Principal Community Relations Officer

Zephyr Rail is an engineering design and construction management firm based in Orange, CA. We specialize in providing comprehensive solutions in railroad design, construction management, and UAV solutions. We are proud to have earned Zweig Group's recognition as a "Best Firms to Work For" for three consecutive years, demonstrating our commitment to our team and our industry.

This position serves as the positive link between the Client, the community, and various stakeholders to create trust and an enduring relationship for the Client; conducts the more complex staff work in connection with business development and engagement in multiple project areas and corridors, preparation and dissemination of informational materials, training, mitigation, and rapid response resolution.

• Provides high-level liaison work between external stakeholders, such as elected officials, businesses, and community and special interest groups regarding the Client's transit services, systems, and programs.
• Serves as the lead staff in planning, implementing, and managing assigned construction project business mitigation program efforts and other special projects designed to meet community needs.
• Plans and implements outreach promoting construction mitigation programs to prospective business participants and consumer audiences in the project area.
• Meets and confers with Client staff, external stakeholders, and project contractors to resolve conflicting or divergent opinions and to reach mutually acceptable solutions.
• Researches incidents, complaints, and concerns, including difficult and sensitive problems, and interfaces with contractors and management to resolve issues.
• Recommends strategies to promote the Client's strategic goals and objectives.
• Prepares and makes presentations to management, public officials, community groups, schools, and other stakeholders.
• Supports project management, the department, and inter-department management in Board presentations, community outreach, and coordinating construction activities and mitigations.
• Provides input and leads ideation and/or development of useful communication tools, methods, and traditional and non-traditional marketing tactics to support additional visibility strategies for businesses impacted during construction.
• Develops and coordinates data related to construction milestones, program metrics, business interactions, and content for project updates on the program webpage, agency Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, and internal business stakeholder project maps.
• Keeps the community and elected officials informed of construction impacts and business engagement efforts related to construction projects.
• Remains up to date on current and proposed activities and programs, and applicable regulations by attending Board, project, and community meetings.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, newsletters, and talking materials, as requested, by management or public officials.
• Tracks current and proposed construction activities that may impact businesses and applicable regulations by attending project coordination meetings, Board, council, or community meetings in the project area.
• Tracks and maintains program collateral, promotional items, and inventory of program materials at the project offices and storage facilities.
• Prepares Request for Proposals (RFPs) for promotional and/or professional services; negotiates and monitors contracts to ensure compliance with project goals.
• Evening and weekend work may be required due to participation in community meetings and events.
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of the Client are carried out.
• Additional duties as assigned.