Public Involvement Specialist
Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We’re a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that’s critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.
Your Opportunity
Stantec GS Inc. seeks a Public Involvement Specialist in our Honolulu, HI office. The position would be primarily related to conducting public outreach and stakeholder engagement strategy and activities for our Federal Government clients on projects implemented to meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Hawaii Revised Statues Chapter 343 also known as Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) public involvement requirements and public health initiatives. Familiarity with public involvement requirements of NEPA and HEPA is a plus, but not required. Candidate should have a strong familiarity with risk communication principles and techniques and demonstrate experience in communicating complex subjects related to public health and the environment. Position will report to the Stantec GS Honolulu office.
Your Key Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Stantec Public Involvement Manager and/or Project Managers, the candidate would fulfill a team role on matters related to public outreach and stakeholder engagement including the following types of activities, as appropriate, on a project-by-project basis. Candidate should be able to work autonomously to lead public outreach projects and/or tasks:
- Developing, implementing, and evaluating public outreach, risk communication, and stakeholder engagement communications plans at both the strategic and tactical levels.
- Reviewing, editing, and writing communication materials.
- Advising clients on public outreach, risk communication, and stakeholder engagement strategy, including identifying project stakeholders and advising clients on best methods for engagement.
- Developing clear message statements relevant to ongoing projects as well as preparing the most effective dissemination of the message statements.
- Developing and managing production of collateral materials, such as fact sheets, brochures, presentations, briefings, news releases, videos, social media, mailers, and websites, including reviewing technical documents to write content and working with graphic designers and vendors.
- Receiving project team and client comments on review of materials and addressing comments and edits.
- Planning and staffing special events and public meetings, including coordinating supplies and logistics. Meetings and events may be local or abroad and held in-person or virtually. Candidate should be comfortable with online platforms for conducting virtual public meetings.
- Developing comprehensive outreach strategies for ongoing and future projects.
- Preparing project teams for interfacing with stakeholders and the public, such as conducting communication trainings and dry-run meetings to prepare for public meetings and events. May also serve as facilitator or moderator for public meetings, stakeholder meetings, and partnering sessions.
- Applying a wide range of communication techniques such as surveys, interviews, interactive meetings and websites as well as other social media, e.g. blogs and podcasts.
- Managing social media programs for clients as needed and maintaining a strong familiarity with the latest social media tools and tactics including online engagement.
- Assisting the Stantec Project Manager during various internal, client, customer, and public meetings in the following capacity: coordinating scheduling of meetings, preparing draft meeting agendas, preparing meeting minutes, undertaking meeting logistics, staff the agendas and minutes to approval, preparing meeting slides and following up with action item requirements related to public outreach activities.
Your Capabilities and Credentials
- Excellent grammatical skills, excellent written and spoken English.
- Excellent verbal communication skills.
- Project Management skills to coordinate multiple projects and competing demands.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local zoning regulations and procedures.
- Knowledge of risk communication principles.
- Ability to work independently or as a team, with strong attention to detail and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent MS Office skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Adobe.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license with good record.
- Drug screen is required for this position.
Education and Experience
- Candidate should have a minimum of 10 years’ experience and be able to manage work products with minimum oversight.
- Experience in community outreach initiatives.
- Experience in risk communication.
- Bachelor's degree in communications, public health, urban planning, geography, public administration, or related field.
- Experience with similar work for the U.S. Department of Defense is highly preferred, but not required.
- Experience in local government, zoning, development, or land use planning is desirable.
- AICP, IAP2, or other professional certification is desired.
Travel
This position may require travel locally and abroad to Stantec project locations. Travel would be infrequent, such as one week per quarter, but could be more. There would also be evening or weekend public meetings on occasion which would be the responsibility of the candidate to coordinate and attend (along with supporting teammates).
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other’s talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.