Public Engagement Associate (Planning & Development Specialist II)

Salary: $47.54 - $55.32 Hourly
Location : Seattle, WA
Job Type: Classified Civil Service, Regular, Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2025-00531
Department: Seattle Department of Transportation
Division: Director's Office
Opening Date: 04/22/2025
Closing Date: 5/6/2025 4:00 PM Pacific

Position Description
Join us in shaping Seattle's streets!

At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don't just move people-we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city.

With a bold vision for the future, we're tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone-no matter who they are or where they live.

Seattle is growing fast, and we're growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we're building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving.

We're a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews-bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let's build a Seattle that works for everyone-together!

Position Overview:
SDOT is looking to hire a Public Engagement Associate (under the City classification title of Planning & Development Specialist II) who develops, manages, and coordinates the communication and public outreach elements for the successful implementation of transportation projects. The Public Engagement Associate works as part of a multi-disciplinary project team, creating public outreach plans and coordinating the communication of project elements to public and private stakeholders, affected communities, and other City staff and agencies. This position reports to the Public Engagement Manager and serves as a member of the Project Engagement team, supporting departmental values and goals in promoting diversity and racial and social justice.
Job Responsibilities

• Serve on matrixed project teams as communications and outreach associate for transportation projects in all stages of work -planning, design, and construction.

• Serve as member of a sector team, which focuses on projects in either the north, central, or south areas of Seattle.
• Serve as contact for communications and outreach on transportation projects, including working with residents, businesses, constituents, community members, elected officials and their staff, consultants, departmental management, and other City staff to implement outreach elements of transportation capital improvements projects.
• Develop and implement public involvement and strategic communications plans, create and disseminate outreach materials such as fact sheets, newsletters, fliers, display boards, surveys, and web content.
• Plan, organize, and run public meetings and hearings to share SDOT values and goals, explain project elements, answer questions, get community feedback, and build relationships with communities.
• Develop and deliver presentations or briefings about projects and transportation issues to community members and groups, City officials, departmental management, review boards and permit agencies, and other governmental agencies, providing clear and concise information about project elements, the project management and public engagement process, and other topics such as mitigation efforts or explanations for certain project design decisions.
• Manage, write, review, and edit both routine and advanced correspondence including emails, letters, memoranda, official documents, and reports. Coordinate internal communication and advertisements for other SDOT divisions and other City staff.
• Work and coordinate with consultants consistent with the City's Consultant Contract procedures for Women & Minority Business Inclusion plan; oversee consultants' progress; review and authorize invoices for accuracy and authorize payments, and provide oversight and feedback to consultants.
• Support departmental goals in promoting diversity and social justice by ensuring that outreach materials are translated and interpreted as needed, and that minority and underrepresented people and their feedback, opinions, and voices are sought out and considered in all stages of project development and decision-making.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires two (2) years of experience in planning and research related to land use, urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation; or other work directly related to City planning and development work; and a baccalaureate degree in planning, urban design, environmental studies, public administration, or related field (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Successful candidates will possess many of these additional qualifications or be able to demonstrate comparable experience and expertise:

• Two (2) years of project and/or construction experience.
• Demonstrated capability actively working on multiple projects, and monitoring and staying within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Working knowledge of traffic planning, multimodal transportation systems, and transportation projects.
• Moderate to advanced proficiency using MS applications.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
• Experience supporting public involvement/outreach processes.
• Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural work place with a diverse customer base.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Work is performed in an office environment with hybrid work options at this time.
• Requires working nights to attend meetings and hearings.

Additional Information
Please attach both a cover letter and resume to your application.

Failure to do so will result in your application not being considered.
Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, including background check.Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The full salary range for this position is $47.54 - $55.32 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, veterans and those with diverse life experiences.

Accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request.

The City is a Drug Free Workplace.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: