PRINCIPAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER (Community Relations)

Basic Function

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.

Example Of Duties

• Provides high-level liaison work between Metro and Board members, passengers, and external stakeholders, such as elected officials, businesses, and community and special interest groups regarding Metro′s transit services, systems, and programs
• Serves as lead staff in planning, implementing, and managing assigned construction projects and other special projects designed to meet community needs
• Provides guidance and assistance to new or entry-level employees
• Plans and implements, or attends publicity efforts, strategies, and outreach programs to define community needs, obtain their input, gain their support, and promote Metro′s projects, programs, and initiatives
• Meets and confers with Metro staff, external stakeholders, and project contractors to resolve conflicting or divergent opinions and to reach mutually acceptable solutions
• Researches incidents, complaints, and concerns, including difficult and sensitive problems, and interfaces with contractors and management at all levels of the organization to resolve issues
• Recommends strategies to promote Metro′s strategic goals and objectives
• Prepares and makes presentations to management, public officials, community groups, schools and other stakeholders
• Provides support to project management and the department, and inter-department management in Board presentations, community outreach, and in coordinating construction activities and mitigations
• Provides input in creating useful communication tools and methods
• Develops content for collateral material to educate the public on construction activities
• Keeps the community and elected officials informed of construction impacts related to construction projects
• Remains up to date on current and proposed activities and programs, and applicable regulations by attending Board, project, and community meetings
• Prepares correspondence, reports, newsletter, and talking materials, as requested, by management or public officials
• Plans and conducts safety education outreach before and during construction projects
• Coordinates and conducts tours of Metro construction projects
• Provides input for developing budget
• Prepares Request for Proposals (RFPs) for promotional and/or professional services; negotiates and monitors contracts to ensure compliance with project goals
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  

  
  May be required to perform other related job duties

Requirements For Employment

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Marketing, or a related field

Experience

• Five years of relevant experience performing community relations work; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

• Ability to understand and speak a language other than English may be required for some positions

• Must be willing to be on call and work evenings and weekends

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience developing community engagement strategies for transportation projects, programs, and initiatives


• Experience strategizing through social media and digital communications tactics to engage the public


• Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders


• Experience using database management systems such as CRM


• Knowledge of environmental planning process in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Knowledge:

• Theories, principles, and practices of community relations, government relations, and public relations

• Protocols when communicating with public agencies

• Metro transit system

• Group dynamics and community organizing techniques

• Structure, functioning, and protocol of local government agencies and community groups

• Research and analytical techniques, methods, and procedures

• Applicable business software applications

Skills:

• Performing effective, diverse, and spontaneous communications

• Communicating effectively orally and in writing

• Exercising sound judgement and creativity in making recommendations

• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro staff and outside stakeholders

• Designing, implementing, and coordinating public or community programs to promote Metro′s services and programs

• Working under pressure

Abilities:

• Relate to diverse community members

• Represent Metro before the public

• Write clear comprehensive reports

• Analyze situations, identify problems, recommend solutions, and evaluate outcomes

• Coordinate multiple projects and meet critical deadlines

• Understand, interpret, and apply relevant policies, laws, regulations, and contracts

• Read, write, speak, and understand English

  Selection Procedure

  Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.