Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Target Resume Now

Tailor your resume to this External Affairs & Community Relations Manage role.

Rezi rewrites your resume against Karpower Valley Inc's job description. Free.

Resume score gauge reading 58 out of 100

Don't guess if your resume is good enough.

See how it scores against the External Affairs & Community Relations Manage posting at Karpower Valley Inc — free, in seconds.

About the Role

The External Affairs & Community Relations Manager serves as Karpower’s primary interface with the Brownsville community, local government, and external stakeholders, acting as the company’s public-facing representative. This role builds trust and relationships to support project development and long-term operations by managing community engagement programs, leading government relations, and supporting permitting processes. The position ensures community concerns are understood and addressed by working closely with Development, Permitting, Operations, Legal, and Communications teams.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a Brownsville stakeholder engagement plan aligned with project milestones, operational priorities, and community needs; maintain stakeholder records, engagement plans, and commitment logs.
Build and maintain relationships with local government officials, relevant regulatory stakeholders, community leaders, neighborhood groups, business organizations, and other local institutions.
Serve as the company’s primary local point of contact for community and government stakeholders, ensuring timely responses and consistent follow-through on inquiries and commitments.
Design and manage community engagement programs, including listening sessions, community meetings, site visits, and outreach activities that enable ongoing dialogue.
Represent Karpower at public meetings, local government forums, community events, and business association gatherings, communicating approved company positions clearly and consistently.
Support permitting processes through relationship management by coordinating stakeholder outreach, facilitating meetings with relevant authorities, and helping the Permitting team understand and address community concerns that may affect the process.
Monitor local government agendas, public discussions, and community sentiment; assess implications for projects and operations and provide early warning of emerging issues.
Manage a structured process for receiving, documenting, escalating, and following up on community concerns and complaints, coordinating practical responses with responsible internal teams.
Prepare stakeholder briefings, presentations, talking points, and community updates with Communications and relevant technical teams, ensuring information is accurate and appropriate for the audience.
Coordinate local media inquiries and public communications with the Communications function; act as an authorized local spokesperson in line with agreed messaging and approval processes.
Identify and manage community partnerships and investment initiatives within approved priorities and budgets, coordinating with relevant corporate functions and tracking outcomes.
Coordinate with project and operations teams on advance communication of construction activities, operational changes, or incidents that may affect the community, supporting approved issue and crisis communication plans.
Advise local and senior leadership on stakeholder expectations, community risks, and engagement approaches, recommending actions to strengthen relationships and resolve concerns; report on relationship developments, unresolved issues, and program effectiveness.
Coordinate with Legal and relevant corporate functions to ensure adherence to company policies and applicable requirements for public-sector engagement, including lobbying registration and disclosure, ethics, and political activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Political Science, Public Administration, Business, or related disciplines.
7+ years of experience in external affairs, community relations, government relations, or stakeholder engagement, including direct responsibility for local engagement programs.
Demonstrated experience working with local government officials, community organizations, and diverse stakeholder groups in the United States.
Proven ability to represent an organization in public forums, facilitate constructive dialogue, and manage sensitive or contentious stakeholder issues.
Strong understanding of the civic, government, business, and community landscape in Brownsville and the wider Rio Grande Valley (or comparable South Texas and border communities), with demonstrated experience building relationships with local stakeholders.
Experience supporting stakeholder engagement for permitting, land-use approvals, public hearings, or major construction projects.
Experience developing and managing community partnerships or community investment programs, including tracking outcomes and local impact.
Strong written and spoken English, with the ability to explain complex project matters clearly to nontechnical audiences.
Professional proficiency in Spanish (spoken and written) to support direct engagement with local stakeholders.
Ability to travel regularly and maintain a consistent on-site presence, and to attend community meetings and events when required.

Skills

Relationship Building
Cultural Awareness
Communication
Active Listening
Influence
Conflict Resolution
Judgment
Integrity
Planning
Follow-through
Ownership
Adaptability
Spanish (spoken and written)

Location

Austin, Texas
Brownsville, Texas

Work Type

On-site presence required
Regular travel

Experience Level

7+ years of experience

Education Level

Bachelor’s degree

About the Company

Joining Karpower at this pivotal stage offers a rare opportunity to contribute to the commercialization of a large-scale 20 GW power portfolio, supporting the development of utility-scale energy solutions serving hyperscale data center clients across the United States.
This role offers meaningful ownership of external stakeholder relationships and the opportunity to shape Karpower’s engagement with community, building trust, relationships, and local partnerships essential to successful project development and long-term operations.
As a key member of the team, you will work closely with senior leadership, development and operations colleagues, local government, and community stakeholders to address local priorities, support project approvals, and strengthen the company’s local presence.
You will serve as a visible local representative of the company, helping align business objectives with community expectations and create lasting value for both Karpower and the communities surrounding its projects and operations.