External Communications Specialist

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued. People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals. We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities. American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Indexfor the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Important Information Posted range is $75-,000-80,000 The base salary range represents a good faith salary range for this position. This position is eligible for annual incentive pay and has the opportunity for continued salary growth. If you are hired at American Water your base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as market, geography, skills, education and/or experience. At American Water, we are committed to pay equity. This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and you will have the opportunity for continued salary growth. In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more! American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally! In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k),Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more! American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally! Primary Role Responsible for providing support and delivering a creative array of external public relations and digital communications related to providing education and enhancing the reputation and brand of American Water focusing on customer communications and the company’s advocacy efforts.As a member of the Corporate Communications team, reporting to the Director of External Communications, the Corporate Communications Specialist’s responsibilities include supporting the company’s overarching public relations strategy and providing support for all media platforms—spanning print, broadcast, online, video, social media, and the external web presence. This role contributes to the corporate public relations effort by continually amplifying and extending the American Water brand, its customer communications, education and advocacy efforts across all channels. Additionally, it involves supporting state subsidiary communications to help ensure cohesive messaging and alignment. All efforts are closely coordinated with other company functional units and American Water’s public relations firm of record. Responsible for supporting communications strategies including aligned with, and mutually reinforcing, American Water’s strategic goals and vision. Majority of communications focus will be on customer and advocacy initiatives while supporting customer communications alignment across the company’s national footprint.Key Accountabilities

• Create and execute communications through earned, owned and paid media that enhance the company’s position among customers and stakeholders
• Creates and leverages materials/assets to help educate customers, stakeholders and other audiences on the service we provide to increase/amplify American Water’s brand, thought leadership and customer service/experience
• A critical resource in the development and execution of digital communications assets including but not limited to general public relations content, video, website, social media
• Provide support to state communication teams and other business units by developing customer and advocacy communications and offering direct assistance to state External Affairs (EA) teams to help ensure consistent messaging and alignment with corporate communication strategies (customer emails, integration tools bill inserts/onserts, websites)
• Works in a cross-functional manner within Corporate Communications and through other functional units to develop communications assets
• Utilize mainstream media platforms, such as television, radio, and major news websites to maximize reach and engagement with customer and other key stakeholder audiencesKnowledge/Skills
• Excellent and efficient working graphics capabilities across Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and other graphic design platforms as well as video editing
• Knowledge of legacy and emerging social media platforms, video production and website content creation.
• Speed, flexibility and adaptability and ability to work under pressure and deliver in a fast-paced environment. Excellent time management skills.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to tell a persuasive/compelling story.
• Team player with the ability to be proactive, collaborative and build relationships outside the communications function
• Effective communications skills, drafting of press releases, case studies, position papersExperience/Education
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, communications, or a related field
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in support of advertising, marketing, corporate communications or public relations.Work Environment
• Hybrid work schedule 3 days in office 2 days offsite.CompetenciesChampions safetyCustomer obsessedCultivates innovationNimble learningDrives ResultsCollaborates