Community Engagement Lead

We’re a team of friends bound together by a mission to preserve our planet for future generations through innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure. Intersect develops, constructs, and operates the most ambitious power and data center infrastructure in the country by co-locating industrial demand with dedicated gas and renewable power generation.

Intersect was acquired by Google in March 2026 and operates as an independent subsidiary. We are developing and constructing multiple gigawatts of energy and data center projects in the U.S., enabling more data center and generation capacity to come online faster. We’re on an aggressive growth trajectory and looking for people hungry to tackle the largest energy challenges on the planet.

Location & Team Gatherings

Intersect has been a fully flexible workplace since its founding in 2016.  We’ve been very intentional about the way we do things. We are not work-from-home, hybrid, or in-office - we are any and all of those options! Deepening social connections and offering shared experiences is a cornerstone of the way we work. We connect as a team at our Team Week experiences four times a year and at our recently established Hub locations - SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, NY; Denver, CO; Austin, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON.

We are currently looking for candidates located within 60 miles of any of the listed hubs to foster more in-person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture.

About This Role

As a Community Engagement Lead on Intersect's External Affairs team, you’ll design and lead strategic community engagement programs that strengthen trust, transparency, and collaboration across the communities where our large-scale power and infrastructure projects are developed and operated. You’ll guide a team of Community Engagement Professionals, shaping engagement strategies from early siting through long-term operations. Working cross-functionally with Development, Permitting, and Policy teams, you’ll ensure community perspectives are meaningfully integrated throughout each project’s lifecycle. This role is planned to start on August 17, 2026.

Team Overview

This team plays a critical role in advancing Intersect's mission to accelerate the clean energy transition. The External Affairs team serves as the bridge between our utility-scale energy projects and the local communities, civic leaders, and regional stakeholders who host them. Joining this team means driving authentic, long-term partnerships, shaping responsive development strategies, and advocating for outcomes that create shared, durable value for both the business and local communities.

What You'll Do

Lead and Scale Community Engagement Strategy

• Design and execute tailored community outreach, public education, and stakeholder management strategies across clean energy and power-infrastructure asset lifecycles.

• Lead a dedicated team of Community Engagement Professionals, establishing operational standards, direct mentoring, and clear career pathways.

• Utilize stakeholder analysis and mapping tools to evaluate social risk, community sentiment, and local impact during early-stage project siting.

Build Relationships and Local Partnerships

• Cultivate productive, long-term relationships with municipal and county officials, agricultural leaders, school boards, and rural community stakeholders.

• Represent Intersect with authenticity and transparency at public hearings, town halls, community workshops, and industry forums.

• Oversee local community investment initiatives and economic development agreements to maximize tangible local benefits.

Drive Cross-Functional Project Alignment

• Partner continuously with internal Development, Permitting, Legal, and Policy teams to align community messaging with project execution schedules.

• Translate local community insights and policy nuances into actionable intelligence for executive and project development decision-making.

• Proactively identify and mitigate local regulatory, social, and reputation risks that could impact project delivery or long-term operation.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in public affairs, communications, environmental studies, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).

• 8+ years of experience in public affairs, communications, or community engagement within utility-scale power, energy infrastructure, or heavy civil development.

• 3+ years of experience managing direct reports, with a proven track record of growing and guiding high-performing external affairs teams.

• Demonstrated experience navigating Texas projects and deep familiarity with rural community dynamics, agricultural priorities, and local government structures.

• Proficiency with stakeholder analysis and mapping tools to assess siting, risk profile, and local impact.

• Empathetic, highly collaborative, and audience-sensitive communicator capable of building trust across diverse political and cultural landscapes.

• Alignment with Intersect’s core values of Equity, Humility, Authenticity, Long-run Value, and People Come First.

Total Rewards

Compensation: $188,000 to $205,000 (total compensation includes base salary + bonus in USD)

Equity: Beyond your salary, you’ll receive an Equity Grant, giving you a meaningful stake in our parent company. 

Health & wellness: 100% premium coverage for you and your dependents on medical, dental, and vision

Time to recharge: Unlimited PTO, plus two company-wide breaks (Fourth of July & end of year)

Family support: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, plus 6 additional weeks for birth parents; access to family planning and family care support through Carrot and Maven

Mental health: Free access to Spring Health, including 5 free therapy and psychiatry sessions, plus a Headspace account for mindfulness and meditation through our physical health vendor, Wellhub+

Perks & extras: $150 monthly food stipend, $150 monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet, pet insurance allowance, full home office setup, free access to UrbanSitter with $625 in quarterly company-paid credits, ActiveHero, and One Medical

Intersect maintains a work environment free from discrimination, one where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling Intersect's commitment to equal employment opportunity. Intersect does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by and consistent with applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline.