Media Relations Specialist

Agency:  Illinois Power Agency 
Closing Date/Time:  05/22/2024 
Salary:  $65,000 - $75,000 
Job Type:  Salaried 
County:  Adams; Alexander; Bond; Boone; Brown; Bureau; Calhoun; Carroll; Cass; Champaign; Christian; Clark; Clay; Clinton; Coles; Cook; Crawford; Cumberland; DeKalb; DeWitt; Douglas; DuPage; Edgar; Edwards; Effingham; Fayette; Ford; Franklin; Fulton; Gallatin; Greene; Grundy; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardin; Henderson; Henry; Iroquois; Jackson; Jasper; Jefferson; Jersey; Jo Daviess; Johnson ; Kane; Kankakee; Kendall; Knox; LaSalle; Lake; Lawrence; Lee; Livingston; Logan; Macon; Macoupin; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Mason; Massac; McDonough; McHenry; McLean; Menard; Mercer; Monroe; Montgomery; Morgan; Moultrie; Ogle; Peoria; Perry; Piatt; Pike; Pope; Pulaski; Putnam; Randolph; Richland; Rock Island; Saline; Sangamon; Schuyler; Scott; Shelby; St. Clair; Stark; Stephenson; Tazewell; Union; Vermilion; Wabash; Warren; Washington; Wayne; White; Whiteside; Will; Williamson; Winnebago; Woodford 
Number of Vacancies:  1 
 

****************A RESUME IS REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING****************

Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document that is not a Resume or CV.

Work Hours:  Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM 
Work Location: 105 W Madison St Chicago, IL 60602-4602 
Posting Group: Environmental & Natural Resources; Arts, Design & Cultural; Legal, Audit & Compliance 

Illinois Power Agency

Media Relations Specialist

The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) is seeking a Media Relations Specialist. The IPA Media Relations Specialist will work under the direction of the Chief Strategy & Communications Officer in all aspects of the development and implementation of the IPA’s media-based communication strategies. Additionally, the IPA Media Relations Specialist will work on promoting success stories of the IPA solar incentive programs, increasing visibility of the Agency’s equity initiatives in the clean energy economy, and producing compelling content on the Agency’s work related to power procurement for residential and small commercial customers of Illinois electric utilities.

The IPA Media Relations Specialist will report to the Chief Strategy and Communications Officer but is also expected to work closely with the Agency Director, Chief Legal Counsel, Consumer Protection Counsel, Planning and Procurement Chief, Program Managers, and other key Agency staff.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement media relations strategies for the IPA to broaden the media’s understanding of the Agency and its activities related to power procurement, expansion of renewable resources to support the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, and equity initiatives to accelerate the clean energy economy for underserved and disadvantaged communities in Illinois.
• Work closely with the IPA Program Administrators in pitching success stories of the IPA’s solar incentive programs.
• Work closely with the IPA Program Administrators on developing program materials for media.
• Manage day-to-day media relations such as setting up interviews for IPA subject-matter experts, including coordinating logistics and briefing materials.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the IPA subject matter experts to determine appropriate media responses in a timely manner.
• Serve as the IPA’s official media contact.
• Develop written press materials —press releases, talking points, story pitches, spokesperson media training, and media briefs.
• Manage the approval process for media statements with the Agency’s key staff.
• Build the IPA’s crisis communications plan and serve as the Agency’s point-of-contact during crisis.
• Cultivate and maintain knowledge of and relationships with key news media outlets (local, state,  national, and trade).
• Track and measure media coverage for the IPA.
• Maintain targeted media lists.
• Develop weekly news clips for all IPA staff and IPA Program Administrators.
• Other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, or communications.
• At least 5 years of experience in media relations or experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Highly organized with a strong sense of deadlines.
• Ability to execute multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Detail-oriented and extremely organized.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to use independent judgment and to gather, manage and impart information to the media.
• Ability to think strategically and critically on issues.
• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to keep up with current trends in media and communication.
• Capable of working well as part of a team as well as independently.
• Strong knowledge of local and trade media contacts and/or a proven ability to develop such relationships quickly.
• Inherent drive for innovative solutions and approaches.
• Ability to provide effective advice and counsel on strategic and/or critical communication issues and exercise effective judgement.
• Knowledge of journalism, public relations and general communications principles and practices.
• Ability to investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions.
• Must have knowledge of AP Stylebook.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of clean energy or electric utilities preferred.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office 365 applications preferred.

The Media Relations Specialist is prohibited from: (i) owning, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the voting capital stock of an electric utility, independent power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier; (ii) being in any chain of successive ownership of 5% or more of the voting capital stock of any electric utility, independent power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier; (iii) receiving any form of compensation, fee, payment, or other consideration from an electric utility, independent power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier, including legal fees, consulting fees, bonuses, or other sums. These limitations do not apply to any compensation received pursuant to a defined benefit plan or other form of deferred compensation, provided that the individual has otherwise severed all ties to the utility, power producer, power marketer, or alternative retail electric supplier.

This is a merit compensation position. Position Salary Range: $65,000 – $75,000.

The position is a hybrid position and may require in-office work periodically.

To apply, please submit a cover letter that describes your interest in and qualifications for the position, resume, three professional references, and a diverse portfolio (in PDF) showing several examples of press releases, op-eds, media pitches, talking points etc.  

Applications without a cover letter describing the applicant’s relevant experience and why the applicant would be a strong candidate for this position will not be reviewed for consideration.

No phone calls please.

The Illinois Power Agency is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.