Communications Specialist

Hazen and Sawyer is an employee-owned company specializing in planning, design, and oversight of environmental infrastructure for water, wastewater, and stormwater management. Founded in 1951, we foster a creative, low-bureaucracy work environment with over 2,400 employees across 90+ offices in the United States, Latin America, Canada, and the UK. We offer a flexible hybrid work schedule.

About the role

This role supports Hazen clients on water and environmental projects by executing strategic communications activities. Experience in the water or environmental sector is preferred, especially prior experience working with or for water utilities. Previous communications consulting experience is a plus, but strong transferable experience in public-facing, issue-driven communications is essential.

Responsibilities

• 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 comprehend 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 tailored 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.
• 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.

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

Starting salary range: $59,900 - $80,000 (based on experience and location).