Community Affairs Manager

Summary

Join Brightspeed, a company reimagining connectivity, as a Community Affairs Manager. This remote role, based near Montgomery, AL, focuses on building and maintaining relationships with government officials and community leaders to support Brightspeed's broadband initiatives. You will advocate for broadband grants, engage in community outreach, and coordinate with internal teams. The position requires experience in government affairs or public sector grant advocacy, strong communication skills, and an understanding of local politics. Brightspeed offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or the equivalent in relevant training or experience
• 3+ years of experience in a state/local government affairs environment or experience with public sector grant advocacy
• Have worked within local community engagement and public affairs roles
• Demonstrate a high degree of personal and professional integrity due to the nature of information involved and the public visibility of this position
• Comfortable with an ever-changing technology and industry landscape
• Enjoy working independently as well as with cross functional teams, and you exhibit energy, business intelligence, and a drive for success
• Have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect and engage with diverse groups and individuals
• Have an understanding of state and local politics
• Have strong problem-solving, partnership, and collaboration skills
• Have strong verbal and written communications skills and analytical abilities

Responsibilities

• Meet regularly with mayors, city council members, county commissioners, administrators, and staff of key cities and counties to articulate the Company’s vision and plans and to obtain support for Brightspeed initiatives especially broadband grants
• Maintain ongoing relationships with local government and community leaders
• Provide support to Brightspeed’s Broadband Office for community outreach associated with broadband grants
• Engage with localities regarding the Brightspeed fiber build plan in defined areas within the state or neighboring states
• Analyze broadband grant requirements and executing on the company’s strategic plan of maximizing the award of broadband grants from various state and federal broadband grant programs
• Establish and maintain relationships with local chambers of commerce, economic development councils, and local community groups to build and enhance the business and community reputation of Brightspeed
• Act as principal contact for Brightspeed’s state Network Operations team on local government issues and resolution of constituent inquiries
• Coordinate with various departments within Brightspeed, such as Real Estate, Engineering, Regulatory Operations, and Legal on local and state government issues
• Support and advance the goals of local go-to-market programs
• Coordinate with Brightspeed Corporate Communications on proactive and reactive public messaging
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key public and government officials and other industry players
• Monitor state legislative activity especially pertaining to telecom and broadband issues

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the telecommunications/cable industry (e.g., wireline, wireless, broadband, cable)
• Knowledge of, and experience working on, federal, state, local, broadband, and telecommunications issues
• Have been working with broadband grant funding such as (e.g., ARPA, BEAD)
• Public policy implementation experience
• An extensive portfolio of relationships across government entities especially local government within existing Brightspeed service territory
• Time spent on local community engagement, public affairs, and grants

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits
• Competitive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• An employee assistance program
• A 401K plan with company match
• A host of voluntary benefits
• Paid time off programs
• Remote work