External Affairs Manager

JOB TITLE: External Affairs Manager

LOCATION: California

DEPARTMENT: Golden State Wind

AREA: External Affairs

Background

Golden State Wind is a 50/50 partnership of Ocean Winds (OW) and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), managed by OW. Golden State Wind holds lease OCS-P 0564 in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area off California’s Central Coast. When fully developed, the Project is expected to generate up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of clean offshore wind energy, which is enough to power about 900,000 homes. Golden State Wind will help California meet its 100% clean electricity by 2045 goal and will bring the US closer to meeting its target of deploying 15 GW of floating offshore wind generation by 2035.

Ocean Winds is a 50/50 joint venture of EDP Renewables and ENGIE and a global leader in fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind. Both companies share the vision in which renewables, particularly offshore wind, play a key role in the global energy transition. With a portfolio of 16.6 GW with 14 projects in 7 geographies, Ocean Winds’ mission is to make offshore wind one of the main sources of renewable energy by delivering more efficient and sustainable wind energy solutions. OW is a global player, bringing together the expertise and development capacity of both companies.

Golden State Wind draws from OW’s global offshore wind development expertise inherited by its sponsors and developed since inception, including more than 10 years of experience in floating offshore wind, most notably through the development and operation of WindFloat Atlantic, the world’s first fully commercially operational floating offshore wind farm. OW has a substantial portfolio of floating projects in Europe and South Korea and is ideally positioned to bring this technology to California. The Head of External Affairs will coordinate external affairs functions for the Golden State Wind Project including development and delivery of a comprehensive stakeholder outreach and engagement strategy, media relations, communications, advocacy, and outreach.

The Head of External Affairs will be a member of the Golden State Wind Management team and will work closely with the Senior Permitting Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager, and Community Liaison Associate to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders.

General Description

Golden State Wind believes that direct community engagement and involvement are essential to the viability and success of an offshore wind project. We are actively consulting with a diverse group of local stakeholders, including commercial fishermen, Native American Tribes, environmental organizations, labor, and elected officials. Our community-based approach to developing California’s offshore wind resource prioritizes community value and protecting the environment, while creating local jobs and economic development. Golden State Wind is committed to:

• Meaningful and frequent engagement with all local stakeholders who are deeply connected to the region’s coastal lands and waters

• Building long-lasting partnerships with the region’s coastal communities and ocean users, based on a foundation of transparency, collaboration, and trust

The Head of External Affairs will work closely with the Senior Permitting Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager, and Community Liaison Associate to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders including but not limited to state legislators, state and local government, regulators, policymakers, and local community members. They will work to develop clear, consistent, and effective communications across the project. The role requires thoughtful coordination and cooperation with the other senior members of Golden State Wind team. ` This role will be based in San Francisco or Sacramento, California. The successful candidate should expect some travelling to stakeholder sites in San Luis Obispo County as well as occasional visits to OW offices in Boston and Europe.

Main Responsibilities:

• Coordinate external affairs functions for the Golden State Wind Project including development and delivery of a comprehensive stakeholder outreach and engagement strategy, media relations, communications, advocacy, and outreach.

• Work with Golden State Wind team in the development, delivery, and management of a comprehensive stakeholder outreach and engagement strategy

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders

• Support the execution of the federal and state permitting processes in close coordination with the Senior Permitting Manager and other Golden State Wind project staff.

• Work with the executive team and Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager to develop the organization’s legislative priorities and monitoring current legislation and government regulations • Oversees government affairs, legislative and lobbying activities

• Ensure that external relationships with state government agencies, including regulators, are smooth and effective maximizing the effectiveness of the permitting and siting processes.

• Coordinate with other members of the OW team on federal agency matters

• Own the communications team management supported by in-house, seconded and/or outsourced resources within relevant budgets in close coordination with the project management staff.

• Communicate information continuously and effectively to cross-functional teams.

• Carry out other essential duties as assigned as a member of the senior project management team accountable to the Golden State Wind board of directors.

• Direct Reports: 1-4 direct reports. Additional reports are expected as the project matures. Travel: Up to 20%, domestically and internationally, by plane, car and/or train, including at short notice. Minimum Requirements:

• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in a communications/stakeholder relations/public affairs/policy role

• Experience in energy policy, energy sector, renewable energy industry, experience with offshore wind development is desirable.

• Broad knowledge of approaches to manage engagement across stakeholder groups, and proven experience in delivering effective advocacy and communications campaigns

• The ability to develop and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. Good

• interpersonal and influencing skills are critical.

• Strong writing skills, with ability to concisely distill complex scientific or technical information into clear messaging that is accessible to a wide range of audiences

• Prepare detailed complex oral and written communications on a wide variety of issues.

• knowledge of California state governmental and legislative processes, knowledge of, and relationships with, key networks in state government on issues related to renewable energy, electric utilities, electric transmission, offshore wind.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; relevant advanced degree preferred.

• Experience driving industry alignment through trade associations & multi-stakeholder coalition, a plus but not a requirement.

• Experience with social media outreach is a plus, but not a requirement. Behavioral Requirements: • Manage complex projects involving multi teams and requiring coordination and collaboration with external agencies and high-level executive managers.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work cooperatively with regulatory agencies.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including first-rate drafting and editing abilities. ` • Demonstrated ability to lead personnel from diverse groups working toward a common objective or project.

• Very strong collaboration, communication (both oral and written) and interpersonal skills with a customer-oriented focus.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with management and other parts of the project.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and successfully complete them within specified timeframes.

• Strong commitment and proven leadership skills.

• Ability to work under tight deadlines and make rational decisions, even when under pressure.

• Outstanding communication, diplomatic, networking, influencing and conflict solving skills.

• Ability to take initiative and highly result oriented.

• Strategic and forward thinking.

• Strong sense of values and ethics, as well as confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.

• Ability to thrive within and contribute to a team culture that is collaborative, entrepreneurial, mutually supportive, and dedicated to producing highest quality work products, and shared success.

• Ability to foster the development of a team culture that values perspectives and experiences of people from different backgrounds to drive better decisions and improved business results. Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Sitting/Standing/Flexibility: Ability to stand and sit for 8 or more hours when in an office environment

• Speech/Reading: Ability to speak, read, and write English proficiently and deliver a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form

• Vision/Hearing: Ability to interpret and follow a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form

• Lifting: Ability to lift items weighing up to 10 pounds

• Safety: Ability to understand and communicate safety precautions when necessary