Community Relations Ambassador - VV

Role Purpose

We are seeking a trusted, locally connected community relations professional to support respectful, transparent, and productive engagement between the company and the communities where it is exploring development opportunities.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

This person will serve as a local ambassador and relationship-builder — helping us better understand community concerns, identify key stakeholders, facilitate conversations, and ensure local voices are heard and reflected throughout the engagement process.

The ideal candidate is someone who is well established in the community, respected by local residents and organizations, and able to communicate with maturity, empathy, discretion, and balance.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Position Overview

The Community Relations Ambassador will help us build constructive relationships with residents, civic leaders, local organizations, business groups, schools, community stakeholders, and other regional voices. This person will not be expected to act as a technical expert, lobbyist, or spokesperson for every project detail. Instead, the role is intended to help open doors, listen thoughtfully, identify concerns early, and serve as a trusted bridge between the company and the community.

This may be an ideal opportunity for a former elected official, chamber of commerce leader, economic development professional, utility/community relations professional, educator, coach, nonprofit leader, retired or semi-retired civic leader, or other individual with strong local credibility and relationship skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted local liaison between our company and the surrounding community.
• Help identify and map key community stakeholders, including residents, local officials, civic organizations, business groups, school/community leaders, neighborhood groups, and other influential voices.
• Support small-group conversations, listening sessions, and one-on-one stakeholder engagement.
• Help us understand local concerns, sensitivities, expectations, and community dynamics.
• Provide feedback to the the team on community sentiment, recurring questions, opposition themes, and opportunities for constructive engagement.
• Help identify credible local supporters, neutral stakeholders, and individuals who may be open to learning more.
• Assist with outreach to local organizations, such as chambers of commerce, business associations, schools, sports/community groups, civic clubs, and other trusted networks.
• Support the planning and execution of community engagement activities, including informal meetings, listening sessions, briefings, and educational conversations.
• Help collect questions and concerns from the community so the project team can respond clearly and responsibly.
• Maintain a respectful, calm, and professional presence in sensitive or emotionally charged conversations.
• Help ensure communications are grounded in transparency, respect, good-neighbor principles, and community benefit.
• Identify opportunities for the company to support local priorities, partnerships, sponsorships, or community-benefit initiatives where appropriate.
• Work with the the team to determine when broader public meetings are useful versus when smaller, more targeted conversations are more constructive.
• Provide periodic updates and recommendations to the project team.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidate will likely be someone who:

• Lives in or has strong ties to the local county or surrounding region.
• Is already known and respected by local residents, civic leaders, business owners, educators, or community organizations.
• Has experience in community relations, public service, economic development, local government, utility/community affairs, education, nonprofit leadership, chamber leadership, or civic engagement.
• Is a good listener and can de-escalate tense conversations.
• Has a softer, approachable communication style and can build trust with people who may be skeptical or concerned.
• Understands local politics, community personalities, and regional sensitivities.
• Can represent a company professionally without sounding corporate, defensive, or scripted.
• Is comfortable speaking with residents, elected officials, business leaders, and community groups.
• Can help distinguish legitimate community concerns from misinformation, fear, or organized opposition.
• Is discreet, thoughtful, and able to handle sensitive project information responsibly.
• Is comfortable working independently while coordinating closely with the team.

Preferred Backgrounds

Candidates may come from backgrounds such as:

• Former elected official or municipal leader
• Former chamber of commerce president or board member
• Economic development professional
• Utility community relations or public affairs professional
• Local business leader
• Educator, school leader, coach, or community mentor
• Nonprofit or civic organization leader
• Retired or semi-retired public servant
• Former planning, zoning, or community board member
• Communications, public affairs, or stakeholder engagement professional with deep local ties

Skills and Qualifications

• Strong local network and credibility
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills
• Ability to build trust with a wide range of stakeholders
• Calm, mature, and professional communication style
• Strong judgment and discretion
• Ability to summarize community feedback clearly
• Familiarity with local government, civic organizations, or public engagement processes
• Comfort attending meetings, making introductions, and participating in community conversations
• Ability to work with a project team and provide practical recommendations
• Experience in sensitive, complex, or emotionally charged community environments is a plus

What This Role Is Not

This is not intended to be a hard-sell position, a political campaign role, or a traditional corporate spokesperson role. The goal is not to “convince” the community, but to listen, build trust, help clarify facts, and support a more constructive relationship between the company and local stakeholders.