SALARY: $60k – $90k

GENERAL PURPOSE:  

Under general direction, the Community Engagement Specialist devises, coordinates and oversees the community outreach programs for assigned projects within their geographic areas during the planning, design and construction of Sound Transit’s capital projects; serves as a liaison and point of contact between Sound Transit (ST) and members of the community for any and all circumstances regarding capital projects; coordinates and provides public information about capital projects; coordinates and develops strategies, goals, and objectives for public involvement, public information, and community relations programs and activities; creates materials for communicating information to the public via a variety of media sources; responds to a variety of public inquiries and constituent concerns; and plans and staffs a variety of community outreach events; identifies issues that may impact or affect construction neighbors and takes appropriate action to avoid or minimize problems; and responds to construction community hotline 24-7 when scheduled.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Oversees and executes the community outreach activities for assigned capital projects.  Works within a multi-disciplinary matrixed project team to ensure projects are delivered in a transparent, inclusive, and responsive manner in addition to being timely, cost-effective, high quality.

• Establish and implement communication strategies for assigned capital projects. Evaluate and recommend the most effective strategy for reaching the intended audience with appropriate messages, including meetings, tours, and other events as well as written materials. Creates and gives presentations and other public speaking activities.  Writes a variety of public communication pieces including newsletters, construction alerts, brochures, postcards, websites, staff reports, etc. Ensures public facing information materials are timely and accurate.

• Create and implement public involvement plans for assigned capital projects. Makes recommendations to project staff about the appropriate public involvement activities Plans, organizes, and attends public events, community group briefings, and other input gathering activities.  Recommends methods for collecting input on-line. Attend public events, open houses, and community gatherings. Collects, synthesizes and reports on public input.

• Advocate for responsive and customer-focused solutions to constituent issues; interfaces with consultants, construction contractors and construction management staff in order to collaboratively arrive at solutions to community concerns. Advises project staff and senior management about appropriate solutions to concerns.

• Serve as primary point of contact for affected public and stakeholders on projects. Regularly visits impacted properties in-person, serves on a 24-hour construction hotline on a rotating basis, and responds to incoming inquiries in a timely manner.

• Oversees small works or consulting contracts as necessary; monitors and oversees the contractor/consultant in terms of time management and billing, review of work projects, and correspondence between the consultants and other outside the agency staff who are working within the program.

• Assists senior outreach staff in creating processes, policies and procedures related to community outreach.

• Champions and models Sound Transit’s core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.

• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.

• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.

• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.

• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in communications, public affairs, public administration, English, or closely related field and three years of experience working in community outreach, community relations, or public relations that includes leading outreach or public relations projects within a diverse urban community; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

None.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Operations, services, and activities of a community outreach program.

• Methods and techniques of public relations and community outreach.

• Operations, services, and activities of the capital projects, programs, and functional areas in order to provide community outreach program services.

• Advanced principles and techniques for the preparation and presentation of written and oral information.

• Public speaking principles and techniques for effective presentations to various audiences.

• Public relations methods and techniques.

• Transportation infrastructure projects.

• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

• Public sector procurement and contracting requirements.

• Customer service principles and practices.

• Methods and techniques of data collection, research, and report preparation.

• Principles and practices of record keeping and records management.

• Principles and practices of project development and administration.

• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.

• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.

• Supervisory/lead principles, methods and techniques.

• Meeting facilitation and conflict resolution.

• Building and maintaining relationships.

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with community members, organizations, businesses, property owners and the general public.

• Applying principles and practices of public involvement and community outreach.

• Providing clear information to individuals and groups related to the assigned community outreach program.

• Public speaking and in developing and delivering presentations and presenting ideas and concepts orally and in writing.

• Distilling highly technical information into concise, easy to understand messages for public consumption.

• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports.

• Interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.

• Effectively representing Agency programs in contacts with the public, businesses, community organizations, and other government agencies.

• Fostering and developing community partnerships.

• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.

• Applying project management techniques and principles.

• Working cooperatively with other departments, Agency officials, and outside agencies.

• Working effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities.

• Applying appropriate oral and written communication techniques to various individuals ranging from Agency employees, the general public, elected officials, community leaders, and local, state, and federal agencies.

• Leading and delegating daily tasks, communicating, and providing feedback and work direction to assigned staff.

Physical Demands / Work Environment: 

• Work is performed in a standard office environment.

• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds; may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, and extreme noise when conducting site visits and working in the field.

• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

** THIS JOB POSTING MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)