Mgr Outreach

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location : This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and may be assigned to any Consumers Energy Service Center located throughout Michigan's lower Peninsula.  The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Manager Outreach will lead community-based engagement that connects customers to assistance and access pathways, equips trusted messengers, and turns local insight into measurable improvements in trust, program utilization and customer outcomes. Be responsible for managing our Energy assistance offerings as well as managing and leading our energy assistance team of employees. Develop cross functional low-income strategy that brings internal and external parties together on behalf of our most vulnerable customers. Develop and maintain programs and outreach activities directed at low income customers. This individual will take the lead on providing leadership, strategy and guidance to employees to building and maintaining relationships with non-profit and government agencies, and other community organizations to maximize Consumers Energy's effectiveness in reaching the targeted audience.

What Success Looks Like

- Customers gain clearer access to assistance, education, community prosperity programs, and other available resources.

- Local barriers are identified and resolved faster through trusted community relationships.

- Educators, community leaders, ambassadors and partner organizations confidently extend accurate information through local channels.

- Program utilization, learning, partner activation and trust improve in priority communities.

- Community insight and data intelligence consistently informs enterprise decisions, regional strategies, and customer response.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

- Own statewide affordability and access engagement strategy for high-burden communities and major customer transitions.

- Lead K-12 education system engagement and strategic outreach with grassroots leaders, community organizations, educators, residents, and trusted local messengers.

- Develop scalable education, ambassador, and engagement programs that translate energy safety, reliability, affordability, clean energy, and career opportunities into clear, locally relevant actions.

- Manage community-based contractors and partners that connect customers to assistance, resources, and issue-resolution pathways at the point of engagement.

- Partner with Regional Teams to identify local barriers, prioritize communities, and implement strategies informed by regional data and relationships.

- Equip employee advocates, community ambassadors, and partner organizations with current content, training, toolkits, and communication resources.

- Integrate community insights and outcomes into enterprise planning, including energy and environmental justice considerations, customer strategy, storm activation standards, readiness, and handoffs.

- Establish governance, operating rhythms, performance measures, and reporting for trust, learning, reach, program participation, partner activation, and issue resolution.

- Align cross-functional partners and resources to deliver consistent programs while adapting execution to local community needs.

- Identify marketing opportunities and develop communication plans and materials that effectively reach target audiences, encourage action, and support established goals.

- Manage and evaluate nonprofit agency performance against established metrics and targets, including external performance reporting.

- Plan and deliver presentations, meetings, and training for agencies, community organizations, customers, marketing channel partners, and other stakeholders.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other community partners.

- Support the development and execution of the company-wide Energy Assistance and Low-Income strategy.

- Develop and support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team and program offerings.

- Perform other duties as assigned or as necessary.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

- Significant experience in community engagement, customer programs, education partnerships, public affairs, nonprofit partnerships, energy and environmental justice, or a related discipline.

- Demonstrated ability to design and scale programs, manage and collaborate with external partners and convert community insight into actionable, equitable, and measurable outcomes.

- Experience building relationships with schools, community organizations, local leaders, workforce partners, or trusted messengers.

- Strong leadership, facilitation, communication, program management, and cross-functional influence skills.

- Ability to translate complex business and energy topics into clear, accessible, and locally relevant content.

- Experience working in a matrixed organization and managing multiple programs, partners and priorities preferred.

- Lead and develop a diverse team. Foster a healthy team culture

- Build and maintain relationships with internal and external partners, agencies, regulators

- Technically proficient

- Data analytics savvy, Ability to use data to make decisions and recommendations

- Team player, collaborative, ability to work effectively with cross functional teams

- Ability to work independently, manage time effectively to meet goals and objectives

- Problem solving skills

- Effective communication skills, tailoring message to the audience

Education/Experience Requirements

- Bachelor’s Degree in community development, public affairs, communications, education, business, public administration or a related field with 4 years of experience in a regulated industry. Experience leading cross functional teams that include internal and external stakeholders. Prior experience with programs and processes that impact customers. Be able to work independently, be flexible, and eager to deliver timely results

- [OR] Associate's Degree in community development, public affairs, communications, education, business, public administration or a related field with 6 years of experience in a regulated industry. Experience leading cross functional teams that include internal and external stakeholders. Prior experience with programs and processes that impact customers. Be able to work independently, be flexible, and eager to deliver timely results

- [OR] High School Diploma with 8 years of experience in a regulated industry. Experience leading cross functional teams that include internal and external stakeholders. Prior experience with programs and processes that impact customers. Be able to work independently, be flexible, and eager to deliver timely results

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

- Competitive compensation packages

- Medical, Dental and Vision

- 401k with company match

- Paid parental leave

- Up to 13 paid Holidays

- Paid time off

- Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY (Different Generations), capable (Different Abilities), Interfaith, People Planet Partners, and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

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, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.