Community Relations Specialist - Oahu

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company.

Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

Applications will be screened based on the information provided; in order to assist us in determining qualifications, please upload a current resume and take some time to update your employment information, certifications, etc. The information will flow over to your profile.

Posting End Date: This position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged. 

BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:

The P QR COMMUNITY RELATIONS Department of the P COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 1 Management vacancy available. (Role: Professional)

JOB FUNCTION:

Develops, implements and coordinates community relations programs to further Company goals and objectives, including identifying critical community issues and concerns that may potentially impact the Company and recommending actions designed to address them. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develops and implements strategic community relations and communications plans aimed at advancing the achievement of Company goals and facilitating the acceptance of Company initiatives and programs. Plans should incorporate insight gained through building key relationships with residential customers, community leaders, neighborhood boards, and other civic, community, and charitable organizations.  Provide community relations guidance and consultation to Company personnel and assists in preparation of meetings, presentations, and materials necessary for public outreach.  Evening and/or weekend work may be necessary to ensure successful working relationships within the community.
• Functions as the company’s Company’s liaison with customer and community stakeholders for major capital projects and smaller-scale projects.  Provides community relations guidance, consultation, and strategy development for these projects to project personnel and assists in preparation of presentations for project managers.  Conducts outreach and presentations before public groups and agencies in sometimes potentially hostile environments to explain the Company’s position and address sensitive community concerns.  Responds to escalated concerns from customers or community members impacted by projects.
• Collaborates with Government Relations on critical issues being discussed with public and elected officials, including state and local agencies.  Conducts research as needed to assist with responding to inquiries from federal, state, and county elected officials and government agencies.  Works closely with Corporate Communications and Government Relations on external communications.
• Apprise, inform, and educate Company management and employees about customer and community concerns that may impact operations to assure that the Company is fully aware of the environment in which it is operating and doing business.  Solicit, monitor, and assess customer and community issues, community newsletters and other communications to track community sentiment and feeling.  Also provides community relations support and training to employees and contractors to ensure awareness and sensitivity to customer and community member needs.
• Provides cultural support for Company’s projects in culturally sensitive areas and assists project leads with compliance with historic preservation issues.  Collaborates closely with Community Relations Manager, Community Affairs Director, and Consultants to develop strategies for navigating through cultural sensitivities unique to Hawai‘i.  Such sensitivities include inadvertent burial discoveries, cultural protocols, and working in cultural resource areas.  Coordinates project outreach with the State Historic Preservation Division, O‘ahu Island Burial Council, known lineal and cultural descendants, and the Company’s archaeological consultants.  Helps to avoid inadvertent damage to cultural and archaeological resources and violation of federal and state laws by field crews by promoting an understanding of Hawai‘i’s unique culture through cultural sensitivity training to employees and contractors.
• Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Requirements

• Working knowledge of key community organizations and business in general.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, economic, business, and political climates.
• Demonstrated knowledge of communications and information dissemination techniques.
• Working understanding of the ways people communicate, listen, learn, and react.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and related software applications such as spreadsheets, word-processing, etc.
• Working knowledge of budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Expert knowledge of Company operations; working knowledge of utility industry operations; basic familiarity with varying communities the Company serves, and the issues facing it and the industry.
• Sound understanding of individual, group, and organizational behavior.

Skills Requirements

The community relations function relies on a high level of people skills necessary to form and maintain positive and genuine relationships under potentially adverse conditions. It also requires a high level of business skills, organization, and communication savvy.

People Skills

• Leadership skills and ability to work with a variety of individuals dealing with sensitive, difficult or confrontational issues and hostile environments.  Ability to handle such issues with professionalism while using tact, courtesy, and discretion. Must genuinely like people.
• Strong interpersonal skills to influence and persuade various groups or individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong positive relationships with community and government personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, remain flexible in a demanding work environment, handle multiple tasks concurrently, and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with people at all levels and from diverse departments in the company.  Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team.
• After a decision is made, must have demonstrated ability to effectively represent company position in the community regardless of personal position.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully go into a community “cold” and gain long-term respect and credibility.

Business Skills

• Excellent understanding of the value of community relations to the success of an organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, presentation and facilitation skills, including the ability to think on one’s feet and respond to media and customer inquiries in clear, credible and concise terms.
• Analytical and conceptual skills to assess issues, to recommend proper actions and to coordinate/follow through on implementation of details.
• Ability to take financial, statistical, and other highly technical information and accurately simplify for broad consumption.
• Able to maintain a flexible schedule including evening and weekend work in the community to ensure success.
• Established reputation for personal credibility and possessing high ethical values and conduct.

Experience Requirements

• Multiple years (5 to 7) of active community relations, public affairs or problem-resolution experience, or extensive (8 or more years) of community volunteer experience, desired.
• Several years (5 or more years) of Company service is desirable.
• Experience in providing testimony and fielding questions at public hearings and community meetings.
• Has a positive background and work history reflecting success in the communities likely to be focused on within the scope of the job. (desirable).

Role: Professional 

Number of Vacancies: 1

Location: Honolulu – Oahu

Hiring Range: The hiring range for the Community Relations Specialist [Req ID 10545] position is $89,100.00 to $113,700.00. The person selected will be placed according to his/her skills and qualifications. 

About Hawaiian Electric Companies
Hawaiian Electric Companies provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs.

The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric Companies for well over a century. And as the next millennium unfolds, the company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come. Visit us at http://hawaiianelectric.com.

Interested individuals should apply online. The application must clearly indicate the demonstrated experience/knowledge/skills/abilities the candidate possesses which specifically qualifies him/her for the position.

Applicant Certification
By submitting an application for the position, candidates:
1. Authorize the Hawaiian Electric Companies to confirm all statements contained in the application and/or any materials submitted and made a part of the application as they relate to the position and to the extent permitted by law;
2. Authorize and consent to, without reservation, the Hawaiian Electric Companies sharing any and all information regarding previous or present employment, educational training or personal information from their records and from any other source with the hiring department or subsidiary company;
3. Release, discharge, and hold harmless, Hawaiian Electric Companies, from any and all liability for any damage which may be claimed as a result of furnishing such information to the hiring department or subsidiary company;
4. Authorizes release and transfer of all personnel records to be maintained by the hiring company in the event of an inter-company transfer; and
5. Authorize, direct, and consent to Hawaiian Electric Companies and/or its authorized agents to conduct investigations into candidates' background. These investigations may include, but are not limited to searches for information about applicants; record of criminal convictions to the extent permitted by law, education records, professional certifications, personal character references, and employment history.

EEO Statement
Hawaiian Electric Companies is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status. 

Hawaiian Electric Companies complies with all applicable laws, including Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the candidate to the HR Service Center at (808) 543-4848.

Affiliate Disclaimer

The relationship between Hawaiian Electric and unregulated, energy-related affiliate companies is governed by the Affiliate Transaction Requirements (ATRs) established by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The ATRs were established with the PUC's Decision and Order No. 35962 issued on December 19, 2018, and subsequently modified by Order No. 36112, issued on January 24, 2019, in Docket No. 2018-0065. With Decision and Order No. 42409, issued on March 23, 2026, in Docket No. 2025-0391, the PUC indefinitely suspended certain sections of the ATRs.

The ATRs address many issues related to Hawaiian Electric's interactions and transactions with Affiliates and Affiliate-Related Entities. If you'd like more information about these rules/regulations, you can email ATR@hawaiianelectric.com.