Public & Government Affairs Manager

The Permian Public and Government Affairs Manager (P&GA) will be responsible for developing and implementing the P&GA strategy for ExxonMobil’s Permian business, which spans West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. The ability to utilize all aspects of P&GA, including earned and paid media, issues advocacy, employee communications, community investment, stakeholder and trade association engagement, external speaking opportunities, emergency response and local government relations will be crucial to success. The position supervises a small P&GA team across West Texas and New Mexico, participates on the Permian leadership team and reports to the Houston-based Public & Government Affairs Manager for Unconventional.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring proactive protection of the interests and reputation of ExxonMobil and XTO Energy and for favorably positioning the company through proactive messaging – creating and seizing on opportunities in support of this strategy both internally and externally. They will engender deep credibility through trust, consistency and strong interpersonal skills, both within and outside the company, provide inspirational leadership to a team of talented professionals, and serve as an example of one who makes impact while adhering to the highest standards of ethics and a strong culture of compliance and authenticity.

Given the nature of our business across a wide geography, company travel (~35%) will be required.

Basic Functions

• Establish and execute P&GA strategy in support of Permian business, shaping media and external engagement strategies to capitalize on opportunities
• Identify and address emerging business or external issues using P&GA tools in coordination with cross-functional teams
• Shape media, social and external engagement strategies to capitalize on opportunities
• Plan for and respond to emergencies as necessary, including media, community and local stakeholder engagement
• Represent ExxonMobil/XTO Energy on Permian-related industry associations
• Speak on record as media spokesperson and Public Information Officer (PIO) for emergency response as required
• Manage third-party contractors and steward agency relationships
• Ensure solid controls environment in support of the business and external affairs activities, including managing program and contribution budgets and supplier/agency agreements and invoices
• Lead, motivate and develop small but growing team of direct reports

Skills Needed

• Manage quickly changing priorities and/or external events that impact business goals
• Ensure P&GA service/products are of high quality and advance business objectives
• Prioritization/delegation skills - Prioritize work demands from business clients and emerging issues
• Negotiating/influencing skills - Ensure that cross-functional issues impacting other teams are adequately considered/managed and supported with integrated advocacy efforts
• Strong communications skills
• Strong interpersonal skills team player
• Strong leadership skills ability to effectively manage and develop teams
• Business/industry knowledge

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic P&GA advice to business lines
• Manage development and implementation of an overarching P&GA strategy that advances business objectives, ExxonMobil’s corporate mission and values, and ensure that it is integrated and consistently articulated to diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Facilitate and drive clarity of corporate vision, strategy and values. Drive consistency of the narrative among both internal and external audiences
• Develop and cultivate relationships with internal business leaders, and proactively partner across the broader business unit public affairs team to ensure alignment, visibility and consistency in ExxonMobil messaging whether via corporate communications, advocacy, social media, environment shaping, policy, etc.
• Collaborate with U.S. federal and U.S. state government relations teams to effectively advocate for effective policies/regulations crucial to business objectives
• Develop and manage effective external relationships to advance business objectives including as a company representative in associations and on boards
• Develop and manage an effective crisis and issues management program that signals early warnings for scenarios that could be distracting or disruptive to the business
• Participate in key business strategy discussions as required, and develop and strengthen client external communication skills and capabilities, media engagement, presentation capabilities etc.

Prior Experience

• 12+ years of broad-based business and public affairs experience and knowledge effective in working with senior management and experience working in a matrix organization experience in Permian Basin or unconventional oil and gas development is a plus.

Languages

• English Spanish proficiency is a plus.

ExxonMobil is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or physical or mental disability.