Communications Manager

We’re looking for the best and brightest to join our dynamic and innovative cooperative!

Our employees are key to our successes and we depend on our talented and dedicated staff to power Kauai. We offer a meaningful work environment, career development, competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is looking for a *Communications Manager* to perform all work necessary to design and execute Communications strategies, programs, and activities with the goal of providing comprehensive and accurate information while securing strong community and public support for KIUC

*This position requires the incumbent to be physically on-site. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.*

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is an award winning and dynamic not-for-profit electric cooperative. Formed in 2002, KIUC is an industry leader in the transformation to a clean and modern renewable energy future. Member-owned, the cooperative is focused on improving the quality of life for its 34,000 members and is one of 900+ electric co-ops serving more than 40 million members in 47 states. KIUC may be relatively small in size, but its bold leadership in renewable innovation has had an enormous positive impact on the global transition to 100% clean energy. KIUC has led utilities in the State of Hawaii in both reliability and renewable production for the past two years.

DATE: 10/28/2026

Essential duties/responsibilities/functions (include, but not limited to the following)

• Oversees Communications NBU staff (one direct report) to ensure the duties are met in an effective and efficient manner. Provides coaching and professional development opportunities for direct report, supports succession planning, and holds direct report accountable for performance while promoting a respectful, collaborative, and high-performing work environment.
• Works closely with the President & CEO, the Board of Directors, and Senior Management to ensure the Communications department’s initiatives align with KIUC’s mission and objectives.
• Develops strategies and advises executive management regarding controversial, politically sensitive, legally sensitive, or high-profile matters involving KIUC, its members, regulators, government officials, media, community stakeholders, or other external parties.
• Directs KIUC’s internal and external communications strategy, including traditional and digital communications, media relations, member communications, community outreach, executive communications, website and social media communications, brand management, and reputation management.
• Develops and directs crisis and emergency communications strategies and plans. Leads or coordinates communications during outages, natural disasters, public safety events, cybersecurity incidents, operational emergencies, and other significant events in coordination with Operations, Safety, Legal, Information Technology, Senior Management, governmental agencies, and other appropriate parties.
• Develops and strengthens relationships with key community organizations, media representatives, government officials, members, business leaders, industry counterparts, and other stakeholders.
• Ensures KIUC is represented at public events, community activities, industry forums, governmental proceedings, and other stakeholder activities as needed.
• Supports KIUC’s Key Accounts program, Energy Services initiatives, Demand Side Management programs, and related member engagement programs as required.
• Establishes and monitors communications standards, departmental performance measures, and continuous-improvement initiatives designed to enhance member satisfaction, responsiveness, service quality, and organizational effectiveness. Ensures department operations are conducted in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, tariffs, policies, procedures, safety requirements, and organizational standards.
• Manages O&M and capital budgets for Communications. Assists direct report with budgetary and goal preplanning. Monitors progress and costs incurred to carry out departmental plans and provides regular reports to the President & CEO to assure compliance with goals & budgetary constraints.
• Engaged in long-term planning; responsible for departmental strategy and mission attainment through the development of goals and objectives for Communications. Establishes departmental performance measures and service standards, evaluates results, and implements corrective actions or continuous improvement initiatives when appropriate.
• Provides recommendations regarding Communications systems, technologies, equipment, and process improvements.
• Oversees contracts with third-party vendors such as Pioneer Utility Resources (PUR), graphic design service providers, election consultants, and others.
• Supports Member Services in the utilization of the Everbridge mass notification system.
• Administers KIUC policies in a fair, consistent, and equitable manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the President & CEO.

Knowledge/Education/Certification/License Requirements

* Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field, or any equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

* Must possess, or be able to obtain, a valid State of Hawaii Driver's License.

* Additional training in marketing, supervision, desktop publishing, and advertising is highly desirable.

Kind and Length of Experience

• Minimum eight (8) years’ experience in a progressively responsible Communications position is preferred.
• Minimum six (6) years’ experience in a leadership role which required good decision-making, problem solving, and conflict management/resolution skills required.

