Chief Communications and Engagement Officer

RTD • Rock Hill, SC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Driving a proactive communications and engagement strategy for the premier mobility organization in the Denver region, the Chief Communications and Engagement Officer oversees all strategic communications, media relations, public relations, marketing, and community engagement for RTD. The Chief Communications & Engagement Officer will collaborate with partners throughout RTD to deliver strategic initiatives in alignment with RTD’s recent Strategic Plan. This role is responsible for developing and implementing a public relations strategy, showcasing the value and benefits of RTD to the community, enhancing engagement with diverse audiences, and improving internal communications among RTD employees. The position also focuses on promoting and enhancing RTD’s brand, driving a customer service mindset, growing engagement via social media platforms, and leading customer engagement efforts. Additionally, the role involves managing content development for the RTD website and internal/external deliverables, supporting engagement with elected stakeholders, developing plans to increase advertising revenue, and establishing systems for managing community requests and customer feedback. A crisis communication strategy is also a key responsibility. The role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams to communicate internal programs and initiatives and support external communications for RTD initiatives related to planning, safety, personal security, transit service delivery, equity, inclusion, and more. The Chief Communications and Engagement Officer also maintains appropriate staffing levels, recruits and manages staff, conducts performance reviews, and fosters a safety-first culture. They are responsible for advancing Equal Employment Opportunity, Small/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Title VI, and ADA Plans.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, or related field
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in communications, public relations, or related.
• Minimum of five (5) years of senior leadership experience.
• Experience working in a politically sensitive environment (Public Sector, Government, or similar industry experience preferred).

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, or related field preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as an integral member of the agency’s Leadership Team to ensure effective collaboration and integration of activities with other agency departments in pursuit of established success outcomes.
• Coordinate with the GM/CEO, members of the agency’s 15-member elected board of directors, and staff regarding interactions with the media.
• Demonstrate leadership in employee engagement and continuous improvement efforts.
• Direct the creation of a comprehensive media strategy to better position the agency in print, online and social media platforms.
• Determine and implement measures to support the agency’s strategic priorities, mission, vision, and values in concert with the agency’s board-adopted five-year strategic plan.
• Take action to advance the goals of the organization’s equal opportunity and small/disadvantaged/women-owned business enterprise plans.
• Develop and implement a public relations strategy for RTD.
• Develop and implement RTD’s strategy to showcase the value and benefits of RTD to the community.
• Enhance RTD’s engagement with diverse audiences.
• Enhance and develop internal communications among RTD employees.
• Develop and drive strategies to promote and enhance RTD’s brand in the community.
• Develop and promote customer service mindset throughout the RTD enterprise.
• Drive strategies to grow engagement via RTD’s social media platforms.
• Lead customer engagement efforts, including but not limited to the development and monitor the implementation of the Customer Experience and Transit Utilization Plan.
• Manage content development, both for the RTD website and in terms of internal- and external-facing deliverables.
• Support RTD’s engagement with elected stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a plan to increase RTD’s revenue from advertising.
• Develop systems for receiving and managing requests from the community.
• Develop systems for managing and tracking customer feedback.
• Develop a crisis communication strategy.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to better communicate internal programs and initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to support external communications for RTD initiatives related to planning, safety, personal security, transit service delivery, equity, inclusion, and more.
• Maintains appropriate staffing levels and reviews progress to ensure the quality and quantity of work meet standards and deadlines for deliverables to meet program goals and objectives.
• Recruits staff to include interviewing, hiring, assigning work, training, coaching, and counseling to ensure consistent application of Employee Guidelines, processes, and procedures.
• Conducts performance reviews and holds employees accountable for optimal performance of their responsibilities.
• Fosters a safety-first culture, prioritizing prevention, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Takes action to advance the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity, Small/ Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Title VI and ADA Plans, thereby ensuring RTD's hiring programs, work environment, contracting and procurement practices, and transit services/programs are fair, equal, and non-discriminatory.
• All other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits (RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior