Public Engagement Strategist IV

Overview

Job Summary:

Here''s your chance to be the voice that connects community, clients, and project teams in a way that builds trust, sparks understanding, and keeps momentum moving in the right direction. The Public Engagement Strategist IV leads the charge in building positive, lasting relationships between KLJ and diverse public stakeholders—residents, government agencies, media partners, advocacy groups, and more.

In this role, you''ll partner closely with engineers, project managers, and technical experts to translate complex project details into clear, compelling narratives. You''ll design engagement strategies for some of our most significant and high-visibility projects, ensuring communities stay informed, heard, and confident throughout every phase of delivery.

• Develop and direct public engagement strategies for large, complex projects that align with overall project goals and client objectives.
• Identify key stakeholders and build strong relationships with government agencies, community partners, and advocacy groups.
• Maintain pulse-check awareness of public sentiment, community dynamics, and political landscapes impacting projects.

• Review, refine, and elevate content across channels—inclusive of newsletters, press releases, social media updates, and project summaries.
• Translate technical engineering concepts into clear, relatable messaging for the public.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency, and accessibility across all messaging and materials.

• Develop communication and outreach plans tailored to each stage of a project—planning, design, and active construction.
• Lead public meetings, workshops, open houses, tours, and listening sessions that encourage two-way dialogue.
• Manage logistics, vendor relationships, materials development, and event execution with precision and professionalism.

• Gather, evaluate, and interpret community feedback to refine strategies and proactively address concerns.
• Analyze engagement effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative metrics to guide future improvements.
• Monitor local media, social media platforms, and public forums for emerging trends, questions, or issues.

• Develop and implement crisis communication plans to ensure transparency and responsiveness during challenges, disruptions, or high-impact project moments.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal teams on emerging issues requiring clear, timely communication.

• Mentor, coach, and guide junior public engagement professionals to strengthen overall team capability.
• Lead training sessions and internal workshops to promote best practices in community engagement.
• Write effective scopes of work and contribute to proposal development and strategy, as needed.

• Perform additional responsibilities aligned with business needs, advancing KLJ''s mission, culture, and community impact.

• Bachelor''s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Urban Planning, or related field.
• Extensive experience designing and delivering public engagement strategies for complex or large-scale civil infrastructure projects.
• Prior experience collaborating with diverse community groups, government agencies, and advocacy organizations.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with talent for simplifying complex technical content.
• Proficiency with digital communication platforms, including social media, analytics tools, content management systems, and basic graphic or layout tools.
• Skilled with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Ability to lead facilitation sessions—both in-person and virtual—with confidence and clarity.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport across a wide range of personalities and perspectives.
• Experience managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and deliverables in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of local government processes,…