Community Outreach Coordinator

Metropolitan Council•Minneapolis, MN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Metropolitan Council is the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, planning for the region’s future and providing regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. Metro Transit operates an integrated network of buses, light rail, commuter trains, and other transportation resources. The Community Outreach Coordinator is geographically based and embedded in the community to build and maintain long-term relationships. The coordinator serves as a consistent point of contact for businesses, neighborhood organizations, community partners, city and county representatives, and police partners, and takes ownership of escalated customer and community issues that require ongoing problem solving. The position coordinates responses involving elected officials, executive leadership, or multiple Metro Transit departments. The coordinator supports proactive customer education and outreach to communities that are not currently riding transit, including expanding Metro Transit’s How to Ride programming. The role also supports initiatives such as the Safety & Security Action Plan by developing and implementing communications and public involvement activities that build public understanding and support. The position interfaces with project managers, communications staff, and other Council departments and represents Metro Transit at public events and committee meetings. The Council is creating a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings. The anticipated hiring salary range is $39.69–$52.88 per hour ($82,555–$110,000 annually); the full salary range is $39.69–$64.41 per hour ($82,555–$133,973 annually). Hiring salary depends on the candidate’s qualifications, internal pay structures, and total compensation package. The position is eligible for hybrid telework. Hours are primarily Monday through Friday during standard business hours, with a flexible schedule that may include early mornings, nights, and weekends for community engagement. The candidate’s permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Requirements

Qualifying combinations of progressively responsible public affairs or community relations experience involving work with the public, diverse community groups, consultants, opinion leaders, and community-based organizations, and completed education in Planning, Urban Studies, Communication, Public Affairs, Political Science, or a related field.
High school diploma or GED and seven years of experience; or an associate degree and five years of experience; or a bachelor’s degree or higher and three years of experience.
Ability to lift, move, and transport items weighing up to 25 pounds; assistance from another person or a mechanical device may be required for heavier items.
Permanent residence in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
Ability to work a flexible schedule that may include early mornings, nights, and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in planning, urban studies, communication, public affairs, political science, or a related field.
Experience with event coordination logistics.
Experience with community outreach in Minneapolis, particularly construction coordination and building strong community relationships.
Experience in transit or transportation.
Experience in a nonprofit or government agency.
Ability to write, listen, and speak in a second language.
Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.
Skill using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and working with databases.
Skill setting up laptops and projectors for public meetings.
Skill in verbal and written communication, public speaking, and presentation development.
Skill in handling conflict and stressful situations.
Ability to use photocopiers, printers, plotters, and other office equipment to prepare meeting materials.
Ability to use email and Outlook calendar functions to schedule public meetings.
Ability to identify outreach strategies and stakeholders, solve problems, suggest solutions, find information, and collaborate across departments.
Ability to connect meaningfully with diverse people, identify emerging issues or anticipate pain points, listen and summarize conversations, pay attention to detail, and prioritize and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

Create outreach plans and manage engagement projects.
Build, maintain, coordinate, and implement public hearings, focus groups, surveys, education, information presentations, and other public input and education forums for transit services, programs, or projects.
Identify constituencies that need to be informed and involved in transit services, programs, or projects.
Represent Metro Transit, as assigned, in the community and at public events and meetings of committees and organizations.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure consistent communication with communities potentially affected by transit services, programs, or projects.
Respond to customer inquiries and requests for information about Metro Transit services, programs, or projects.
Track public comments to help tailor key messages and collateral materials to specific audiences, including civic, business, and opinion leaders, neighborhoods, and organizations.
Maintain stakeholder contact lists.
Review routine communication tools for consistency, and create and update outreach and engagement plans as transit services, programs, or projects progress.
Perform administrative tasks, including taking meeting minutes, creating agendas, and preparing notes.
Manage and problem-solve escalated customer and community issues requiring ongoing ownership.
Coordinate responses involving elected officials, executive leadership, or multiple Metro Transit departments.
Support customer education and outreach to communities that are not currently riding transit, including expansion of How to Ride programming.
Support initiatives such as the Safety & Security Action Plan through communication and public involvement activities.
Perform other related duties as assigned or apparent.