Community/Government Relations Manager

Sims Metal (Sims) is a global leader in metal recycling. With facilities across the globe, Sims plays an intrinsic role in the circular economy by making resources available for future use. As a responsible corporate citizen, we continuously seek new ways to broaden our participation in the environmental sector, ensuring that our future is as bright, safe, and secure as at any time in our long history.

Sims Metal is recruiting for an experienced Government and Community Manager to support our activities in California and Nevada (including San Jose, Redwood City, Richmond, Hayward, Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Stockton, and Sparks).

Sims Metal is part of Sims Limited, a global leader in metal recycling and the provision of circular solutions for technology. Employing over 4,000 employees globally, the company operates more than 155 facilities across key regions like the United States, Australia and New Zealand. We supply recycled and re-purposed raw material products and components to our customers, strengthening their supply chains with competitive, high-quality inputs, while enabling them to reduce the energy and emissions intensity of their products and services.

Through our work at Sims Metal recycling ferrous metals like steel as well as non-ferrous metals like aluminium and copper, we play a critical role in enabling sovereign metal manufacturing by strengthening domestic supply chains and contributing to building the cities and infrastructure of tomorrow.

The Government and Community Manager will play a critical role in supporting the business activities of Sims Metal in our West Region, at an exciting time for the business, through fostering positive engagement with government, community and other key stakeholders.

Working at Sims offers the chance to engage with a global network, build cross-cultural experiences, and the ability to contribute positively to our purpose, create a world without waste to preserve our planet.  We put health and safety first and support our employees with ample opportunities for personal and professional growth. We are committed to making positive contributions to the communities that we are a part of.

Role Overview:

This position is responsible for spearheading the company’s government and community outreach efforts within the West Region, including San Jose, Redwood City, Richmond, Hayward, Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, and Stockton, as well as Sparks, Nevada, ensuring alignment between government and community priorities and the company’s business objectives. It is also responsible for supporting communications in key regions in the United States to contribute towards the company’s positioning across media, social media, and other channels.

The role will focus on building and nurturing partnerships with state and local government, local (and local chapters of) industry and community associations, local community members, and other key stakeholders, including where appropriate local media, to build engagement, enhance company reputation, demonstrate our commitment to the communities we serve, and foster an open, transparent, and collaborative relationship with key stakeholders.

Based in the San Francisco / Sacramento area, the role will require regional travel to effectively support and execute government, community and stakeholder relations strategies across multiple locations, ensuring impactful and tailored outreach in each area. This role is a key component in advancing the company’s government and community engagement, and in driving the success of initiatives that support both business goals and local priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Government and Industry Engagement: Develop a comprehensive and deep understanding of the company’s business operations and corporate priorities, allowing for targeted state and local government engagement efforts that align with business goals. This includes engaging with industry and other associations as relevant.
• Strategic Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Based on both business goals and the needs of the local communities undertake targeted community engagement and social responsibility activities, in alignment with the company’s social licence framework.
• Communications and Campaigning: Develop and implement targeted communications campaigns and initiatives across company social media and broader media channels in alignment with the broader company communications strategy and governance requirements. This includes managing media relations efforts related to community outreach and government advocacy initiatives, including the development of content (press releases, articles, social media, etc.).
• Issues Management: Support on ground communications and engagement response in the event of a local incident. This may include targeted media, government, and community engagement to support issues management.
• Stakeholder Collaboration and Relationship Management: Work closely with local leaders, government representatives, nonprofit organizations, and other community stakeholders to build and maintain strong, mutually beneficial relationships. Foster and sustain meaningful relationships to help address local issues, build trust, and ensure that the company is seen as an active and engaged community partner.
• Impact Measurement & Reporting: In line with company governance and reporting requirements track, analyze, and report on the success and impact of community, government and broader stakeholder engagement, community investments, and other relevant activities. Use data-driven insights to refine strategies and communicate the value of the company’s contributions to stakeholders.
• Regional Leadership & Event Coordination: Oversee and guide the regional Community Event Committee, ensuring that company employees are actively engaged in local projects and volunteer opportunities that promote positive community impact.
• Budget Management: Oversee and manage the community engagement budget for the region as relevant which includes charitable donations, sponsorships, and funding for community-focused activities. Ensure responsible stewardship and accountability in all financial expenditures related to community programs.
• Collaborative Strategy Development: Partner with senior leaders and departments across the company to ensure that government, community and stakeholder relations efforts align with overall business objectives, ensuring that outreach is integrated into the company’s broader strategic plans.
• Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by leadership to support the company’s government, community and stakeholder relations goals and operational needs.

Qualifications:

• Educational Background: A bachelor’s degree in: Business, Communications, Political Science, Public Policy, Corporate Responsibility, Public Relations, or a related field. A master’s degree or further certifications in political science, government administration, public policy, communications would be a plus.
• Experience: 7+ years of progressive experience in government, media, community relations or a similar field. This experience should include proven success in managing multiple, complex initiatives, developing long-term strategies, and fostering relationships with various stakeholders in a high-pressure environment.
• Project Management Expertise: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple government, media, public relations, community outreach projects simultaneously, with a focus on meeting deadlines, managing budgets, and ensuring high-quality execution.
• Relationship-Building Skills: Strong ability to build, nurture, and maintain meaningful relationships with state and local government representatives, industry associations, media, local leaders, organizations, advocacy groups, and community members, with an emphasis on trust, transparency, and collaboration.
• Strategic Thinking: A strategic mindset with the ability to design, implement, and evaluate engagement, communications, and advocacy activities so these consider both business objectives and stakeholder interest areas / needs.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience in media relations and content development, to effectively communicate community initiatives and their impact, and advocacy priorities.
• Leadership and Team Collaboration: Strong leadership skills with experience in managing cross-functional teams, contractors / consultants and liaising with both internal staff and external stakeholder partners.
• Adaptability & Travel: Willingness and ability to travel within the West Region (including San Jose, Redwood City, Richmond, Hayward, Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, and Stockton, as well as Sparks, Nevada) to support community initiatives, government and stakeholder engagement, and ensure the success of regional programs.

Pay and Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: $140k - $160k per year
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Rewarding experience
• Personal and professional growth

A career with Sims provides you with the opportunity to work with an organization whose goal is to be the world’s safest and most responsible recycling company. Our people achieve this by creating a zero-harm workplace, being exemplary members of the communities in which we operate, and being responsible stewards of the environment. We also offer competitive pay and a range of attractive benefits.

Sims is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of all of our employees and are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can contribute, advance on merit, and realize their full potential. Sims does not discriminate with regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, housing status, source of income, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to any employment decision, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.  qualified applicants with a disability in need of a reasonable accommodation may request such without fear of reprisal or discrimination. 

To achieve our purpose to create a world without waste to preserve our planet, we are guided by our Principles of Purpose: Be Safe + Well, Band Together, Be Accountable + Transparent, Consistently Innovate, Inspire with Purpose, Celebrate + Have Fun.