Director, Diversity, Inclusion & Communications
SouthWest Water Company

Sugar Land, Texas

Posted in Utilities


This job has expired.

Job Info


We are a 130-year-old privately-held, American-owned water and wastewater utility. With headquarters in Sugar Land, TX, our geographically-diverse company employs several hundred dedicated in-house professionals, East Coast to West Coast, serving over 600,000 residential and business customers in six states: Alabama, California, Florida, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas. With nation-wide resources and local decision making, we are well-positioned for sustainable growth.

Our owners are focused on the longer term, not simply next quarter's earnings and profits. As a result, SouthWest Water can pursue a strategy of expansion and growth.

Visit us at www.SWWC.com/Partners to learn more about what we do and who we are.

We currently have a newly created opportunity for a Director, DEI, Communications & Community Affairs who can lead the company's corporate office communications function and lead our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategic plan as well community affairs activities. This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our employees with the continued growth of SouthWest Water Company as an established and growing water and wastewater utility owner across 6 states.

Position Summary

An ideal candidate must have both diversity, equity & inclusion, communications experience and community affairs/relations experience would be a plus. They must be a self-starter with a strong track record of achievement, and readily accept responsibility and proactively identify opportunities to drive results. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates who thrive in a collaborative environment and want to be challenged.

Reporting to the CEO, and partnering with executive leadership, and employees at all levels, the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Communications & Community Affairs develops, and implements innovative strategies and processes to advance organizational change, foster a positive and inclusive work environment and to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations are incorporated in how we do business in the communities that we serve. The successful candidate will also have had experience working in corporate communications, possess exceptional writing skills, be comfortable working in a corporate/field operations environment, show flexibility, collaboration, and a strong attention to detail. Prior experience in community affairs/relations will be beneficial for this role. In addition to working with the CEO and executive leadership, the role will partner with Human Resources, Internal Communications staff and our outside PR firm to achieve communications and DEI objectives and community affairs initiatives.

Desired Qualifications

  • A Bachelor's degree with a minimum combination of 10+ years of DEI, Communications and Community Affairs experience.
  • Experience leading highly visible, enterprise-wide initiatives of varying degrees of complexity and scale in DEI, and change management.
  • A solid understanding of current issues and opportunities facing persons from underserved communities including sensitivity to racial equity/diversity.
  • Experience advancing an organizational culture into one of inclusivity, equity, and diversity.
  • Knowledge and experience in cultural capability skills development and implementing equity, diversity and inclusion programs, training, and educational tools.
  • Experience driving innovative communications, public affairs and media relations strategies.
  • Excellent writer with a flexible, conversational tone - ability to simplify complex topics.
  • Ability to think strategically and communicate effectively with all levels of employees, including senior management and across Business Units and corporate functions.
  • Experience in crafting content and presentations for communications targeting a broad range of audiences including field operations, office-based employees, and executive leadership.
  • Experience in community affairs/relations and engagement preferably in a for profit environment.
  • Ability to complete external benchmarking, measure accountability through metrics and develop data-based recommendations.
  • Excellent project management, organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
  • Sound judgement and proven ability to deal with sensitive and/or confidential matters.
  • The role will be based in the Houston area (Sugarland).
Responsibilities
  • Will manage the further development, refinement, and execution of the SWWC strategic plan for DEI.
  • Build compelling trust and credibility with employees to connect with and believe in our DEI strategy and ambition by delivering engaging information our employees at the right time through a series of tools and moments (Town halls, Company Intranet, Newsletter, internal events, and social media).
  • Develop, implement and provide support for success of Employee Resource Groups.
  • Manage deliverables, timelines, to internal and external equity and diversity initiatives including ERG programs and activities.
  • Collaborate with Human Resources to enhance ongoing efforts to recruit and retain diverse employees plus help build an ongoing pipeline.
  • Build partnerships with diverse colleges and universities, community colleges to attract talent to SWWC.
  • Provide strategic and consistent updates on SWWC's DEI activities and progress across the organization, including all hands employee meetings, and board meetings.
  • Proactively build and develop and oversee SWWC's DEI-related community corporate partnerships and DEI related ESG programs.
  • Stay current on best practices and opportunities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Develop and implement an efficient and impactful corporate communications strategy to support corporate office and business units.
  • Responsible for corporate office communications including but not limited to PR, web presence, events, and social media.
  • Work cross-functionally and across geographies with internal stakeholders at all levels to define key themes, messages, and content to drive awareness, engagement, and adoption of company and other strategic programs and initiatives.
  • Develop, manage and execute SWWC community affairs engagement strategy and plan.
  • Builds relationships with targeted nonprofit organizations, community leaders, school districts and chambers of commerce in alignment with community affairs engagement plan. Participates on community boards and committees related to SWWC goals and engages employees to serve as appropriate.
  • Travel as needed to business unit locations.
  • Complete additional related duties as assigned.
COMPANY BENEFITS

We offer a comprehensive compensation which includes:

Competitive salary commensurate with experience along with annual incentive opportunity; Exemplary benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability, 401(k) with a 6% employer match. Generous holiday schedule and tuition support program.

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This job has expired.

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