Community Relations and Outreach Specialist

Position Summary Information

General Summary

The Community Relations and Outreach Specialist develops, promotes, and manages community events and programs that enrich WSSC Water’s reputation, educate customers about key initiatives, and enhance the Commission’s image in the community with internal and external stakeholders. This individual is responsible for ongoing program review, developing outreach’s strategic priorities, devising and measuring the community outreach metrics, recommending changes, and working with Communications to promote the work of WSSC Water in the community.

Essential Functions

• Works to enhance community engagement through development, planning, and management of events that advance WSSC Water priorities and emphasize the Commission’s commitment to community investment and environmental justice.
• Utilizes events as communications and education tools to promote key messages and initiatives and engage key stakeholders.
• Reaches and engages with disadvantaged communities with specific emphasis on non-profits and key stakeholders within equity and environmental justice areas.
• Develops key strategic priorities to define WSSC Water’s focus on community outreach/engagement and recommend outreach opportunities.
• Collaborates with external organizations on identified events that support WSSC Water’s ability to operate and/or that enhance WSSC Water’s reputation.
• Benchmarks best practices for the outreach and engagement program; assembles data, metrics, and periodic reports on the effectiveness of the outreach.
• Creates and implements annual outreach strategy and schedules and manages budget.
• Speaks publicly about community outreach and engagement.
• Collaborates with communications on event concept, graphic design/production/printing, and event marketing.
• Attends networking events to maintain and develop relationships with key community partners and other critical stakeholders as well as to leverage best practices.
• Coordinates and conducts tours of WSSC Water’s reservoirs and related facilities.
• Develops and manages annual calendar of events and community outreach and engagement activities.
• Confers with leadership in the development of strategic priorities and metrics development and reporting.
• Manages multiple concurrent events and develops event plans that include timelines, agendas, costs, task lists, volunteer/employee time commitments, and intended outcome/goals.
• Determines what defines “success” for events, evaluates events based on pre-determined criteria, and provides Management with post-event Return on Investment (ROI) results.
• Conducts research and negotiates contracts to outline logistics and define required permits, support, quality, and branding expectations.
• Informs WSSC Water employees and external organizations of opportunities to participate in WSSC Water-sponsored events and projects.
• Works closely with various departments to secure volunteers, manage the staff and volunteers working at the events.
• Leads customer outreach to include customer surveys and customer focus groups.
• Ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside the office, as necessary.
• Willing and able to work occasional evenings and possibly weekends, as needed.
• Willingness to assist with community engagement activities related to an emergency situation, as needed.
• Drives a vehicle to conduct WSSC Water business.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Other Functions

Performs other functions as needed.

Work Environment And Physical Demands

Position is a combination of office and field work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to build solid effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders and organizations.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal and customer service skills including the ability to motivate others at all levels of an organization while working in an environment that includes both union and non-union-represented employees.
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills including strong attention to accuracy and detail.
• Ability to problem-solve, set priorities, multi-task, adapt to frequent conflicts/changes in priorities and unexpected events, and meet deadlines.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office apps such as Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Passionate for creating engaging work environments and energizing people.
• Excellent presentation and written communication skills.
• Budget management experience.
• Able to work in a team environment and deal tactfully, effectively, and equitably with people.
• Ability to develop and deliver engaging presentations in a variety of settings and adapt presentations to meet the challenges of each setting.
• Demonstrated ability to use social media such as, but not limited to, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc., in a work/professional capacity.

Minimum Education, Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, Business, Public Relations, Communications, or related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in maintaining relationships with and providing customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated experience in community development engagement and outreach; event planning or developing grassroots marketing/outreach programs.

OR

• Associate’s degree with major coursework in Liberal Arts, Business, Communications, Public Relations, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in maintaining relationships with and providing customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated experience in community development engagement and outreach; event planning or developing grassroots marketing/outreach programs.

OR

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• 7+ years of experience in maintaining relationships with and providing customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated experience in community development engagement and outreach; event planning or developing grassroots marketing/outreach programs.

Additional Requirements

• Completion of the WSSC Water Financial Disclosure statement within 30 days of employment and annually thereafter.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license, with no more than 4 points, and the ability to obtain and maintain a WSSC Water driver’s permit within 90 days of hire or transfer.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions as well as in an office environment.
• Must be willing to work alongside volunteers to serve the community, including planting trees, removing invasive weeds, and picking up trash.

Preferences

• Project Management Professional certification.
• Event Management Professional certification.
• Speak and write in Spanish.

Salary

$76,181 – $129,507

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