities, to ensure advocacy efforts are grounded in the practical needs of the business.
• Lead external engagement and community support efforts for large load and strategic economic development opportunities, including explaining how properly structured growth can benefit customers, support affordability, strengthen local communities, and improve the long-term health of the utility.
• Lead Missouri-focused policy and stakeholder strategies that support the operating company’s ability to provide safe, reliable, and affordable service while maintaining a reasonable opportunity to earn a fair return.
• Track legislative, regulatory, legal, and political developments that may affect the operating company, assess potential impacts, and help shape proactive responses that align with business, customer, and regulatory objectives.
• Advise local leadership and functional teams on external developments, emerging risks, community concerns, and policy opportunities that may influence operations, investment decisions, customer outcomes, or regulatory strategy.
• Build and strengthen relationships with elected officials, regulators, policymakers, municipal leaders, community organizations, industry groups, peer utilities, and other stakeholders whose engagement may be important to advancing operating company objectives.
• Develop and support legislative, regulatory, and public policy initiatives by working with internal subject matter experts, external advocates, aligned utilities, industry partners, and community stakeholders to build effective coalitions.
• Support clear, credible, and informative communication plans that help community members and other stakeholders understand the operating company’s activities, investments, and policy positions, particularly where the issues are technical, complex, or easily misunderstood.
• Promote internal awareness of the role government affairs, community engagement, and public policy play in achieving broader utility objectives, including reliability, affordability, financial stability, employee support, customer value, and long-term community investment.
• The position will report to the President of the Empire District Electric Company and will coordinate with other functional areas to ensure consistency and alignment to support the operational objectives of leadership.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 8+ years of experience in government affairs, regulatory affairs, external affairs, public policy, or a related field.
• 5+ years leadership/management experience
• Demonstrated expertise in state legislative and regulatory processes, preferably within the utility, energy, or regulated infrastructure sectors.
• Demonstrated success influencing legislative, regulatory, and political outcomes at the state and local levels.
• Proven ability to build coalitions and work effectively through trade associations and industry organizations.
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks and their impact on utility operations and strategy.
• Strong political acumen, communication skills, and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills