The Communications Specialist (Brand Strategist) serves as a strategic advisor and execution leader for enterprise-wide communication initiatives. This role anticipates reputational risks, crafts proactive messaging, and ensures alignment with business and regulatory objectives. The incumbent manages multiple workstreams, builds relationships across departments, and delivers executive-grade communication under pressure.
Major Job Responsibilities:
- Lead strategic communication planning tied to organizational priorities.
- Serve as subject matter expert and liaison across departments to synthesize information and craft unified messaging.
- Manage crisis and issue response with speed and composure, including drafting statements and action plans.
- Develop and execute multi-channel campaigns with measurable objectives and KPIs.
- Provide executive-level writing support for speeches, media statements, internal memos, and presentations.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners to enhance credibility and trust.
- Coach internal teams on communication best practices and ensure adherence to established processes.
- Monitor emerging issues and proactively prepare shielding strategies to mitigate reputational risk.
Candidates that meet the below criteria and role requirements are encouraged to apply:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, or related discipline. Advanced degrees, relevant executive education and industry designations are a plus.
Experience: At least 3-5 years in the following areas:
- Prior advertising, public relations or public affairs agency experience managing multiple clients and fast-paced deliverables.
- Political campaign experience handling messaging and targeting under pressure.
- Executive speechwriting and crisis/issue response expertise.
- Experience with regulated-industry or public-sector stakeholders.
- Portfolio of content that landed in earned media (speech, media statement, internal memo, deck narrative).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Core Competencies
Strategic Discernment
- Quickly isolates core issues, aligns communication strategies with business and regulatory objectives, and balances speed with quality.
Account Leadership
- Manages stakeholder expectations through structured processes, ensuring clarity and timely delivery of priorities.
Executive-Grade Writing
- Produces clear, concise, and audience-tailored content across formats, maintaining tone and professionalism.
Campaign Planning and Execution
- Designs campaigns with defined objectives, KPIs, and audience insights; applies learnings to future initiatives.
Composure Under Pressure
- Maintains calm and clarity in high-stakes situations, prioritizing actions and communicating effectively.
Multi-Stream Management
- Coordinates multiple workstreams efficiently using light processes and tools to ensure timely deliverables.
Creativity and Framing
- Generates innovative solutions and reframes challenges while balancing creativity with risk awareness.
Stakeholder Savvy
- Builds credibility and anticipates sensitivities to secure alignment and positive outcomes across the organization.
Measurement and Learning
- Selects meaningful metrics, reports succinctly, and integrates insights into future communication strategies.
Responsiveness and Reliability
- Communicates timelines clearly, meets deadlines, and maintains version control throughout projects.
Judgment
- Identifies reputational risks, ensures accuracy, protects confidentiality, and seeks input when needed.
Team Collaboration
- Fosters trust and leverages team expertise to deliver integrated communication solutions.
The successful candidate will sit at Alabama Power's Corporate Headquarters in Downtown Birmingham, AL.
Alabama Power provides safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to 1.5 million customers across the lower two-thirds of Alabama.
For more information, visit www.AlabamaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/AlabamaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/AlabamaPower), LinkedIn (Linkedin.com/company/alabama-power), and Instagram (Instagram.com/alabamapower).
Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com .
Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.
Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Job Identification: 15848
Job Category: Communications & External Affairs
Job Schedule: Full time
Company: Alabama Power
