Manager, Public Involvement

Metropolitan Council•Saint Paul MN, MN

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Public Involvement will serve as the METRO Bronze Line bus rapid transit project’s programmatic manager for outreach, communications and consultant staff and be a member of the project leadership team. The position will lead and provide daily work directions to interagency community outreach and engagement staff allocated from two public agencies (Metro Transit and Ramsey County). The position will manage a contract, procured by Ramsey County, providing strategic communications, public outreach and engagement, and community relations consultant services for the project. This position will be the unifying face of the project to stakeholders and public; and implement the strategic communications and public involvement plans; and plan and coordinate activities such as community focus groups, informational meetings and other events. This position will ensure concerns from stakeholders and the public are heard by transit engineering and design team, roadway engineering and design team, and the environmental team. This position will recommend the public participation category (e.g., inform, consult, involve, collaborate, empower) for each of the public participation opportunities associated with various project elements.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED with nine (9) years of experience including two (2) years of experience in a management, supervisory, or lead role which could include time as a trainer, mentor, or providing work direction to others.
Associate degree with seven (7) years of experience, including two (2) years of experience in a management, supervisory, or lead role which could include time as a trainer, mentor, or providing work direction to others.
Bachelor’s degree or higher with five (5) years of experience, including two (2) years of experience in a management, supervisory, or lead role which could include time as a trainer, mentor, or providing work direction to others.
Experience planning, community engagement, outreach, public policy, public relations, or project management.
Degree field of study in Communications, Planning, Public Policy, journalism, community relations or closely related field.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience in working on bus rapid transit projects in Ramsey County
Preferred experience overseeing consultant activities and deliverables.
Background and experience in successfully implementing proactive public involvement and outreach strategies that engage a diverse community.
Demonstrated experience and skills in effectively hiring, building, and maintaining a productive and competent workforce in a high stress environment.
Ability to communicate and work well with others across department lines at all levels, including those that are technically oriented.
Ability to communicate and work well with the public including residents, businesses, non-profits, historically underrepresented communities, and advocacy groups.
Commitment to promoting diversity within the department and working with diverse community within the seven-county region.
Understanding of and experience in working in a complex, multi-functional service department committed to the on-time, cost-effective delivery of projects.
Ability to self-manage time and assignments, work under pressure, provide quality work product and meet tight deadlines while juggling multiple tasks.
Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, which includes attending meetings in the evening and weekends.
Understanding of the political process and working with government entities, outside boards and general public
Knowledge of transit and transportation principles.
Knowledge of plain language principles.

Responsibilities

Manage outreach staff including hiring, building, and maintaining a productive and competent workforce in a high stress environment.
Provide strategic direction to the outreach staff regarding outreach efforts including defining the activities, prioritizing and reviewing documents for consistency with key messages.
Serve as lead on public meetings such as identifying materials, developing the staffing plan, choreograph the event, serve as emcee.
Implement, maintain and update project specific outreach plans.
Report on progress toward achieving goals to Communications for the Communications management team and as part of summary reports to operating divisions and to the public.
Guide and execute external communications strategy related to public outreach and engagement efforts and ensure communications meet standards for cultural competence, accessibility and public notification requirements.
This includes oversight responsibility for social media activities.
Oversee contracts with service providers such as venues, translators, social media functions, food vendors and others.