Project Based Analyst | NY & NJ Community Engagement - Immediate Hire

Karp Strategies•New York, NY

104d•$28 - $35•Onsite

About The Position

Karp Strategies is hiring a Community Engagement Analyst to serve as the public-facing representative of the ongoing Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project in New Jersey and New York. This role is focused exclusively on engagement efforts for this project, including staffing the Weehawken, NJ and Manhattan, NY Community Engagement Centers and supporting related outreach and programming. The ideal candidate will have 1-3 years of experience in stakeholder engagement and outreach with strong skills in communication, community relationship-building, and event coordination. This position requires an individual who is enthusiastic about working closely with communities and is passionate about addressing community concerns while supporting the development of programming that fosters local connections. Candidates who adapt readily to change will thrive in this role: in a given week, a person in this role may develop a presentation, advise Gateway leadership on community dynamics, lead a site visit tour, staff an outreach center, and conduct research. Gateway is a dynamic project, and the community engagement program and staff respond to support this dynamism. We are looking for creative thinkers, candidates who are entrepreneurial self-starters and willing to take research risks to put big ideas out there, and who are comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders. Candidates who are interested in putting their writing, design, and interpersonal skills to use communicating ideas externally will excel in this role. The candidate will share our commitment to growing stronger communities and thriving economies. This position offers a unique opportunity: an individual will join the Karp Strategies team, and be eligible for the training and professional development investments and activities that KS provides, while working full time at one of our representatives on the Gateway Program. In so doing, this position gives individuals the opportunity to work within a new and growing government organization while receiving coaching and mentoring support from both leadership within Gateway and Karp Strategies. We are a proud partner/subconsultant supporting the Gateway Program's Hudson Tunnel Project, with a leading role in outreach and engagement to help deliver a project of national importance. As the project advances, it requires additional support to execute robust, effective outreach and engagement. This role will help deliver on a nation-changing, region-leading project. Please note, that this position is Project-based and employment terms (dates of employment, length of employment, and hours) will be driven by the needs of the project you will be hired to support. We currently anticipate this role to start immediately and to last for up to twenty-four months (2 years), although the duration may change. There may be an opportunity to extend employment beyond these terms depending on project and firm needs.

Requirements

1–3 years of relevant experience (or equivalent academic training) in community outreach, public/stakeholder engagement, or public relations; experience with construction, infrastructure, or engineering-adjacent projects is a strong plus.
Knowledge of community engagement best practices, public involvement techniques, and communication strategies.
Demonstrated experience managing relationships with diverse communities, including outreach, listening/responding to concerns, and resolving issues in a way that builds trust.
Excellent interpersonal skills, empathy, and cultural sensitivity, able to engage authentically across different demographic, linguistic, and socio-economic groups.
Flexibility and adaptability: ability to respond to shifting project needs and priorities, adjust tactics/immediately, and thrive in changing environments.
Strong professional judgment and representation: ability to represent Karp Strategies (KS) within the structure of the Gateway Program (and any secondments), maintaining high standards of integrity, accountability, and clear communication both externally (with communities, stakeholders) and internally (with project team, management, clients).
Clear, impactful communication skills—written and verbal—including the ability to translate technical or complex information into accessible, layperson-friendly formats.
Proficiency in relevant tools and media: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (or comparable graphic design tools), and facility with learning new technologies/applications as needed.
Strong research skills—both qualitative and quantitative—for gathering community input, analyzing data, and informing program strategy and communications.
Collaborative spirit & passion for people-centered work: enjoys working in teams, building relationships, contributing to a shared purpose, and staying engaged even under deadline pressure or when doing “miscellaneous” tasks.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual or multilingual capability, especially Spanish – highly regarded.

Responsibilities

Serve as the public “face” of the program in the New York and New Jersey Engagement Centers on a full time basis.
Represent Karp Strategies and the Gateway Program with professionalism and sound judgment, serving as a trusted, visible, and solutions-oriented representative in all community and stakeholder interactions. Demonstrate strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills to effectively navigate complex issues and ensure alignment between the community, project partners, and KS values.
Help plan and staff community-based programming activities hosted at the centers and surrounding communities to increase project awareness, fostering relationships and meaningful interactions with local stakeholders. This includes programming for:
Educational outreach programming, including age-appropriate presentations for elementary, middle, and high school students
Site Tours
Manage and coordinate clear and accessible communications in response to questions and concerns raised by community members and stakeholders.
Conduct outreach activities, such as telephone calls, flyer distribution, and participation in community association meetings, to encourage involvement and ensure awareness of programming and resources.
Act as a liaison between the project team and the community, addressing complaints, resolving issues, and ensuring a positive relationship throughout the project.
Prepare and update program outreach materials, including presentations, flyers, and other collateral.
Strong writing and/or graphic design experience is a must given the range of work required on projects.
Support transportation and infrastructure focused research and work as needed, including briefings, meetings, and analysis. Manage related logistics and support, including preparation of research, analysis and deliverables materials.
Project manage the heck out of whatever you are working on, utilizing schedules, project plans, shared file systems, and communication apps. Analysts often play an assistant project manager role on projects.
Design infographics, data visualizations, and graphic representations of policy, process, engineering, and analytical findings to support client projects, business development efforts, and other initiatives with Adobe Suite programs. Ranging from things as simple as agendas to as big as decks going to a client’s investors, execute on translating technical information into layperson formats either independently or on a team.
Work in a start-up environment with a close-knit team and our project partners on misc. tasks, big or small, as they arise.
If Gateway project work is paused for any reason, work with the Karp Strategies team on internal initiatives including business development and research, or on other external consulting projects.
A deep curiosity about planning issues and an interest in incorporating an equity lens to our work is strongly encouraged.

Benefits

This role will be eligible for Karp Strategies benefits, including access to health insurance.
Professional Development: Employees are encouraged to meet their professional goals by participating in membership organizations, attending conferences, and pursuing skills and management training. We offer and support regular training for team members - investing in the team is important to them.
Health and Wellness: We offer medical, vision, and dental benefits and membership to One Medical. Medical costs are shared by Karp Strategies. We prioritize work life balance as a core value.
Rest: Analysts receive 15 days of PTO and 7 days of sick/safe leave.
Savings: We offer 401k retirement plan match, and access to HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits programs.

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