Principal Community Relations Officer - Metro I-105 Express Lanes Project

Department: Metro

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Southern California

Compensation: $99,840 - $110,240 / year

Description

This position serves as the positive link between Metro, the community, and various stakeholders to create trust and an enduring relationship for Metro; conducts the more complex staff work in connection with community outreach, preparation, and dissemination of informational materials, training, mitigation, and rapid response resolution.

This a full-time position with Arellano Associates on the I-105 Express Lanes project in South Los Angeles (various field offices and locations) with opportunities for advancement.

Key Responsibilities

Project Support: Supports Metro projects and programs during all project phases, including planning, project delivery, and operations.
Communication Strategy: Develops, implements, and manages communication strategies and community engagement programs to inform the public, elected officials, and stakeholders of Metro projects, programs, and initiatives.
Liaison Role: Serves as liaison between Metro executive management and local elected officials, COGs, city councils, neighborhood councils, chambers of commerce, public and private agencies, citizens, and community and advocacy groups.
Opportunity and Risk Management: Identifies opportunities and risks for Metro's projects, programs, initiatives, and operations; develops strategies to maximize opportunities and minimize risks.
Strategic Planning: Develops goals, objectives, workplans, and budgets for assigned areas or project units.
Staff Management: Manages, trains, and motivates staff engaged in outreach programs; oversees consultant management including scope of work, budgeting, and performance.
Event Coordination: Evaluates and recommends participation levels at events; organizes and attends community meetings, press conferences, and special media events.
Public Representation: Represents Metro at public venues and meetings.
Incident Management: Researches complex and sensitive incidents, complaints, and concerns, collaborating across the organization to find solutions.
Content Development: Develops content and oversees the creation of project information, such as fact sheets, newsletters, e-blasts, and presentations.
Project Management Support: Provides recommendations to project management teams regarding community impacts during various project phases.
Internal Communication: Manages internal communication with senior staff to implement new directives for Metro projects and programs.
Strategic Communication Coordination: Coordinates communications and strategic development for internal departments like community relations, media, and marketing.
Board Support: Provides expertise for Metro Board and Council, advising on agendas, briefings, and meetings.
Leadership: Provides day-to-day management and strategic direction to assigned staff.
Visual and Online Communication Strategy: Acts as lead strategist for the use and development of visual, online, and graphic communications; utilizes social media metrics to enhance communications.
Construction Impact Mitigation: Develops strategic plans to mitigate impacts related to construction.
Community Engagement: Facilitates community advisory committees, achieving stakeholder consensus.
Safety Compliance: Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures; maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees.
EEO Compliance: Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out.
Additional Duties: May be required to perform other related job duties as necessary.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks):

Community Relations Principles: Detailed understanding of the principles and practices related to community relations.
Government Protocols: Expertise in the operations and protocols of local and state governments, public agencies, and community groups.
Digital Communication: Knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of effective online communication and digital media targeting specific audiences.
Transportation and Public Finance: Expertise in transportation, land use planning, regulation, and public finance theories, principles, and practices.
Engineering Disciplines: Knowledge of engineering and construction disciplines, applicable where relevant.
Legislative Processes: Mastery of federal, state, and municipal legislative processes, including procedures and protocols.
Research Techniques: Proficiency in various research and analytical techniques, methods, and procedures.
Infrastructure Projects: Extensive knowledge of major public works and transportation infrastructure projects, programs, and operations.
Social Media and Marketing: Expertise in social media strategies and marketing and branding practices.
Public Communication Protocols: Understanding of the protocols for communicating within and on behalf of public agencies.
Community Dynamics: Insight into group dynamics and community organizing techniques.
Conflict Resolution: Skills in consensus building and methods for resolving conflicts.
Management Theories: Familiarity with contemporary management theories.
Software Proficiency: Competence in using applicable business software applications.

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things):

Strategy Development: Developing and implementing communication strategies for complex transportation, infrastructure, or environmental planning projects.
Program Management: Designing, implementing, and managing public or community programs to enhance the visibility and reach of Metro's services and programs through various media platforms.
Community Interaction: Engaging effectively with non-governmental and community-based organizations and diverse populations.
Analytical Skills: Analyzing situations to identify opportunities and problems, recommend actions, and evaluate the outcomes.
Judgment and Creativity: Applying sound judgment and creativity within established guidelines to solve problems creatively and effectively.
Effective Communication: Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, including skills in public speaking and presenting.
Professional Interaction: Professional interactions with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives.
Issue Framing: Researching and presenting complex issues in a manner understandable to non-technical audiences.
Consensus Building: Facilitating community engagement processes to reach consensus.

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result):

Outreach Coordination: Effectively conducting outreach to support projects, programs, and studies.
Complex Communication: Communicating complex and technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
Interdepartmental Collaboration: Collaborating effectively across multiple departments and with various external agencies.
Public Representation: Representing Metro proficiently before the public and elected officials.
Project Coordination: Coordinating multiple projects and tasks while meeting critical deadlines.
Regulatory Interpretation: Interpreting and applying relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements.
Data Analysis: Compiling, analyzing, and interpreting complex data to inform decisions.
Report Writing: Crafting clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence.
Staff Supervision: Supervising, training, and motivating staff and consultants effectively.
Technical Interpretation: Interpreting technical documents accurately.
Language Proficiency: Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English proficiently.

Minimum Requirements

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Business, or related field.
Master's Degree in Public Policy or related field preferred.

Experience:

Six years of relevant experience, or three years at a supervisory level managing public affairs or community relations, preferably in transportation or public works.

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements:

A valid California Class C Driver License or equivalent mobility for job-related functions.

Special Conditions

Typical office environment with significant computer use.
May require working irregular hours, weekends, or holidays.
Local travel and occasional emergency response duties.

Physical Effort Required

Sitting at a desk or table
Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
Standing
Walking (distance 5' to 100')
Communicating through speech in the English language required

Average salary estimate

$105040 / YEARLY (est.)

min

max

$99840K

$110240K

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