Communications Specialist
Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a Communications Specialist to join our growing Communications and Public Outreach practice. This role supports water and environmental projects by executing strategic communications activities.
Responsibilities
- Develop and distribute newsletters, fact sheets, and project updates
- Draft content for websites, social media, and presentations
- Coordinate and staff public meetings, open houses, and stakeholder briefings
- Maintain project contact lists, distribution databases, and comment-tracking logs
- Conduct research on community demographics and local issues to inform outreach materials
- Assist with the design and layout of communication materials
- Schedule and support client and stakeholder meetings
- Provide day-to-day administrative and logistical support to senior communications staff on strategic initiatives
- Develop and implement strategic communication plans tailored to client demographics, issues, and resources
- Meet with client representatives to understand needs and concerns
- Engage with Hazen technical teams to understand complex engineering and utility management issues
- Collaborate with other Hazen communication team members to share expertise and resources
- Advise clients on communications strategy and engagement best practices
- Translate complex technical and regulatory information into clear, audience-appropriate messages
- Identify and analyze stakeholder groups and recommend effective engagement approaches
- Prepare compelling content for outreach materials such as fact sheets, presentations, mailers, infographics, web content, and digital engagement tools
- Attend community meetings, client discussions, and other gatherings as needed
Requirements
- 5+ years of professional experience in communications, public outreach, public affairs, community engagement, or stakeholder engagement
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field
- Experience developing and executing strategic communication efforts tailored to key audiences and issues
- Strong writing, editing, and message development skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information
- Comfort engaging directly with clients, public agencies, and diverse stakeholders
- Experience working for a water or wastewater agency, or in a consulting agency working with water and wastewater agencies
- Experience working in a consulting agency or multi-client environment
- Experience supporting infrastructure, environmental, public health, or water-related projects
- Familiarity with risk or crisis communications principles
- Experience planning or supporting public meetings and community engagement activities (in-person and virtual)
- Experience collaborating with designers, videographers, or web developers to produce outreach materials
- Proven strategic thinking skills
Benefits
- Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans)
- Pre-tax flexible spending plans for medical, dependent care, and transportation
- Short- and long-term disability, and employer-paid life insurance
- Paid holidays, floating holidays, and paid time off (PTO)
- Employer-contributed 401(k) plan and additional financial planning support
- Professional growth opportunities, including tuition reimbursement, in-house training, and incentives for professional registration and organization memberships
Pay
Salary Range: $59,900 - $80,000 (Final salary is based on experience and location.)
About Us
Founded in 1951, Hazen and Sawyer is an employee-owned company focused on "all things water." Our work includes planning, design, and oversight of construction of environmental infrastructure for water, wastewater, and stormwater management. We foster a work environment low on bureaucracy and high in creativity, providing challenging and interesting assignments with the tools needed to succeed.
We currently have over 2,400 employees in 90+ offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Canada, and the UK. A flexible hybrid work schedule supports today's busy professionals.