Senior Communications Specialist

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement community engagement plans to inform the public about transportation projects, using a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach.
• Field, mediate, and document public issues related to infrastructure projects.
• Actively communicate project progress to residents, businesses, stakeholders, and media through written materials, public meetings, interviews, and presentations.
• Take ownership of content creation, including shooting video, developing digital and educational content, and collaborating with graphics and video teams.
• Design and maintain a positive public image for the organization and customer.
• Maintain and update project websites and social media platforms, posting alerts, updates, and timely information in line with best practices in digital communications.
• Write, edit, and disseminate clear, concise, and informative materials, including press releases, traffic advisories, social media posts, newsletters, event briefs, etc.
• Assist in developing and executing communication strategies during emergencies or incidents affecting transportation infrastructure.
• Cook up and support public relations activities, events, and outreach initiatives.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with community leaders, businesses, and organizations.
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for public inquiries, providing clear, accurate, and timely information.
• Leverage existing tools, platforms, and relationships to advance organizational and client goals efficiently and creatively.
• Stay informed on community issues to advise the client of potential challenges.
• Develop strategic alliances and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of journalism, communications or public relations experience.
• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, planning, or a related field from an accredited program.
• Skilled communications professional with a strong background in journalism and exceptional writing abilities.
• Experienced in developing press releases, traffic advisories, media and public responses, and engaging social media content.
• Proficient in videography, video editing, and photography, along with a keen eye for detail, to ensure high-quality proofreading.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Strong experience with project management, reporting processes, and budgeting.
• Deadline-driven, detail-oriented, and solution-focused.
• Talent for understanding, simplifying, and distilling complex information.
• Experienced in developing written content and collaborating with creative graphics and/or video team to develop project educational materials.
• Able to perform responsibilities with a significant degree of independence, initiative, creativity, and expert judgment in an office setting.
• Able to plan, organize, and successfully complete multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated experience with digital and multimedia communications, including video production, websites, social media, signage, and graphic-driven campaigns.
• Proven problem solver and go-getter with strong critical thinking skills and a solution-driven mindset.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail to identify and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax.
• Ability to perform responsibilities with a significant degree of independence, initiative, creativity, and expert judgment.
• Proven ability to manage deadlines and prioritize tasks.
• Talent for understanding, simplifying, and effectively communicating complex information to diverse audiences.
• Experience using Microsoft Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint) and collaboration/planning tools such as Monday.com, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams.