Principal Communications Manager - North Carolina Nuclear
At a glance
Senior Communications role at Dukeenergy. Charlotte · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate $109,751–$173,500 across the United States.
Dukeenergy has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Advise regional nuclear leaders on communications, and build working relationships through regular contact
- Shape site and regional messaging around fleet strategy, then prepare leaders for employee and stakeholder engagement
- Handle communications for regional plant issues, coordinating responses with site leaders and nuclear communications teams
- Guide state advocacy and reputation work, building ties with public information officers and community contacts
- Take part in nuclear drills and emergency response, including duty rotation and possible public information officer duties
What you bring
- A communications, journalism, public relations or related degree, plus at least ten years of relevant work
- Alternatively, a high school diploma or GED and at least fourteen years of related experience
Who this fits
This senior role suits someone experienced in executive counsel, complex communications planning and stakeholder relationships. You must live within a reasonable commute of the assigned facility, no more than fifty miles one way, and work on-site about three days each week after onboarding. Expect travel of fifteen to twenty-five percent, nuclear duty rotation and crisis-response participation. You must already be able to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship.
From the employer
Important Application Submission Information
In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, October 27, 2026More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives.
Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.
Job Summary
The Principal Communications Manager provides strategic internal and external communications counsel, stakeholder engagement leadership and integrated project management expertise.
Responsibilites
Leadership and Strategic Support: Provide effective communications counsel to regional nuclear leaders, including the state senior vice president and site vice presidents at each nuclear plant in the assigned region, building and sustaining positive relationships through regular interactions.
- Work with leaders to develop internal site and regional communications opportunities to implement nuclear fleet strategy and annual priorities, prioritizing face-to face communications. Craft and send internal leader communications to reinforce strategic messaging.
- Position senior leaders to represent the company and engage effectively with employees and external stakeholders. Manage logistics, messaging and collateral for speaking engagements.
- Proactively consult with leaders on emergent internal and external issues, providing counsel and feedback. Participate in site and regional nuclear leadership meetings as appropriate.
Operational Support: Provide communications support to all nuclear sites in the assigned region to maintain industry and regulatory requirements. Seek broad perspectives to solving complex issues and operational challenges/problems.
- Serve as the single point of contact for significant operational issues affecting assigned nuclear sites. Work across Nuclear Communications and with site leaders to delegate an/or collaborate on a communications response.
- Coordinate with the corporate and internal nuclear communications managers to ensure alignment on internal communications strategies for operational and regulatory initiatives that support business outcomes.
Community and Reputation Support: Oversee implementation of nuclear strategic priorities related to advocacy and reputation management in the state. Provide direction and counsel to ensure the effectiveness of external communications to support the nuclear fleet’s social privilege to operate.
- Serve as the primary point of contact in the assigned region for nuclear plant issues management.
- Coordinate with regional teammates to develop and execute communications strategies for major and strategic operational initiatives in alignment with state president priorities.
- Collaborate across Nuclear Communications and the broader Corporate Communications team to leverage earned, owned and shared media opportunities to enhance the reputation of assigned sites and the fleet.
- Develop and maintain relationships with state and county PIOs and other strategic community communications contacts to support nuclear issues management
Crisis Communications/Emergency Response: Support crisis communications and emergency response organization by responding to regional and Joint Information Center-activated events and drills as required.
- Participate in nuclear drills and emergency exercises in multiple roles, including a leadership role (e.g. PIO). Serve on nuclear duty rotation.
- Collaborate with the emergency planning communicator on crisis response planning.
Basic/Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or other related degree
- Minimum of 10 years of related work experience
- In Lieu of Degree, a High School Diploma/GED and a minumim of 14 years of related work experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in creating complex strategic communications plans designed to help leaders and clients achieve their business objectives.
- Executive communications support within a matrix organization.
- Experience in providing strategic counsel to executives and business unit leaders.
- Excellent relationship management skills and ability to manage/integrate with multiple stakeholders inside and outside of the company.
- Highly flexible, adaptable and detail oriented.
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and prioritize tasks.
- Excellent collaboration skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.
- Experience in electric utility industry or other highly regulated, high-profile industry.
- Experience in leading complex, high-profile communications projects.
Additional Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and accurately using written and verbal communications.
- Expertise in developing and implementing high-risk communications plans.
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills to work efficiently and effectively with clients, teammates, and management.
- Expertise in media relations, serving as a spokesperson on high-risk issues. This work includes strategy and message development and maintaining reporter relationships.
- Experience working with senior levels of management and providing executive counsel and coaching for media interviews, presentations/speeches.
- Experience representing the company externally with challenging audiences in challenging situations.
- Speechwriting experience.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office products, such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel, as well as SharePoint.
- Ability to participate in/lead crisis management response.
- Previous energy industry experience.
- Experience in providing communications counsel and advice to executives.
- Accredited in public relations (APR).
- Experience mentoring teammates and peers.
- Extensive crisis communications experience.
Working Conditions
- Hybrid Mobility Classification – Work will be performed from both remote and onsite locations after the onboarding period. However, hybrid employees must live within a reasonable commute to their designated Duke Energy facility, not greater than 50 miles one way. Employees are expected to report to their assigned Duke Energy facility as required and directed by their manager, on average 3 full workdays per regular workweek.
- Travel: 25% - some site visits may be required
Travel Requirements
15-25%Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)
YesRepresented/Union Position
NoVisa Sponsored Position
No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.
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