* Experience working with community stakeholders, media, or other public-facing constituencies is strongly preferred. Experience in the electric utility industry, an electric cooperative, or another highly regulated and publicly visible organization is preferred.

* Significant experience in positive handling of high-profile communications issues, demonstrating sound judgment and persuasive counseling to Senior Management required.

* Experience with a consumer-owned or publicly-held utility system, and crisis communications preferred.

* Demonstrated leadership, initiative, quality management, goal setting, results attainment, relationship building, shared decision-making, teamwork, and media & community relations experience required.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

* Ability to understand electric utility operations, industry terminology, regulatory requirements, and issues sufficiently to communicate effectively with members, government officials, media, regulators, employees, and other stakeholders.

* Demonstrated executive-level judgment, strategic thinking, leadership, and organizational awareness.

* Demonstrated ability to build relationships with Senior Management, effectively manage differences in opinions, and interface effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

* Effective team player, with well-honed listening skills and the ability to work calmly in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Ability to train, mentor and influence leaders and team members towards more effective projects and change management approaches.

* Ability to make sound decisions quickly and efficiently. Exhibits capacity to embrace change and quickly adapt to new situations, changes in direction and altering priorities.

* Thorough working knowledge of desktop publishing, media communication techniques, marketing, advertising public and media relations, public speaking, copywriting, and publication editing is preferred.

* Must be detail-oriented and possess strong time management skills, with the ability to effectively prioritize and execute multiple concurrent priorities and projects.

* Demonstrated experience with budget management, strong decision-making and problem-solving skills required.

* Must be able to consistently and fairly enforce KIUC safety rules and policies, and to handle private, sensitive, and confidential information within KIUC guidelines.

* Proficiency with computers, and applications to include Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Publisher is required.

* Must possess the ability to speak effectively to large groups.

* Ability to work with and direct personnel to include motivation, training and leading in a positive manner by creating a respectful work environment.

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write news releases, reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from the Board of Directors, Senior Management, employees, customers, vendors, contractors, the media, and the public.

* Ability to effectively communicate with employees, and to provide guidance and direction as needed.

Mathematical Skills

* Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

* Ability to apply complex mathematical concepts related to utility operations and engineering.

* Ability to analyze financial and accounting statements as pertains to budgets.

Reasoning Ability

* Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and communicate required corrective action.

* Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

* Works in an office environment, frequently sitting or standing to use a computer and attend meetings, moving around a multi-story building to access files or equipment, and using standard office machinery.

* Frequently communicates and exchanges accurate information and ideas with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

* Constantly requires close visual acuity for extensive reading, document preparation, and spreadsheet data analysis on computer monitors.

* Maintains the visual capability and physical awareness necessary to safely navigate variable indoor or outdoor terrain and operate a motor vehicle for business purposes.

* Occasionally moves, positions, or transports parcels, boxes, and office materials weighing up to 45 pounds.

* Frequent exposure to standard indoor office environments, with occasional exposure to typical outdoor weather, dust, varying temperatures, and industrial noise during off-site travel.

* Occasionally requires working flexible or extended hours and traveling locally or off-island to attend training or represent the business.

Safety Responsibilities

* Follow all OSHA safety standards, company safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.

* Perform work in a safe manner and use required personal protective equipment (PPE) when applicable.

* Identify, report, and help mitigate unsafe conditions, hazards, near misses, and incidents.

* Participate in required safety training, meetings, and emergency preparedness activities.

* Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.

* Promote a culture of safety by encouraging safe work practices and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Designs and executes Communications strategies, programs, and activities with the goal of providing comprehensive and accurate information while securing strong community and public support for KIUC. Acts as primary liaison between KIUC and the media. Supervises and supports Communications staff while ensuring alignment between departmental initiatives and KIUC’s strategic goals, principles, and mission. Serves as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO, Board of Directors, and Senior Management on matters affecting KIUC’s members, reputation, media relations, community outreach activities, stakeholder relationships, and organizational objectives. Responsible for accounting, budgeting, processing, tracking of Communications programs and activities.