📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Manager - Communications
🔹 Company: Iberdrola (Avangrid)
🔹 Location: Orange, Connecticut
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Utilities
🔹 Date Posted: April 11, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Managing strategic communications for external stakeholders and employees
- Creating communication-related materials for internal and external stakeholders
- Managing media relations, public relations, and crisis communications
- Collaborating with operating company leadership and key stakeholders
- Acting as a corporate spokesperson and responding to media inquiries
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and implement communication strategies for issues, customers, and crises
✅ Craft compelling narratives and manage the company’s reputation
✅ Manage operating company communications, including media relations, public relations, and social media
✅ Act as a corporate spokesperson and respond to media inquiries
✅ Manage content across corporate websites and intranets
✅ Support internal employee communications
✅ Coordinate and manage communication initiatives to ensure consistency in messaging, brand, and image
✅ Serve as Public Information Officer (PIO) or Deputy Public Information Officer (DPIO) in crisis environments
✅ Other duties as assigned
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of the electric and gas industry, as well as the ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Experience: A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, particularly in corporate and financial communication
Required Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong strategic and analytical capability
- Highly adaptable and resilient to change
- Ability to work with senior leaders and manage relations with key internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to multi-task and quickly prioritize projects
- Self-starter, independent worker, strong team and cross-functional collaborator
- Excellent leadership and collaboration skills in effectively managing staff
- Knowledge of the electric and gas industry
- Ability to work occasional non-traditional work hours
Preferred Skills:
- Global view of the business
- Achieving results and continuous improvements
- Initiative
- Innovation & creativity
- Flexibility & globalization
- Team management
- Developing others
ASSUMPTION: The preferred skills listed are not required but would be beneficial for success in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $115,000 - $140,000 (USD) per year
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Employee discounts and perks
- Tuition reimbursement
- Employee assistance program
Working Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with occasional non-traditional work hours as needed for emergency and crisis communications
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for this role and experience level. Benefits may vary based on the company's benefits package.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Utilities. Avangrid is a leading energy company in the United States, working to meet the growing demand for energy through service, innovation, and continued investments in grid infrastructure and energy generation projects.
Company Size: Avangrid has approximately 8,000 employees and is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A.
Founded: Avangrid was founded in 2015 as a result of the merger of Iberdrola USA and UIL Holdings Corporation.
Company Description:
- Avangrid is a leading energy company in the United States, working to meet the growing demand for energy through service, innovation, and continued investments in grid infrastructure and energy generation projects.
- The company has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Oregon, including operations in 24 states with approximately $47 billion in assets.
- Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates more than 75 energy generation facilities across the United States, producing over 9GW of power for over 2.2 million customers.
Company Specialties:
- Electric Distribution
- Utilities
- Gas Distribution
- Electric Transmission
- Renewable Energy
- Onshore Wind
- Offshore Wind
Company Website: avangrid.com
ASSUMPTION: Avangrid is a large, well-established company with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability in the energy industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level management
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Senior Manager - Communications
Work Arrangement: On-site, with occasional non-traditional work hours as needed for emergency and crisis communications
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential advancement to a senior management role within the communications department
- Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and initiatives
- Possibility to gain experience in a large, multinational organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate office environment
Office Location(s): 180 Marsh Hill Rd, Orange, Connecticut 06477, US
Geographic Context:
- Orange, Connecticut is a suburban town located in New Haven County, with a population of approximately 13,000 people.
- The area offers a mix of urban and rural environments, with easy access to New York City and other major metropolitan areas.
- The cost of living in Orange is relatively high compared to other areas in Connecticut.
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with occasional non-traditional work hours as needed for emergency and crisis communications
ASSUMPTION: The work environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on collaboration and teamwork.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other team members
- Final interview with the senior manager or director
- Background check and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication skills, both written and verbal
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Adaptability and resilience to change
- Ability to manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
- Cultural fit and alignment with company values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your communication-related work, such as press releases, Q&As, or crisis communication plans
- Research Avangrid's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit for the role
ATS Keywords: Communication, Strategic Planning, Media Relations, Public Relations, Crisis Communications, Social Media Management, Content Development, Leadership, Collaboration, Adaptability, Analytical Skills, Customer Focus, Team Management, Innovation, Creativity
ASSUMPTION: Avangrid uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage job applications, so including relevant keywords in your resume can help your application be noticed.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Crisis communication software (e.g., OnSolve, Everbridge)
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
- Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used may vary depending on the department and team.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Safety: Prioritizing the safety of employees, customers, and the community
- Integrity: Acting with honesty and transparency in all aspects of work
- Responsibility: Taking ownership of tasks and decisions, and being accountable for results
- Innovation: Encouraging creativity and continuous improvement
- Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Strong focus on collaboration and teamwork
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Occasional non-traditional work hours as needed for emergency and crisis communications
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have experience creating and editing corporate and financial communication materials?
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with occasional non-traditional work hours?
- Do you possess strong strategic and analytical capabilities, as well as excellent communication skills?
- Are you able to manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders effectively?
ASSUMPTION: Avangrid values employees who are adaptable, resilient, and able to work effectively in a team environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Occasional non-traditional work hours as needed for emergency and crisis communications
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines
- Managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Navigating a large, multinational organization with diverse teams and stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: These challenges may require strong time management, prioritization, and communication skills to overcome.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Manager - Communications vs. Director - Communications: A manager role typically has more focused responsibilities and reports directly to a director, while a director role has broader strategic responsibilities and oversees multiple managers.
- Manager - Communications vs. Public Relations Specialist: A manager role involves overseeing the work of others and making strategic decisions, while a public relations specialist role focuses on executing tactical tasks and may not have direct reports.
- Manager - Communications vs. Marketing Manager: A communications manager role focuses on internal and external messaging, while a marketing manager role focuses on promoting products, services, or brands to drive revenue growth.
ASSUMPTION: This role is most similar to a Director - Communications role, but with more focused responsibilities and direct reporting to a senior manager.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a crisis communication plan for a major storm event
- Creating and distributing a quarterly financial press release for the company
- Managing a team to create and edit corporate and financial communication materials, including press releases, Q&As, and communication platforms on all corporate matters
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and the level of strategic thinking required for this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the biggest challenges facing the communications department currently, and how can this role help address them?
- How does this role collaborate with other departments, such as customer service, government relations, and regulatory affairs?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the company?
- How does the company support work-life balance for employees, particularly in a role with occasional non-traditional work hours?
- What is the company's approach to innovation and continuous improvement in the communications department?
ASSUMPTION: These questions can help you better understand the role, the company culture, and the opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your communication-related work, such as press releases, Q&As, or crisis communication plans
- Research Avangrid's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
