Senior Public Engagement Specialist
Are you looking to work on current and emerging public engagement campaigns in the transportation and telecommunications industry? Do you want to solve unique public challenges through innovative, accurate, timely, and high-quality communications products and services? Michael Baker International is seeking a Senior Public Engagement Specialist to join the team in our Harrisburg, PA office. The successful candidate will have strong writing skills to design and implement public outreach and engagement campaigns for transportation and telecommunications projects. Responsibilities include public relations writing for print and digital media; directing the development of strategic communications, infographics, interactive maps, and visualizations for storytelling; and designing customized online surveys, coordination of virtual and in person public meetings, events, and special interest forums. This includes presentation design, facilitation, and conflict resolution. This position will report to the Director of Public Engagement. The successful candidate will establish and maintain relationships with our clients, the communities in which we work, the industry and employees throughout multiple Michael Baker offices. The position would require regular collaboration in the office with opportunities for remote work based on flexible work arrangement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead communications with community leaders, regulators, key decision-makers and the public regarding transportation and telecommunications policy initiatives and projects
- Support public policy and legislative initiatives using government relations tactics
- Apply innovative communications tools and tactics (i.e. web, mobile, social media, print, digital, and/or audio) to effectively communicate key messages to target audiences
- Direct the design of digital content through a wide variety of technologies including animation, text, multimedia, dynamic and/or interactive content presentation
- Utilize state-of-the-art ideas for virtual and in-person events and exhibits that spark imagination and provide an environment to foster transformational change for our clients and stakeholders
- Research transportation and telecommunications industry best practices and provide ongoing improvements to existing public engagement programs and products
- Collaborate across diverse teams, to create innovative new initiatives that lead to expanded impact
- Lead special initiatives that genuinely engage stakeholders and employees in transportation and telecommunications projects
- Provide creative direction and expertise to develop products while managing costs, methods, and/or staffing
- Oversee budgets including proposing appropriate budget levels to support communication projects
- Collaborate across diverse teams, to create innovative new initiatives that lead to expanded impact
- Represent Michael Baker International's public engagement initiatives at professional conferences when necessary, including presenting papers and posters as a professional communicator
- Work with Michael Baker's technical staff to deliver written project reports
- Work with Michael Baker's marketing staff to produce client proposals and presentations
PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Public Administration, Business Development/Management, or related transportation or telecommunications discipline
- 7+ years of related experience
- Demonstrated experience leading the end-to-end creation and production of exhibits, communications tactics (i.e., web, mobile, social media, print, digital, and/or video); and engagement tactics such as interactive surveys, interviews, charettes, and public meetings with transportation and telecommunications stakeholders
- Background managing budgets and determining appropriate budget levels to support communication products
- Experience interfacing with senior internal and external stakeholders across a variety of strategic and budgetary issues
- Ability to build consensus and work collaboratively for impactful solutions with community, employee, and public interest groups
- Ability to provide quality assurance and quality control reviews and guidance
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), Constant Contact, Adobe Creative Suite, and Hootsuite (or similar)
- Excellent writing, production, and presentation skills
- Must have a valid driver's license