Join a diverse and dynamic team that makes and delivers the most valuable services in the world: electricity and natural gas. At Consumers Energy, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Our employees work around the clock to provide service to our customers in honor of our history and to fulfill our promise to Michigan - Count on Us! Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy and headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
This person will manage key company sponsorships and in-person and virtual events that support strategic companywide initiatives for Consumers Energy/CMS Energy and promote a clean energy future in Michigan. This position requires previous experience managing events and a budget as well as a strong skill set in relationship building and cross functional team execution. Project management, creative thinking, problem solving and negotiation skills will be essential.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborates with a broad group of cross-functional partners to develop and execute in-person and virtual events and sponsorships. Foster and develop relationships to ensure project timelines are met and conflict is resolved or escalated in a timely fashion
- Manages the events budget. Identifies changes impacting the budget and proactively communicate implications and recommendations
- Negotiates with sponsors and vendors to get best value for the Company and its stakeholders and maximized cost, quality and delivery. Also manages events toolkit with vendor.
- Manages events calendar and develops inclusive communications plans to achieve desired goals/results
- Focuses on actions, goals, and objectives to coincide with the mission, vision, and values of our Company and essential business goals
Requirements:
Overview
The Communications Job Family is utilized in the Government and Public Affairs department of the Company. This job family provides advice and council regarding communications activities for all areas of the Company. Responsible for developing and creating information, educational programs and other informative processes for disseminating informational, educational, and promotional materials.
Nature of Work
The essence of the work that is performed by the Communications Job Family is a wide variety of business functions, at times involving very specific business disciplines.
At the lowest level in this job family, the work performed may tend to be of a routine and less complex nature where the work responsibilities can be proficiently performed after a relatively short training period. At this level the employee is more likely to be able to move to different functional areas of the Company.
At the highest levels in this job family the work performed will tend to be of a complex nature involving knowledge of various functional/specialized disciplines where the work responsibilities can only be proficiently performed after a relatively long training / experience-related time period and often requires an advanced degree. The work environment often includes dealing with risk and limiting exposure.
Leadership, management, facilitation and interaction with senior management will be markedly increased at the mid - highest levels of this job family while the need for direction and supervision will be markedly decreased. While problem solving and analysis will likely be required at all levels, recommendation and implementation becomes the norm at the highest levels and will often have a major bearing on the company's business. In addition, skills such as the ability to think on your feet, composure under fire and effective communication across all levels of the organization and with outside customers/clients become more finely honed at the higher levels.
Essential Functions:
Plans and manages strategic events programs concerning the activities of the Company. Formulates procedures, policies, and guidelines for assigned communications programs. Performs duties of unusual significance or importance to the Company. Makes recommendations in areas of expertise. Develops program goals and plans for implementation. Develops alternative strategies for programs based on analysis and research in an assigned specialty area. Acts as a liaison with other agencies, organizations, and employees to coordinate communications programs. Serves as a technical advisor and liaison with industry, community groups, and/or governmental agencies. Completes special projects. Performs related work as assigned. Exemplifies safe work practices and follows the Company's compliance standards. Regular attendance is expected.
Hours and Travel:
Meet travel requirements of the position. Work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear. The employee must lift and move up to twenty pounds. The recommended maximum weight for employees to lift without the aid of other employees or a lifting device is 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Position will be filled at the appropriate salary grade based upon the skills, knowledge, and experience of the selected candidate.
All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.