Senior Public Engagement & Title VI Specialist
Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.
Metro’s Planning, Development and Research (PD&R) Department works with communities, local governments and other partners to build a region where all people have access to clean air and water, a healthy economy with living wage jobs, dependable transportation choices, accessible and affordable homes and vibrant communities. Metro is the metropolitan planning organization for the greater Portland region and is authorized by Congress and the State of Oregon to coordinate and plan investments in the region’s transportation system.
The PD&R department is looking for a Senior Public Engagement & Title VI Specialist to help shape Metro’s public engagement efforts for transportation plans, policies and investments ensuring they are accessible, inclusive, and equitable.
In this role, you’ll lead public engagement initiatives and ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to create equitable opportunities for community involvement. Half of your time will focus on engaging the public in decisions about the region’s transportation system. The other half will involve coordinating Title VI reporting, tracking federal guidelines, and identifying creative solutions to meet evolving standards. This position is ideal for a strategic thinker and relationship-builder who’s passionate about equity and fostering impactful community engagement.
As the Senior Public Engagement & Title VI Specialist you will:
Lead public engagement strategy.
- Develop and execute inclusive public engagement plans for large, complex transportation planning projects, ensuring public feedback influences key policies and investments.
- Define target audiences and work with communications staff to develop broadly resonate and culturally relevant messaging strategies to effectively engage and communicate with diverse populations.
- Build and maintain connections with community groups across the region, including underrepresented communities.
- Work with internal teams, community organizations, and interagency partners to align engagement efforts and build lasting community relationships.
- Amplify the voices of under-represented communities in transportation projects.
- Oversee public engagement consultants and administer consultant contracts, ensuring project requirements and objectives are met within budget and timelines.
- Analyze public input and provide insights to inform decision-making at all levels, including presentations to the public, Metro Council, and other stakeholders.
Manage PD&R’s Title VI program.
- Manage P,D&R’s Title VI planning and reporting across the department’s projects.
- Act as the main point of contact for federal and state agencies regarding Metro’s Title VI responsibilities.
- Review and update key documents, services, and products in PD&R to ensure alignment with Title VI and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requirements.
- Work closely with Metro’s Equity Manager and Office of Metro Attorney to incorporate Title VI and environmental justice considerations into planning and public engagement.
- Stay informed on new guidance related to Title VI and environmental justice, providing updates and resources to internal teams and ensuring policies reflect current compliance standards.
Attributes for success
- Skilled in developing targeted messaging and communications strategies that resonate with various audiences.
- Understanding and respect for diverse perspectives to ensure that marginalized and underrepresented communities are meaningfully engaged, and their voices are heard.
- Ability to interpret community input and policy implications, distilling public feedback into actionable insights for planning and decision-making.
- Expertise in overseeing large, complex projects, from planning and execution to budgeting and reporting, that require coordinating across multiple departments and external stakeholders.
- Proven track record of building strong relationships with community partners, advocacy groups, and government agencies to foster trust, collaboration, and long-term partnerships.
- Openness to creative approaches to public engagement, continuously seeking ways to improve and enhance the agency’s engagement practices.
- Strong understanding of Title VI, environmental justice, and other relevant regulations, with an eye for detail in reporting Metro’s compliance.
- Capacity to navigate challenging conversations and sensitive issues with professionalism and empathy, especially when related to equity and justice or areas of community tension.
- Ability to present complex information clearly and confidently to diverse audiences, including the public, community leaders, policymakers, and Metro Council.
- Deep dedication to advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice in transportation planning, ensuring that Metro’s policies and investments benefit all communities equitably.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.
Learn more about Metro’s Diversity Action Plan
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.
Minimum qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in urban or environmental planning or policy, public administration, community development, economics, social justice, political science, or related field, AND
- Three years of experience in public policy development, public engagement, or Civil Rights compliance; OR
- Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.
If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply
If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.
Hybrid Telework
At this time, this position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The manager will work with you to identify a schedule that balances the operational needs of the department and your needs. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro. PD&R currently requires staff to work in the office as needed and a minimum of 2 days each month.
Like to have qualifications
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.
- Experience or interest in transportation or urban planning.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed engagement principles and practices
- Experience facilitating workshops and meetings where the outcome is recommendations or decisions.
- Proficiency in a language other than English.
SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.
- A completed resume that includes the following details for each employer
- Name of employer, working title
- Dates of employment; including if the work was full-time or part-time your title,
- Number of employees supervised
- Summary of your responsibilities
- A cover letter that includes some or all of the following:
- Your experience and interest in long-range planning and transportation
- Strategies you have used to engage diverse communities in plans, policies and investment decisions
- Your ideas for increasing inclusive civic engagement in public processes; what opportunities do you see for the greater Portland area?
- Your experience working on a multi-disciplinary team
The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.
- Initial review of minimum qualifications
- In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
- Consideration of top candidates/interviews
- Reference checks
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON
The full-salary range for this position is Step 1 $ 89,024.00 to Step 7 $ 119,329.60. However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between Step 1 $89,024.00 to the equity range Step 4 $ 103,064.00.
This position is not eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME 3580. It is classified as a Senior Regional Planner.
Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.
Questions?
Talent Acquisition Specialist: Jasmine Cárdenas
Email: Jasmine.Cardenas@oregonmetro.gov
Additional Information
Equal employment opportunity
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.
Accommodation
Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
Veterans' preference
Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.
Hybrid Telework
Positions designated as “hybrid telework,” meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.
Pay equity at Metro
No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.
Online applications
Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
How to Apply
For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro’s “How to apply” page.
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