Principal Community Relations Officer - Metro G Line Project

Principal Community Relations Officer - Metro G Line 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 Metro G Line project in the San
Fernando Valley (Van Nuys Project Office) with opportunities for advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaison Work: Provide 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.
• Project Management: Serve as lead staff in planning, implementing, and managing assigned construction projects and other special projects designed to meet community needs.
• Employee Guidance: Provide guidance and assistance to new or entry-level employees.
• Publicity and Outreach: Plan and implement, or attend publicity efforts, strategies, and outreach programs to define community needs, obtain their input, gain their support, and promote Metro's projects, programs, and initiatives.
• Conflict Resolution: Meet and confer with Metro staff, external stakeholders, and project contractors to resolve conflicting or divergent opinions and reach mutually acceptable solutions.
• Incident and Complaint Research: Research incidents, complaints, and concerns, including difficult and sensitive problems, and interface with contractors and management at all levels of the organization to resolve issues.
• Strategic Recommendations: Recommend strategies to promote Metro's strategic goals and objectives.
• Presentations: Prepare and make presentations to management, public officials, community groups, schools, and other stakeholders.
• Project Support: Provide support to project management and the department, and inter-department management in Board presentations, community outreach, and in coordinating construction activities and mitigations.
• Communication Tools: Provide input in creating useful communication tools and methods.
• Content Development: Develop content for collateral material to educate the public on construction activities.
• Community Engagement: Keep the community and elected officials informed of construction impacts related to construction projects.
• Stay Informed: Remain up to date on current and proposed activities and programs, and applicable regulations by attending Board, project, and community meetings.
• Documentation: Prepare correspondence, reports, newsletters, and talking materials as requested by management or public officials.
• Safety Education: Plan and conduct safety education outreach before and during construction projects.
• Tours Coordination: Coordinate and conduct tours of Metro construction projects.
• Budget Input: Provide input for developing budgets.
• RFP Preparation: Prepare Request for Proposals (RFPs) for promotional and/or professional services; negotiate and monitor contracts to ensure compliance with project goals.
• EEO Compliance: Contribute to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out.
• Other Duties: Perform other related job duties as required.

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):

• 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

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

• Performing effective, diverse, and spontaneous communications
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Exercising sound judgment 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

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

• 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

Minimum Requirements

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
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) is preferred.
• Must be willing to be on call and work evenings and weekends
• Knowledge of project area, community priorities, and equity focused communities is preferred.