APA Los Angeles provides this job bank as a free service. Please submit your job posting here. Submissions are subject to review for relevance to the planning community and will be published upon approval.
After you submit your job posting through the above form, consider browsing the APA Los Angeles resume book for potential hires. The resume book allows job-seeking planners to showcase their work histories and professional skills to prospective employers. If you would like to request access to the resume book, please contact [email protected].
Community Engagement Specialist
Southern California Association of Governments / Los Angeles, CA
Posted on: October 21, 2019
Application Deadline: November 15, 2019, 5:00 PM
Job Description
SCAG has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and creative Community Engagement Specialist with an eye for detail, excellent communication skills and experience in project management to join the Active Transportation and Special Programs department. This position will be focused on the implementation of SCAG’s award-winning Go Human campaign, SCAG’s Active Transportation Safety and Encouragement Campaign and Regional Active Transportation Program. The Community Engagement Specialist will support SCAG’s efforts to partner with local jurisdictions and non-profit agencies to address traffic safety concerns in disadvantaged communities.
SCAG is a regional leader on promoting traffic safety. We support local agencies by sharing marketing materials from our Go Human advertising campaign, which features real people alongside messages of “Slow Down” and “Look Out.” The Go Human program also provides resources for cities to stage “tactical urbanism” (temporary pop up safety demonstration) projects, open streets events and other creative strategies to collect public opinion about proposed street designs. In addition, the agency will be supporting local Vision Zero efforts and state legislation to improve traffic safety.
The position will be responsible for managing the advertising and outreach components and will require knowledge of and expertise with project management, partnership development, marketing, advertising campaign development, sponsorship platforms, and community engagement rooted in equity best practices. The position reports to the Manager of Active Transportation & Special Programs Department and senior staff. The Community Engagement Specialist leads communications for the Active Transportation Department and supports the Public Affairs Department to extend the reach and visibility of SCAG’s active transportation and safety efforts.
OUR LOCATION
SCAG’s headquarters is located in the hub of busy downtown Los Angeles, at Figueroa and 7th streets. SCAG has recently relocated to the 900 Wilshire Building, a new, multi-use hotel and office complex that features state of the art architecture and technology. The downtown area has expanded with LA Live, new restaurants, music, sports, shopping, libraries, museums and theaters. SCAG is in a culturally diverse area near Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Olvera Street and Grand Central Market. Southern California boasts near-perfect weather and close proximity to mountains, beaches and deserts, which encourages physical fitness and year-round activities.
For ease of commuting, the LA office is located across the street from the Metro Red Line 7th St. station and is easily accessible by commuter trains and buses serving surrounding areas. Metro’s light rail and subway connect downtown LA to Hollywood, Universal City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Azusa, Long Beach and many vibrant neighborhoods.
WHO WE ARE:
Founded in 1965, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is a Joint Powers Authority under California state law, established as an association of local governments and agencies that voluntarily convene as a forum to address regional issues. Under federal law, The SCAG region encompasses six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura) and 191 cities in an area covering more than 38,000 square miles. The agency develops long-range regional transportation plans including sustainable communities’ strategy and growth forecast components, regional transportation improvement programs, regional housing needs allocations and a portion of the South Coast Air Quality management plans. Currently, the Regional Council consists of 86 members.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
MISSION
To foster innovative regional solutions that improve the lives of Southern Californians through inclusive collaboration, visionary planning, regional advocacy, information sharing, and promoting best practices.
VISION
Southern California’s Catalyst for a Brighter Future.
SCAG CORE VALUES
- Be Open: Be accessible, candid, collaborative and transparent in the work we do.
- Lead by Example: Commit to integrity and equity in working to meet the diverse needs of all people and communities in our region.
- Make an Impact: In all endeavors, effect positive and sustained outcomes that make our region thrive.
- Be Courageous: Have confidence that taking deliberate, bold and purposeful risks can yield new and valuable benefits.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide project management support to ensure successful implementation of all assigned projects, including ensuring all project components are moving forward, critical deadlines are met, and work products are coordinated among the funders/sponsors, consultants and internal departments. This will include maintaining the overall implementation schedule, tracking progress and deliverables, and providing monthly status reports to internal management.
