Community Relations Manager - Metro G Line Project

Community Relations Manager - 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

• 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