Director Federal Government Affairs – External Affairs

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better, and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. [SC00]

The Director of Federal Government Affairs represents the organization’s policy and regulatory positions to elected representatives and their staff, as well as to officials and staff in the executive branch and other agencies.

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid position)

The Director of Federal Government Affairs involves direct engagement with Senate, House, and/or Administration officials and staff on a variety of issue areas central to FirstEnergy. Ideal candidates will have proven ability in communicating and advocating complex issues, including demonstrated successful experience working closely with policymakers, policymaker staff, and stakeholders on shared public policy objectives. Candidates should have a minimum of 12 or more years of professional experience in Senate, House, Administration, government affairs, campaign, energy policy and/or advocacy roles. Positions within committee, leadership offices, or other senior government roles within the executive branch are highly preferred.

Responsibilities include:

• Advance a proactive advocacy plan in support of FirstEnergy’s policy and business objectives, including working to advance legislation, regulatory changes, and general support favorable to the organization’s business growth.
• Develop and maintain key relationships, including serving as FirstEnergy’s direct point of contact with members of Congress, staff members and/or Administration officials.
• Work closely with the federal affairs and regulatory affairs and policy teams on ongoing engagement of key legislative activity, including bill analysis and tracking; attending hearings, briefings and mark ups; and general legislative monitoring.
• Collaborate with the Vice President, External Affairs, to provide guidance and counsel internally regarding federal public policy issues that may impact the organization, including anticipating and preparing for trends in energy and business policy, with specific focus across FirstEnergy’s lines of business.
• Provide ongoing direction and partnership with contract lobbyists and strategic advisors as it relates to priority areas of work and advocacy approaches.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining a variety of written materials to help advance advocacy goals, including district and policy one-pagers; talking points; internal memos; and background materials.
• In partnership with the Vice President, External Affairs department, represent FirstEnergy’s viewpoint in various trade associations. Build and maintain strong and collaborative relationships within the electric utility community.
• Work closely with the PAC Board, on various PAC activities, including PAC contribution recommendations and disbursement strategies; internal PAC fundraising; and drafting of PAC communication materials.
• Work closely with various internal business units, including providing regular updates and briefings; staffing of senior leaders during engagements to Washington, D.C., and numerous other efforts to enhance the connection between the organization to federal policymakers and other key stakeholders.
• Work closely with State & Local Government Affairs and Regulatory Affairs on multi-tiered strategy that crosses our state footprint and at the federal level.
• Partner within a matrixed organization to drive business outcomes.
• Mentor and grow an outstanding federal affairs team, managing competing priorities and a multi-issue, multi-cameral agenda.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant degree area, such as public policy, communications, energy and environmental studies, political science, business or other field.
• Minimum of 12-15 of professional experience in Senate, House, Administration, government affairs, campaign, energy policy and/or advocacy roles.
• Proven ability to create and implement advocacy strategy, including clear record of achieving short and long term milestones as it relates to advancing policy, political and/or advocacy goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, analytical, and organizational skills, including an ability to write well under deadlines pressures.
• Keen understanding of how the legislative and regulatory process, along with the general federal environment, impacts business organizations.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships.

Preferred qualifications but not required:

• Law degree or Master’s in Public Administration/Policy
• Experience leading within a Washington, DC government affairs office and working with an industry trade association
• Positions within committee, leadership offices, or other senior government roles within the executive branch are highly preferred
• Knowledge of energy/environmental issues

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification

Exempt

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team

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