COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER (COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT)

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Serves as Metro's liaison to the public, elected officials, and private entities; communicates the benefits of new transportation projects; and keeps the community informed of construction impact and Metro transit services, systems, programs, and projects.

Supports the facilitation of several Metro advisory committees and empowers their members to provide strategic input on various Metro initiatives. Also supports the Community Relations Countywide Programs and Local Government team on a range of programs and initiatives.

Recruitment Timelines: Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of June 23, 2025. These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

Examples of Duties

• Plans and implements publicity efforts, strategies, and outreach programs to promote local government and community support for participation in Metro services and projects

• Plans, coordinates, negotiates, and facilitates community meetings, press conferences, and special media events to promote the Service Sector and Metro's projects, programs, initiatives and milestones

• Represents Metro before public officials; private entities; professional, civic, and governmental groups; career fairs; community and special events; and task forces

• Updates project webpage and digital assets, and analyzes web metrics

• Photographs public events and meetings

• Researches incidents, complaints, and concerns; and interfaces with management at all levels of the organization to resolve issues

• Provides verbal or written responses to transportation concerns and inquiries from internal and external customers

• Recommends strategies to promote Metro's strategic goal and objectives

• Maintains records and prepares routine and special reports and correspondence

• Performs administrative duties, such as coordinating the hotline and project e-mails; coordinating meeting logistics; resolving issues; setting up and confirming participation at meetings and events; screening, responding to, or forwarding telephone calls; reviewing incoming mail and electronic communications; and setting up meetings on behalf of the General Manager, including notifying and confirming participants, locating and reserving sites, setting up room, and preparing and providing support materials

• Keeps up to date on current and proposed activities and programs, and applicable regulations by attending Board, council, or community meetings

• Promotes Metro's projects, programs and initiatives by disseminating public information, assisting in or attending special events, and interacting with community stakeholders

• Organizes and conducts site visits and tours of Metro facilities

• Carries out construction impact programs in relation to transit corridor projects

• Coordinates field efforts related to marketing campaigns used to mitigate construction impacts

• Keeps the community and elected officials informed of construction project impacts Conducts safety education outreach program for rail before and during construction

• May prepare reports, newsletter, correspondence, and talking materials as requested by management or public officials

• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  
  May be required to perform other related job duties
  

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Business, or a related field

Experience

• One year of relevant experience performing community relations work

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

• Experience managing the development of content for advisory committees and/or coalitions of community-based organizations—including preparing presentations, agendas, and other materials—and translating their input into actionable implementation steps. Experience with Brown Act compliance is a plus.
  
• Experience building relationships and communicating with public officials, local leaders, community-based organizations, marginalized communities (including communities of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, etc.), and other stakeholders.
  
• Experience collaborating with advisory committees, coalitions, and/or other organizations to resolve conflicting or divergent opinions while working toward mutually acceptable solutions
  
• Experience managing multiple initiatives and competing priorities across assigned projects.
  
• Experience leading projects that require strategic and analytical thinking, along with a high level of political acumen
  

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Community relations theories, principles and practices
• Structure, functioning and protocol of local government, public agencies, and community groups
• Applicable local, state and federal laws
• Protocol of communicating with and for public agencies
• Group dynamics and community organizing techniques
• Theories, principles and practices of governmental accounting, business finance, and recordkeeping
• Financial, analytical and statistical research techniques, methods, and procedures
• Report presentation methods
• Social media applications
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Representing Metro before the public and delivering presentations to community stakeholders
• Coordinating and facilitating community meetings and events
• Establishing and implementing policies
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Exercising sound judgement and creativity in decision making
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels and departments of Metro employees and outside representatives

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Design, implement, and manage public or community programs to promote Metro's services and programs
• Coordinate multiple projects and meet tight time constraints and deadlines
• Prepare clear, comprehensive reports and responses to transportation concerns
• Determine strategies to achieve goals
• Understand, interpret, and apply relevant policies, laws, regulations, and contracts
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• Work irregular hours, split shifts, weekends, holidays, or 24-hour-a-day on-call assignments
• Work after designated regular hours in case of special assignments or emergencies

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

(TL)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan- Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance- PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance- PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance- 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays- 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP)- Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year30 days
Beginning of 16th + years35 days

Pension Plan- PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at www.benefits.metro.net .

Closing Date/Time: 6/17/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

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