The Role:

For over 165 years, NW Natural has provided safe, affordable, and reliable energy across the Northwest. Our public affairs team supports the continued growth of Oregon and Southwest Washington by fostering strong communities and relationships with public officials as well as advancing innovative solutions.

The Government & Community Affairs Manager – Washington builds and maintains relationships with government officials, community leaders, business and civic organizations, allied trades and labor, and other key stakeholders to work together with NW Natural in addressing complex energy and community challenges. This role engages at both the local level (Clark County) and state level (Washington) to support reliable, affordable energy delivery for our customers and improve the Company’s operating environment.

Based in Southwest Washington (Vancouver Service Center), the manager represents NW Natural across a range of settings, including government and community meetings, legislative engagement in Olympia, and coordination with internal teams and regional partners. The role supports initiatives such as infrastructure development, climate action planning, and community investment, while helping stakeholders understand key issues including energy reliability, safety, and emerging technologies.

This position serves as a key connector across government relations, community engagement, and business priorities.

• Local Government Relations:
  • Serves as the primary liaison to Clark County and city jurisdictions, building relationships, supporting consensus-building, and navigating complex policy and community issues with agency staff and elected officials
  • Represents the company in public forums and digital advocacy as needed
  • Is part of the Local Government Affairs Team and reports to the Director of Local Government Affairs

• State Government Relations:
• • Supports the Director of State and Federal Government Affairs in State of Washington and partners with the state affairs team to maintain relationships with legislators and agency staff, and represents company interests (including NW Natural Water)
  • Monitors and responds to legislative (and sometimes regulatory) developments

• Community Engagement:
  • Advances NW Natural’s presence as a community partner through participation in business, civic, and economic development organizations
  • Identifies and coordinates community investment opportunities in partnership with the Community Relations team

This role requires strategic thinking, sound judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities. The ideal candidate is a proactive relationship-builder and strategic thinker who can operate effectively across diverse stakeholders and help deliver measurable outcomes aligned with company and community goals.

Day to Day:

• Support the Company’s commitment to a culture of safe work practices
• Build and maintain relationships with government, business, labor, and community stakeholders to support service territory retention, franchise management, economic growth, streamlined permitting, energy literacy, and healthy communities
• Represent NW Natural in community, civic, and governmental settings (including written and verbal testimony), communicating company priorities and advancing strategic partnerships
• Monitor and analyze local and state policy, regulatory activity, and community issues; develop strategies to advance opportunities and mitigate risks in alignment with company and customer interests
• Partner with internal teams (State Affairs, Regulatory, Environmental Policy, Marketing, and Operations) to support policy development, infrastructure projects, climate action planning, pilot projects, and jurisdictional coordination
• Lead community education efforts on energy topics including decarbonization, resiliency, safety, joint energy system planning, affordability, and resource adequacy through presentations, events, and outreach
• Coordinate engagement with civic, economic development, and community-based organizations to support business growth and community investment priorities
• Plan and execute company participation in community events, sponsorships, and partnerships, including evaluating outcomes and coordinating with Community Relations team and Philanthropy manager; support using NW Natural’s event canopies and mobile cook wagon
• Representing company in digital advocacy and external communications, serving as a liaison with Corporate Communications and local media as needed
• Contribute to emergency response preparedness through participation in External Affairs/Incident Command planning and execution
• Maintain working knowledge of gas and water systems to effectively represent company operations
• Perform other duties as assigned, including travel within the service territory and occasional overnight travel

Come on your first day with:

• A Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of community/government/public relations/sales experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• General knowledge of local, state and federal government structures and/or operations
• Ability to influence others to modify their positions and/or negotiate to an acceptable solution
• Ability to support policy creation with community, business, and customer stakeholders; ability and interest in facilitating positive outcomes with stakeholders where disagreement or controversy is present
• Proven ability to analyze data, solve problems, and provide actionable insights and business recommendations
• Experience in fast-paced legislative or political environments
• Knowledge of utilities or regulatory frameworks, business and political environments a plus
• Strong verbal communication skills on an individual and group presentation basis, including facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
• Strong interpersonal skills including effectively consulting with internal and external customers regarding issues which may be sensitive in nature; proven ability to work with all levels of an organization with tact, confidentiality, and diplomacy to develop and maintain collaborative efforts
• Ability to respond to government leaders, customers and partners with tact and diplomacy
• Ability to create, track and manage an area budget based on departmental and engagement priorities
• Effective time management skills and ability to prioritize projects

• Advanced computer skills and the ability to apply them to various Company systems and word-processing, spreadsheet and data base applications
• Possess and maintain a valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record. Must obtain a valid Oregon/Washington driver's license within 90 days if current valid license is from another state  
• Must be available to work some evenings and weekends 

Additional Qualifications – Senior Level

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (Public Policy, Business, Communications, or related field)
• Minimum of 8+ years of experience, including demonstrated experience operating at a strategic level
• Demonstrated experience developing and leading government or community affairs strategies across multiple stakeholders or jurisdictions
• Established relationships with local and/or state government entities and a record of influencing policy or outcomes
• Ability to lead complex negotiations and manage sensitive political or community issues independently
• Experience advising senior leaders and translating business objectives into external engagement strategies
• Advanced analytical capability to assess political, regulatory, and business risks and opportunities and recommend strategy
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including influencing cross-functional teams and driving alignment across stakeholders
• Knowledge of utility, regulatory, or energy policy environments required