Public Engagement Associate (Planning & Development Specialist II)

City of Seattle•Seattle, WA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets! At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people—we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city. With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live. Seattle is growing fast, and we’re growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving. We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews—bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone—together! Position Overview: The Public Engagement Associate (under the City classification title of Planning & Development Specialist II) supports SDOT’s mission by planning and implementing inclusive, accessible, and equitable community engagement strategies for transportation projects and initiatives. This role ensures that community members—particularly those most impacted by transportation investments—have meaningful opportunities to inform decision-making. Working closely with project teams and communications staff, the position coordinates outreach activities, including public meetings, events, and stakeholder communications, while ensuring compliance with Title VI, ADA, and language access requirements. This position is critical to maintaining consistent, high-quality engagement across multiple projects and advancing the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) commitments. The Public Engagement Associate also supports the collection and analysis of community feedback, helping integrate public input into project outcomes, strengthen community relationships, and ensure transparency, accountability, and successful project delivery. This position will report to the Communications Lead.

Requirements

Requires two (2) years of experience in planning and research related to land use, urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation; or other work directly related to City planning and development work.
A baccalaureate degree in planning, urban design, environmental studies, public administration, or related field.
OR: A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting public engagement, communications, or community outreach efforts, preferably in transportation, urban planning, or government environments.
Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with community members, stakeholders, and partner organizations.
Experience developing outreach materials and using multiple communication platforms (e.g. web, social media, and print, ETC.) to reach a broad audience.
Knowledge of or experience applying equity principles in public engagement, including working with historically underrepresented communities and supporting language access needs.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and coordinate logistics in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Experience planning and supporting public meetings, events, or community engagement activities.
Proficiency with standard office and collaboration tools (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, and SharePoint, ETC.) and ability to learn new systems quickly.
Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural work place with a diverse customer base.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and carry out outreach activities that connect community members to transportation projects, ensuring timely and consistent communication throughout the project lifecycle.
Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, and partners to support inclusive participation and gather meaningful input.
Create and distribute clear, accessible communication materials across multiple platforms, including digital, print, and in-person formats.
Organize and support engagement events such as open houses, briefings, and community conversations, including logistics, facilitation support, and follow-up.
Track, summarize, and share public feedback with project teams to inform decision-making and improve project outcomes.
Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to align messaging, coordinate outreach efforts, and support overall project goals.
Ensure engagement practices reflect equity principles by increasing access, removing participation barriers, and incorporating diverse community perspectives.
Support department goals in promoting diversity and social justice.