Staff Public Involvement Specialist

The Staff Public Involvement Specialist will provide communication and public outreach services for large‑scale permitting, planning, and construction projects, working closely with clients, project managers, technical teams, contractors, and field staff.

Responsibilities

• Perform public involvement, public relations, and community outreach activities for clients' capital projects.
• Develop and implement public involvement strategies, outreach plans, key messages, and communication materials.
• Coordinate with clients, project managers, technical teams, contractors, and field staff to understand project schedules, activities, and potential public impacts.
• Plan and coordinate public meetings, information sessions, stakeholder briefings, special events, surveys, and other outreach activities, including event logistics.
• Develop and distribute project communications, including fact sheets, brochures, handouts, newsletters, mailers, notices, presentations, website content, social media, videos, and other materials for project audiences.
• Communicate project and construction impacts, such as traffic changes, access restrictions, detours, schedule changes, noise, and other potential disruptions.
• Conduct outreach with residents, property owners, businesses, community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Respond to and track public questions, concerns, complaints, and requests, coordinating with project teams to support timely follow‑up and resolution.
• Translate technical and project information into clear, easy‑to‑understand communications for a variety of audiences.
• Participate in government briefings, community meetings, and project presentations to external groups.
• Maintain stakeholder contact lists, outreach records, issue logs, and other project documentation.
• Identify emerging or sensitive community issues and communicate potential concerns to project leadership.
• Meet with clients and project teams to develop key messages, themes, and individual or local outreach approaches.
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all applicable policies and standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field from an accredited program and 4 years strategic communication experience (or Master’s degree with 3 years experience – preferred).
• Experience related to communication on behalf of engineering or construction projects (a plus).
• Media‑relations skills and previous experience working with media outlets to develop and deliver key messages and manage content (news, events, crises, etc.).
• Proposal writing experience (strongly preferred).
• Experience developing content for social media and news releases, as well as web design and coding for both traditional and social media platforms (a plus).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to understand and assist with the management of large‑scale permitting and construction projects and the associated communications processes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Expert analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail with ability to perform quality reviews.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including PTO, group health and dental insurance, and 401(k) after satisfying the necessary waiting periods.