Public Participation Planner

DVRPC is seeking a professional who is enthusiastic about regional planning, meaningful public participation in government, and transportation planning; has an ability to translate complex issues into clear presentations and reports; and possesses an interest in planning and executing interactive events and meetings. This person will join a strong team of planning and communications professionals, support DVRPC’s public participation planning activities, help manage the Public Participation Task Force (PPTF), assist with implementing DVRPC’s Title VI compliance program and environmental justice best practices, and help develop and execute project-specific, as well as regional public outreach campaigns.

DVRPC’s Operations, Communications and Engagement division oversees the Commission’s public participation, public information, community engagement, public outreach, and strategic communications, among other activities. This division helps the Commission maintain and build new relationships with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders.

This position will be supervised by the Manager of Public Participation Planning and will assist the Commission’s Director of Operations, Communications, and Engagement. Work is performed with considerable independence and in accordance with broadly-defined objectives and professional standards. Work is reviewed by a supervisor during progress and upon completion for accuracy. This is a full-time position Monday through Friday, with occasional flexibility needed to support night meetings and weekend events. DVRPC offers a flexible hybrid work environment with the opportunity to work 2-3 days remotely. Beyond overseeing specific offices, additional responsibilities include managing consultant contracts for climate-related work, including DVRPC’s Clean Energy Transition Plan and Regional Resilience Landscape Assessment, working closely with the relevant DVRPC project managers; providing oversight and guidance on the MSA-wide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, working closely with staff and stakeholders; providing guidance on DVRPC’s NREL Clean Energy to Communities Technical Partnership; and researching peer regions’ best practices in climate action. The candidate will support their staff by giving direction and oversight to a wide variety of climate planning and programming activities.

Responsibilities

• Work in project teams on various planning and research projects, create or lead public activities, and prepare reports summarizing findings.
• Support DVRPC’s Title VI and Environmental Justice compliance program, refine public outreach/involvement techniques, compile data, and in particular demographic data.
• Assist with refining, updating and implementing DVRPC’s Public Participation Plan, Language Access Plan, and Title VI Compliance Plan as needed.
• Assist in managing DVRPC’s Public Participation Task Force.
• Participate in conversations and decision making around equity and public participation at internal and external meetings.
• Write reports and memos for use internally and externally.
• Present findings and conclusions or solicit input and feedback from a steering committee, technical advisory committee, and the general public, as appropriate.
• Plan and execute special events for specific planning programs/projects and for the Commission as a whole.
• Represent the division at internal meetings and represent the Commission at external meetings.
• Perform related planning, communications, and administrative work as required.

Qualifications

• Experience in, or demonstrated interest in learning, effective public participation techniques, public outreach, meeting facilitation, data analysis, communications, and/or report writing.
• Experience in, or demonstrated interest in learning, principles related to equity, Title VI compliance, and environmental justice.
• Expertise with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite with the ability to use word processing, database and desktop publishing software; experience in GIS is preferred but not essential.
• Knowledge of research methods and planning techniques, including background or training in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Ability to read, interpret, and communicate geographic and statistical data or be interested in learning those skills.
• Must be detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills.
• Ability to present effectively in oral and written forms and/or be interested in developing those skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, and the general public.
• Experience managing projects, steering committees or task forces, and especially projects or committees that include public participation and/or public commenting is preferred but not essential
• Proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not essential.

Experience & Training

To classify as a RA II, a minimum of three years of professional experience in social sciences, transportation planning, city/regional planning, public outreach, public administration, political science, and/or public policy, and such training as may have been gained through graduation from a four-year college/university, with major course work in a planning-related discipline are required. An equivalent combination of education and professional experience in planning, public participation, engineering/design, social science research, journalism, public outreach, public administration, or public policy will be considered. A Master’s degree may be substituted for one year of professional experience.

DVRPC IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. FULL CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO ALL ELIGIBLE, QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, ANCESTRY, COLOR, DISABILITY, DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIM STATUS, ETHNICITY, FAMILIAL STATUS, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, GENETIC INFORMATION, MARITAL STATUS, MEDICAL CONDITION (INCLUDING PREGNANCY), NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE, RELIGION, SEX, OR

SEXUAL ORIENTATION, MINORITY, DISABLED, & VETERANS CANDIDATESARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. YOU MUST BE LEGALLY ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE US.