Content and Engagement Specialist

Location: Portland, Oregon, United States | Zip Code: 97232

About the role

Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The Planning, Development and Research department is looking for a Content and Engagement Specialist to develop engaging and relevant content that builds interest in regional policies, long-term plans, and investments related to land use, transportation, housing, community development, arts, and culture. The content and engagement specialist will join a team of five other communications and engagement specialists who work across the department’s many projects and programs.

Responsibilities

• Implement content and storytelling strategies across multiple projects and initiatives that demonstrate the interconnectivity of the issues and elevate a diversity of voices in policy design.
• Identify storytelling and content ideas that resonate with a variety of audiences to support public dialogue about regional policies and investments.
• Create, manage, and optimize content for various platforms and channels (website, social media, newsletters, and informational materials), including managing day-to-day content creation, publishing, and analytics tracking and reporting.
• Distill technical and complex information into relatable, engaging, and plain language content.
• Concurrently project manage communications for multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams that include communications, public involvement, planning, program, and technical staff.
• Engage directly with community-based organizations, industry representatives, public agencies, and members of the public, especially those historically marginalized, to source, coordinate, and collaborate on communications efforts.
• Deliver timely support for communications materials and channels, including proofreading and website updates, to ensure accuracy and consistency across platforms.

Requirements

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required.

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, business or public administration, public relations, marketing, the behavioral or social sciences, or related degree; and
• Five years professional-level experience in public relations or affairs; or
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer, and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Skills

• Passionate and/or curious about public involvement in local policy-making, planning, and public investments with an interest in motivating civic engagement through effective communications and relationships.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to make connections across differences, build rapport, understand what motivates people, and communicate in a way that connects with diverse motivations.
• Strong writer and editor with knowledge of the structure of the English language, rules of composition and grammar, and ability to write plainly and succinctly.
• Demonstrated success engaging audiences through online communications platforms including websites, e-newsletters, social media, and content management systems.
• Comfort using design and content editing software, graphics, and video.
• Self-motivated to produce high-quality work in a timely fashion.
• Comfortable providing and receiving edits and feedback.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and enjoys connecting with agency partners and community members in-person at events and meetings across the greater Portland region.

Preferred Qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates.

• Previous experience working in political environments, with elected officials and/or with other high-level decision-makers.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects with multiple interested parties.
• Multilingual communication skills, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, or other languages commonly spoken in the region.

Schedule

This position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You are required to come into the office at least one day per week and additionally as needed for in-person meetings and events. You will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro.

Pay

The full-salary range for this position is $85,311.42 to $114,400.85. Unless a candidate’s qualifications justify a higher step based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between $85,311.42 and $98,833.71.

Benefits

This position is not eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME 3580. It is classified as a Senior Public Affairs Specialist.