Specialist, Media & Public Relations_

This position will be responsible for supporting proactive development and execution of external communications plans, fostering a positive public perception of Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas. This includes outreach and education on safety initiatives, infrastructure projects, community and corporate citizenship, customer communications, environmental initiatives, crisis response and more. Work will be conducted under the guidance of the PR & Media Relations Supervisor.The PR and Media Strategist will work closely with peer team members and collaborate with internal and external business partners on a variety of initiatives. The person in this role must be detail-oriented, creative, have a solid understanding of corporate communication principles and strong writing and presentation skills. The position also supports departmental needs related to educational and outreach efforts including advertising, media relations, social media.**Functional Expertise:**+ Proactively identify, propose and execute communications-related initiatives tied to business unit success and corporate strategy+ Develop and execute market-specific communications plans to support business programs and initiatives, including conducting regular reviews to determine effectiveness and future opportunities+ Write, edit and distribute approved press releases, media advisories and statements, talking points, etc., ensuring consistency in brand positioning and key messaging+ Help develop and maintain external communications editorial calendar, inclusive of executive presence+ Help develop and maintain good working relationships with regional, local and trade media+ Serve as company spokesperson as needed+ Work closely with colleagues across the business to provide incident response support and participate in periodic crisis drills+ Assist in developing and executing support of media and public relations plans+ Provide planning and execution support as needed for events+ Supports content development for website and social media accounts+ Supports customer communications+ Archive all media clips and produce coverage reports. Measure and report on ROI of various communications campaigns/initiatives, optimizing to ensure effectiveness and maximum performance+ Supports efforts to keep department organized and on track, and other duties as needed or assigned**Business Acumen:**+ Ensure media and PR plans align with business objectives and are consistent with company goals+ Position leaders as energy and subject matter experts with media+ Track and analyze media coverage and create regular reports for distribution+ Implement or drive process improvements+ Support event development and management+ Keep current with trends and innovations in PR and media relations and keep abreast of such activities of companies similar to ours**Engagement:**+ Collaborate with peers and business leaders across the company to achieve PR goals+ Coordinate information sharing and communication activities with other corporate communications team members, as well as consultants, business units and other functional groups+ Role model honesty, respect, organizational values and fairness towards all**Driving Results:**+ Monitor progress against metrics/deliverables+ Hold self and others accountable for results**Education, Certifications/Licenses:**Required:+ Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing or similar combination of education and work experience.Preferred:+ Advanced degree or APR (Accredited in Public Relations) or ABC (Accredited Business Communicator) certification.**Related Work Experience:**Required:+ Minimum 5 yearsPreferred:+ Core Public Relations, Media Relations, Community Relations, Crisis Communications+ Experience in energy sector and Georgia media markets a plus+ Executive communications experience (speechwriting, presentation support) a plus**Specific Skills & Knowledge:**Required:+ Exceptionally strong written and verbal skills+ Enterprise-perspective with client-focused attitude+ Public relations skills (writing a release, drafting key messages, drafting PR/media plan, story pitching, relationship building; understanding of media role)+ Proven relationship-building skills at all levels within an organization+ Strategic thinker with ability to translate complex concepts into easy-to-understand and relatable ones for consumers+ Strategic judgment in messaging, editing and creative review+ Proficient use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat and media monitoring programs+ A strong understanding of new web technologies, social media development, and other relevant technology-based communications vehicles. Stays current with relevant technology and innovation.+ Self-starter with exceptional follow-through skills+ Ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines and large workloads while coordinating fast-paced projects on time and on budget.+ Ability to hold self and others accountable for results+ Keen understanding of calculating and reporting PR/media ROI+ Strong understanding and comfort level with social media initiatives**Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:**+ Occasional Traveler (5-20% travel): The incumbent will be required to travel on occasion, as COVID-19 rules allow. Trips may require air travel and/or overnight stay away from home for one or more nights.+ Serves as 24/7 on-call company spokesperson for crisis response, in coordination with peers, and must be available for off-hour duties when crises occur.**Disclaimer:** This information describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job. The description is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required in the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to qualified disabled individuals for performance of essential duties and responsibilities.**About Southern Company Gas**Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com .Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million residential and commercial customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network, and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience, and sustainability, we are taking action to meet our customers’ and communities’ needs while advancing our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.Job Identification: 7309Job Category: Communications & External AffairsJob Schedule: Full timeCompany: AGL Services Company