- Provide input and expertise on how to improve on the Go Human program’s impact and visibility, including evaluation strategies for measuring success.
- Work with contract staff, consultants and local non-profit partners to develop contracts that clearly define goals and objectives that enable each partner to successfully engage with local communities to improve safety.
- Serve as a liaison with diverse stakeholders and community groups to ensure that the Campaign is designed to incorporate Vision Zero goals and community-relevant messages.
- Serve as a SCAG spokesperson and coordinate the Campaign. Facilitate Steering Committee meetings, comprised of representatives from the County Transportation Commissions and County Health Departments.
- Collaborate with internal staff and regional partners to identify cities, NGO’s and other agencies that can leverage the campaign and expand its reach.
- Develop funding applications and funding partnerships with cities and the county transportation commissions, etc.
- Coordinate with SCAG staff to maintain the Go Human website content, newsletter, blog and social media sites.
- Assist in the facilitation and development of media requests, website updates, social media posts, paid media strategies, presentations and other outreach deliverables required for the Campaign.
- Coordinate with Media and Public Affairs staff on the development of other communication materials for the Campaign, including but not limited to press releases, board reports, and talking points.
- Collaborate with SCAG staff and consultants on the development of the Go Human microsite and digital resources, including videos and photography.
- Collaborate with SCAG staff and consultants to develop and maximize diverse, inclusive and equitable stakeholder outreach.
Required Experience / Skills / Education
Education: Any combination equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in planning, communications, marketing, public administration, or a related field.
Experience: Three years of experience working in public outreach on public campaigns or working in community relations, specifically focused on community engagement with disadvantaged communities. Knowledge and understanding of Active Transportation principles and practices is highly desired.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal candidate will have experience with contract management, be knowledgeable of campaign development processes, have a working understanding of graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite applications including InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator) as well as website design and maintenance. The ideal candidate is bilingual in English and Spanish, and has experience working with diverse or disadvantaged communities, and can flex communication style to multiple cultural environments. The candidate will have the ability to communicate with both internal and external stakeholders via written and oral presentations.
KNOWLEDGE OF: Knowledge of media campaign planning and production; local government, community planning and public engagement strategies; active transportation planning and policy best practices; transportation and health issues impacting disadvantaged communities, federal, state and local funding programs; public relations, media advocacy and community affairs; principles of journalism including standard format, AP style rules, grammar, spelling, and editorial styles; English composition; principles, practices, methods, and techniques of communication; marketing and media principles and concepts; development and implementation of public outreach programs, community political organizing techniques, grass roots organizing techniques, tools, methods and materials used in preparing, presenting and disseminating communication products and services; strategies in sponsorship solicitation; and a deep understanding of SCAG’s uniquely diverse geographic context of six counties, including experience working with urban and rural agencies and stakeholders.
ABILITY TO: Coordinate a regional media campaign with a short timeline and multiple stakeholders; effectively communicate orally and in writing; manage adversity/trouble-shoot; develop project management tools including calendars, data-bases, flow charts; work independently or as part of a team, manage competing deadlines, write a variety of publications for different audiences; organize and present information, speak effectively before large audiences; establish and maintain strong working relationships at all levels with a variety of people; translate technical jargon into easy-to-understand text; coordinate a variety of writing projects; coordinate with staff and web designer to enhance content of event web pages; establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships and collaboration with those contacted in the course of work.
Important Applicant Information: Candidates must fill out the application and supplemental questions completely. Incomplete applications including references to see the resume for qualifications are incomplete and will be disqualified. Candidates are encouraged to provide accurate answers as SCAG will verify the qualifications for each candidate.
SCAG is an equal opportunity employer. SCAG’s policy is to provide employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression and pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, marital status, age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status.
The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, and any provision contained in this job announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.
Application Instructions
For an application to be considered, the application must be completed and submitted through SCAG’s website.
For more information please visit: http://www.scag.ca.gov/opportunities/Pages/CareerOpportunities.aspx?opentab=5
