Communications Specialist

About the role

Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a Communications Specialist to join our growing Communications and Public Outreach practice. This role supports Hazen clients on water and environmental projects by executing strategic communications activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic communication plans and processes tailored to unique demographics, issues, and available resources of clients
• Meet with client representatives to gain understanding of needs and issues of concern
• Engage with Hazen technical teams to understand complex engineering and utility management issues
• Collaborate closely with other Hazen communication team members to share expertise, resources, and insights
• Advise clients on communications strategy and engagement best practices
• Translate complex technical and regulatory information into clear, accurate, audience-appropriate messages and determine how best to deliver those to key audiences
• Identify and analyze stakeholder groups and recommend effective engagement approaches tailored to diverse audiences
• Prepare compelling content tailored to key audiences for use in 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
• 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

Required Qualifications

• 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, using tools and practices relevant to meet defined outcomes
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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

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 professional organization memberships

Pay

Salary Range: $59,900 - $80,000 (Final salary is based on experience and location.)