New

Senior Public Affairs Specialist

NiSource Inc.
$82,200.00 - $123,200.00
United States, Indiana, Merrillville
May 01, 2026
Job Title: Senior Public Affairs Specialist Location: Valparaiso, Indiana Job Summary: The Senior Public Affairs Specialist plays a key role in building understanding and trust between the state operating company and its communities. This position leads local public affairs and stakeholder engagement efforts, working closely with internal business partners and NiSource Corporate Communications to develop and execute integrated public affairs strategies. The role serves as a primary point of contact for community leaders, municipalities, and media, supporting major projects and ongoing operations through thoughtful communication, outreach, and relationship building. * This role will serve as the public facing connector between major NIPSCO infrastructure projects and the municipalities they impact, representing the company in high visibility community settings. The ideal candidate isorganized, collaborative, and comfortable working with ambiguity, with strong follow through and a service oriented mindset when partnering across internal teams and external groups. Essential Functions Serve as the company spokesperson for assigned area(s), leading local public affairs efforts Resolve customer and public issues in partnership with Operations, Construction, Engineering, and other business partners Work independently while maintaining close communication with the Manager, Public Affairs, and collaborating across the Public Affairs team Lead and facilitate stakeholder meetings and public forums with community leaders, local governments, chambers of commerce, school districts, and economic development organizations Plan and execute community outreach and "giving" events; proactively identify new opportunities to engage local communities Develop stakeholder communication materials such as newsletters, project summaries, talking points, videos, and presentations Track and document project requirements to support both internal and external customer needs Project manage operating company-wide initiatives and assigned public affairs programs Serve as the public face for NIPSCO in assigned areas and support outreach efforts across additional territories as needed Proactively identify and act on local opportunities that positively impact NIPSCO and the communities it serves Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure commitments are met and messages are aligned Take the lead on resolving customer and municipal issues with support from internal partners Support additional local and broader public affairs initiatives as needed Build and maintain strong relationships with public officials, industry partners, company affiliates, and contractors Provide 24/7 support during crisis situations, as required Required Qualifications for Position Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business Administration, Political Science or related field Travel locally approximately 1-2 days per week to engage directly with municipal partners and communities 3-5 years of communications, public relations or government/politics experience Experience working with media and contributing social media content for an organization Proficiency with Microsoft Office software Ability to work with a subject matter expert to craft effective and clear content and messages, which create an emotional connection with intended audiences. Ability to speak with confidence and sensitivity, even on contentious topics. Ability to interpret data and information to understand stakeholder preferences and motivations. Ability to think critically and uncover root causes and obstacles. Ability to learn energy industry issues, regulations, trends, and NiSource's role, vision and values. Ability to listen with empathy and seek to understand the intent of and assumptions behind others actions. Ability to anticipate likely stakeholder reactions to messages, as well as discern when a gap between communication and behavior is causing or preventing a desired outcome. Ability to develop schedules and budgets required for public affairs deliverables, as well as the ability to juggle work among several channels, team members and business partners. Preferred Additional Qualifications Utility or regulated industry experience As a public utility, NiSource is required to provide continuous service to customers at all times. To ensure we fulfill that obligation, employees may be required to work outside their normal work hours and perform tasks outside of their normal responsibilities in support of emergency operations. Work Authorization Authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. Workplace Connection Value inclusion within your day to day responsibilities by respecting others perspectives/convictions, engaging others opinions, creating a safe environment where people, ideas, and opinions are valued within your Team/Customers and external partners. Respect the unique lived experiences within your Team/Customers and external work partners by valuing different world views, challenges, and cultures that represents all walks of life and all backgrounds. Treat others with respect and consideration. Actively participate in creating and contributing to a positive work environment. Equal Employment Opportunity NiSource is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in each of its companies to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, disability, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), genetic information, citizenship status, or any protected group status as defined by law. Each employee is expected to abide by this principle. By applying, you may be considered for other job opportunities. ADA Accommodations If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process or to perform the essential functions of the position, please contact OneHR at OneHR@nisource.comor 1-888-640-3320 Safety Statement Promote a safe work environment by actively participating in all aspects of our employee safety program. Report any unsafe conditions and take actions to prevent personal injuries. Support our interdependent safety culture by ensuring the safety of your co-workers. Stay focused on the task at hand and promote productivity through good work habits. E-Verify NiSourceparticipates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program. As part of this process, we provide the following notices to all job applicants: These documents inform you of your rights and responsibilities under U.S. law. You can view or download them using the links below: E-Verify Poster(English and Spanish) E-Verify Participation Poster English and Spanish Right to Work Poster(English and Spanish) If you have the right to work, don't let anyone take it away Salary Range:* $82,200.00 - $123,200.00 The salary offered to a candidate is based on several factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills, job-related knowledge, and relevant experience, as well as internal pay equity. Posting Start Date:* 2026-05-01 Posting End Date (if applicable): 2026-05-16 Please note that the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.