Community Engagements Lead

Texas A&M • Houston, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Community Engagements Lead, under general supervision, plans, coordinates, and executes communications and engagement activities supporting CHARM products and initiatives within the Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR) Mitigation Branch. As a working lead for a small communications group, the role provides day-to-day direction while contributing directly to engagement campaigns, content development, digital communications, and community engagements such as workshops, trainings, and product demonstrations. The position works closely with CHARM product leadership, internal technical and program teams, external partners, and community stakeholders, and may support other DAR Mitigation Branch communications and engagement priorities as capacity allows.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s DAR unit supports communities across all 254 Texas counties as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The unit provides disaster education and community resilience support, including damage assessments, emergency animal sheltering coordination, resources, educational workshops, and collaboration with local, state, and national agencies.

The role is based in Houston (Clear Lake), Texas, and requires an on-site presence; it is not fully remote. Limited partially remote work and flexible schedules may be available depending on the role and employee eligibility. Occasional evening meetings and overnight travel may be required. The position is funded through grants or contracts, and continued employment depends on ongoing funding and satisfactory performance. Compensation is commensurate with qualifications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public affairs, marketing, project management, or a related field.
• At least five years of professional experience in communications, project management, stakeholder engagement, public outreach, marketing, event coordination, or related work.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage projects, coordinate contributors, manage deadlines, and follow work through to completion.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to take initiative and manage multiple projects and changing priorities.
• Strong verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, and the ability to professionally represent programs and products with partners and stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating events, workshops, conferences, stakeholder engagements, or similar activities.
• Strong writing and editing skills, including the ability to translate technical or complex information into clear communications for different audiences.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and coordinate work across people with different areas of expertise.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
• Ability to learn and effectively use project management, content management, and collaboration platforms.
• May require lifting and transporting workshop and outreach equipment weighing up to 30 pounds, as well as extended bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and squatting.
• May require extended communication with visitors, stakeholders, and employees in person, by telephone, or electronically.
• May require occasional travel, including overnight stays.
• May require operating computers and high-definition screens for extended periods.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and must not require employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading or supervising communications, content, design, engagement, or project staff.
• Experience using Jira, Confluence, or similar project management platforms.
• Experience working with federal, state, or local government agencies or clients.
• Experience in community planning, hazard mitigation, emergency management, resilience, public outreach, or a related field.
• Experience planning or supporting community workshops, conferences, demonstrations, exhibits, or other public or stakeholder engagements.
• Experience using WordPress or a similar content management system.
• Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design and content development tools.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and execute communications and engagement projects primarily supporting CHARM products and initiatives.
• Translate product and program priorities into project plans, schedules, assignments, and deliverables; track progress, follow up on outstanding work, and help resolve issues affecting deadlines or completion.
• Create, edit, and coordinate communications materials, including presentations, reports, briefings, web content, announcements, newsletters, outreach materials, marketing collateral, and event materials.
• Work with content writers, graphic designers, product teams, planners, and technical staff to develop clear and accurate written and visual communications for different audiences.
• Plan and coordinate conferences, exhibits, product demonstrations, webinars, stakeholder meetings, and other CHARM engagement opportunities, including logistics, materials, staffing, procurement, travel, and follow-up.
• Transport, set up, and break down workshop, exhibit, and outreach equipment and materials, including displays and presentation or audiovisual equipment, as needed.
• Partner with the Community Planning Team Lead to plan and coordinate CHARM workshops and community engagements, including schedules, participant communications, materials, staffing, technology needs, logistics, and follow-up.
• Maintain project schedules, communications and engagement calendars, and task boards; use Jira or similar tools to assign work, track deliverables and deadlines, identify dependencies, and keep the team informed of project status.
• Serve as a working lead for assigned communications staff by setting priorities, coordinating assignments, providing feedback and support, and actively completing work.
• Translate technical or complex information into communications that are understandable and useful to communities, government partners, sponsors, professional audiences, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain CHARM web and digital content using WordPress or similar platforms and ensure communications meet Texas A&M AgriLife branding and accessibility requirements, coordinating with MarComm as needed.
• Coordinate communications and engagement work with consultants, vendors, sub-awardees, partners, and other contributors, including timelines, deliverables, and follow-up.
• Support budgets, purchasing, procurement, and expense tracking associated with conferences, workshops, communications, and other engagement activities.
• Build productive relationships with community partners, agencies, professional associations, and other stakeholders; represent CHARM at meetings, workshops, demonstrations, conferences, and other activities as needed.
• Attend occasional evening meetings and travel overnight as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, with AgriLife contributing to premiums.
• 12–15 annual paid holidays.
• Up to 8 hours per month of sick leave.
• At least 8 hours per month of vacation leave.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee Wellness Initiative.
• Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs.

What This Job Offers

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