Senior Community Engagement Coordinator

Washington County • Hillsboro, OR

13d

About The Position

The Senior Community Engagement Coordinator will lead public participation efforts for the Department of Land Use and Transportation in Washington County. This role is responsible for developing, promoting, and evaluating engagement strategies that inform decision-making and ensure accessible participation for all community members. This position will advise and support the Department of Land Use & Transportation’s divisions, which include Planning & Development Services, Operations & Maintenance, Capital Project Services, and Engineering, Traffic & Survey Services, in the operationalization and integration of engagement principles into their planning and operations efforts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, business or public administration, social science, communications, organizational development, regional planning, public policy, ethnic studies, or related fields: AND three (3) years of professional experience developing and implementing programs focused on access, opportunity, and public participation, leading organizational development, community focused outreach and engagement, project management, business management, analysis, planning, organizing, and/or evaluating programs within a public agency or related field, OR
• Associates degree in communications, business or public administration, social science, organizational development, regional planning, public policy, ethnic studies, or related fields: AND five (5) of professional experience developing and implementing programs focused on access, opportunity, and public participation, leading organizational development, community focused outreach and engagement, project management, business management, analysis, planning, organizing, and/or evaluating programs within a public agency or related field, OR
• Seven (7) years of professional experience developing and implementing programs focused on access, opportunity, and public participation, leading organizational development, community focused outreach and engagement, project management, business management, analysis, planning, organizing, and/or evaluating programs within a public agency or related field.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated expertise in public policy related to improving access and opportunity for community members. Preferably in land use and/or transportation focus areas.
• Assessing and developing strategies to address racial, environmental, or social service and outcome gaps.
• Principles related to workforce and community participation best practices within government systems or related fields.
• Understanding of empowerment frameworks and their application in policy, program, and organizational decision making.
• Effective communication skills for raising awareness of access, opportunity, and participationwithin governmental systems or related fields.
• Ability to manage, participate in, and lead teams effectively to produce results.
• Experience in designing and implementing initiatives to improve outcomes for communities.
• Proven ability to conduct research, evaluate, and analyze issues and problems related to access, opportunity, and participation in an organizational setting.
• Adept at promoting a culture of respect, engagement, and appreciation for differing perspectives, values and backgrounds.
• Analyze information from various sources to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Interpret statistical data applicable to the design and evaluation of engagement and participation programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a broad range of community identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning and Oversight: Plan, develop, and manage a department-wide community engagement framework for land use and transportation. Assess departmental project needs and develop scopes for a variety of projects, including large-scale transportation and land use initiatives.
• Access and Opportunity: Design and implement initiatives based on access and opportunity best practices to improve outcomes for the community in land use and transportation planning processes. Use qualitative and quantitative data to identify and remove barriers to engagement for historically excluded, discriminated-against, under-represented, or under-resourced groups.
• Stakeholder Relations: Help recruit and provide advisory capacity to the Department of Land Use & Transportation boards and commissions, regional transportation community advisory committees, and land use community advisory bodies. Reimagine existing systems to better integrate an empowerment framework into policy and decision-making for land use and transportation. Develop and facilitate engaging public meetings, workshops, and events to promote engagement and build partnerships with community groups, government agencies, and other organizations. Build and sustain relationships with partner agencies, and provide guidance to community groups on how to navigate County processes.
• Communication and Outreach: Create best practices and support the implementation of translation and interpretation for department communications, websites, and materials related to land use and transportation projects. Develop audience-specific outreach strategies to advance county land use and transportation goals.
• Staff and Program Administration: Develop tools and resources to support staff engagement activities and provide training on best practices in community engagement and public participation, with an emphasis on access and opportunity. Recruit, train, and retain volunteers for advisory bodies, with a specific focus on creating opportunities for historically excluded individuals. Manage and administer assigned program budgets, grants, contracts, and regulatory compliance issues related to community engagement for land use and transportation projects.

Benefits

• Washington County is an equal opportunity employer committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration, and work-life harmony.
• We promote employee development and offer an award-winning benefits and wellness program as well as an opportunity to serve and support our vibrant community.

What This Job Offers

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