External Communications Specialist

About the position

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.

Responsibilities

  • 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 audiences

Requirements

  • 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 papers
  • 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.

Benefits

  • health benefits package
  • opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career
  • benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals
  • 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!
  • learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!
Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...