Public Involvement Specialist

Public Involvement Specialist

Stantec GS Inc. seeks a part-time Public Involvement Specialist in our Hampton, VA office. The position would be primarily related to conducting risk communication training, public outreach, and stakeholder engagement strategy and activities for our Federal Government clients on projects implemented to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and public health initiatives. Candidates should have a strong familiarity with risk communication principles and techniques and demonstrate experience in communicating complex subjects related to public health and the environment.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Developing, implementing, and evaluating public outreach, risk communication, and stakeholder engagement communications plans at both strategic and tactical levels.
• Reviewing, editing, and writing communication materials.
• Advising clients on public outreach, risk communication, and stakeholder engagement strategy, including identifying project stakeholders and advising clients on best methods for engagement.
• Developing clear message statements relevant to ongoing projects as well as preparing the most effective dissemination of the message statements.
• Developing collateral materials, such as fact sheets, brochures, presentations, briefings, news releases, videos, social media, mailers, and websites, including reviewing technical documents to write content and working with graphic designers and vendors.
• Receiving project team and client comments on review of materials and addressing comments and edits.
• Planning and staffing special events and public meetings, including advising on supplies and logistics. Meetings and events may be local or abroad and held in-person or virtually. Candidates should be comfortable with online platforms for conducting virtual public meetings.
• Developing comprehensive outreach strategies for ongoing and future projects.
• Preparing project teams for interfacing with stakeholders and the public, such as conducting communication training and dry-run meetings to prepare for public meetings and events. May also serve as facilitator or moderator for public meetings, stakeholder meetings, and partnering sessions.
• Applying a wide range of communication techniques such as surveys, interviews, interactive meetings and websites as well as other social media, e.g. blogs and podcasts.
• Assisting the Project Manager during various internal, client, customer, and public meetings in the following capacity related to public involvement: coordinating scheduling of meetings, preparing draft meeting agendas, preparing meeting minutes, undertaking meeting logistics, preparing meeting slides and following up with action item requirements related to public outreach activities.

Your Capabilities and Credentials:

• Excellent grammatical skills, excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Project management skills to coordinate multiple projects and competing demands.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local zoning regulations and procedures.
• Knowledge of risk communication principles.
• Ability to work independently or as a team, with strong attention to detail and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent MS Office skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Adobe.
• You must possess a valid driver's license with a good record.
• Drug screens are required for this position.

Education and Experience:

• Candidate should have a minimum of 15 years' experience and be able to manage work products with minimum oversight.
• Experience in community outreach initiatives.
• Experience in risk communication.
• Bachelor's degree in communications, public health, urban planning, geography, public administration, or related field.
• Experience with similar work for the U.S. Department of Defense is highly preferred but not required.
• Experience in local government, zoning, development, or land use planning is desirable.
• AICP, IAP2, or other professional certification is desired but not required.
• This position may require travel locally and abroad to Stantec project locations. Travel would be infrequent, such as one week per quarter, but could be more. There would also be evening or weekend public meetings on occasion which the candidate would be required to coordinate and attend (along with supporting teammates).

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice. Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.