Community Relations Specialist

The Community Relations Specialist will be responsible for building, strengthening, and maintaining positive relationships in the communities where Generate Upcycle operates, to identify and evaluate outreach opportunities, coordinate participation in community events, support local engagement efforts and serve as the liaison to civic groups, nonprofits, industry organizations, schools and public agencies. The role serves as part of the communications team, coordinating and drafting responses to online reviews and customer complaints, and contributing to relevant communications materials, such as web content, social media and special event promotions.

The role manages community feedback processes, oversees charitable contributions to ensure visibility and representation, and works with plant-level managers to maintain and track local industry memberships.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a positive company presence with residents, elected officials, and community partners by coordinating representation at Upcycle at community meetings, local events, and industry functions.
• Work with Communications, Policy, and site-level staff to develop and implement community outreach plans for North American anaerobic digestion facilities.
• Provide remotely based community relations support to UK-based facilities by tracking, identifying needs, and supporting the creation of marketing materials, customer responses and informational materials.
• Implement outreach strategies to improve public perception in communities experiencing operational concerns across all sites (e.g., odors, noise, traffic).
• Maintain accurate, consistent community involvement content across company web platforms.
• Contribute content to social media accounts and coordinate community-related photo opportunities and posts.
• Monitor external social media pages connected to projects and engage appropriately.
• Develop and manage community-focused projects that strengthen local relationships and improve company's public image.
• Produce informational and educational materials for distribution in communities.
• Oversee production and distribution of informational videos (e.g., virtual plant tours).
• Work with site management to coordinate responses to ensure a timely and comprehensive response to public complaints and inquiries.
• Track, document, and manage odor complaints and other operational concerns.
• Provide education and updates to government stakeholders as needed.
• Support permitting activities and communication with regulators related to odor control and land application when needed.
• Research, identify, and manage memberships with relevant chambers of commerce, community organizations, and educational institutions.
• Identify opportunities for broader civic engagement and industry participation.
• Track charitable contribution requests and associated processes to ensure organizational consistency.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Education/Licenses/Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, political science, or a related field

Knowledge & Experience

• Five (5) years of experience in stakeholder and community engagement, customer or community relations, or related field

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication, and public speaking skills
• Ability to work independently.
• Adaptable and resourceful.
• Strong conflict management and interpersonal abilities.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
• Self-motivated and able to work collaboratively across teams as well as independently.
• Ability to be a team-player for overall company success

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No supervisory responsibilities

Work Environment

Remote, with 25% travel required; but must reside near London, ON

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

• Prolonged period of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Generate Upcycle is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants based on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, provincial, or local laws.

We kindly ask that recruitment agencies and third-party recruiters do not contact us in relation to this or any job posting. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles from agencies.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00-$70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Ability to commute/relocate:

• London, ON N6N 1E4: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (required)

Experience:

• Community engagement: 5 years (required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London, ON N6N 1E4