Project Manager - Public Engagement

POSITION OVERVIEW: As a Public Engagement Project Manager at LJA Public Engagement Division, you will lead communications-based strategies, public engagement programs, and community outreach activities for public-sector and infrastructure clients. This role serves as both project manager and strategic communications advisor, helping clients connect with stakeholders, build public trust, communicate clearly about complex projects, and deliver engagement efforts that are transparent, inclusive, and aligned with project goals. You will manage client relationships, scopes, budgets, schedules, internal teams, and deliverables while supporting communications across public outreach, stakeholder engagement, digital platforms, media relations, crisis communications, and public meetings. We are looking for a strategic, detail-oriented leader who can move fluidly between clients and project types, translate technical information into clear and accessible materials, guide productive conversations around complex or controversial issues, and ensure work is completed with quality, accountability, and measurable impact. In addition to leading client projects and strategic communications initiatives, this role is responsible for supervising, mentoring, and developing team members through coaching, performance feedback, workload management, and professional growth opportunities.

A TYPICAL DAY MIGHT INCLUDE:

• Serve as project manager and primary point of contact for public-sector and infrastructure client projects.
• Develop and implement strategic communications, public involvement, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach plans in coordination with clients and project teams.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, delegate tasks, manage schedules and budgets, and ensure work is completed on time, within scope, and with a high level of quality.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to clients and project leadership, including messaging, public sentiment, stakeholder concerns, media strategy, and issues management.
• Develop, review, and refine materials that explain complex topics, including fact sheets, presentations, website content, media releases, social media plans, newsletters, letters, and stakeholder updates.
• Plan and facilitate public meetings, open houses, focus groups, workshops, community events, briefings, and other engagement activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, elected officials, agencies, advocacy groups, property owners, and other stakeholders.
• Support media relations, digital communications, social media strategy, website updates, and public information campaigns for client projects and programs.
• Monitor community feedback, media coverage, and public sentiment, and adjust outreach strategies as needed.
• Support crisis and emergency communications planning and response when client projects or programs require timely, coordinated public information.
• Manage, mentor, and develop team members through coaching, workload planning, quality review, performance feedback, career development, and day-to-day supervision, while fostering a collaborative and accountable team culture.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on high-visibility projects, business development opportunities, proposals, and continued growth of the Public Engagement Division.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Marketing, Political Science, English, or a related field; or comparable experience and training.
• Relevant training or certifications in public engagement, facilitation, crisis communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement, or project management are preferred.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8 years of experience in communications, public relations, public outreach, community engagement, public involvement, marketing, event planning, or a related field; public-sector or infrastructure experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing client projects, scopes, budgets, schedules, deliverables, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic communications, public involvement, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach plans.
• Experience leading or supervising staff or project teams, including assigning work, reviewing deliverables, and supporting team performance.
• Excellent writing, editing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, accessible materials.
• Experience planning and facilitating public meetings, open houses, focus groups, workshops, briefings, or community events.
• Ability to communicate objectively and professionally about complex or controversial topics with clients, stakeholders, elected officials, and members of the public.
• Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement, public trust, accessibility, inclusion, and culturally responsive communication practices.
• Experience with media relations, social media, website content, digital platforms, email communications, and public information campaigns.
• Familiarity with crisis communications, issues management, reputation management, or emergency public information is preferred.
• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, competing deadlines, frequent interruptions, and changing project needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable with learning communication, content management, stakeholder tracking, and digital engagement platforms.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and collaboratively as a team lead in a fast-paced, client-focused environment.

 LEVEL UP WITH LJA

At LJA, we’re 100% employee-owned. This drives results, rewards ambition and supports long-term success for every team member. With almost 100 locations and 3,000 employee-owners (and growing), we’re building something big! We want you to be part of it. Your future grows here.

• Generous Time Off: PTO, paid holidays, and a full office closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Multiple plan options for health, dental, and pets. Along with mental health support.
• Family Support: Paid maternity and parental leave to help you focus on what matters most.
• Education Support: Tuition reimbursement and in-house courses provided by our Learning and Development team.
• Referral Bonuses: Know great talent? Get rewarded for helping us grow.
• Community Impact: Company-sponsored volunteer days and philanthropic initiatives.
• Professional Development: Memberships to industry organizations to keep you connected and growing.
• Career Growth: Great internal mobility opportunities to advance your career.
• Fun Culture: LJA social events, employee sports teams, bring your kid to work day, etc.

To Executive Search Firms & Staffing Agencies: LJA Engineering, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered LJA's property. This includes resumes submitted directly to hiring managers without contacting LJA's Human Resources Talent Department.