Business Coordinator, Office Administrator​/ Coordinator

Role Overview

JLA is seeking a full-time Coordinator who is highly organized, has excellent communication skills, is a strong writer and is proficient in prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment. We’re looking for someone committed to providing excellent customer service and problem-solving skills to help Oregon and SW Washington’s diverse communities learn about and influence various governmental decisions. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator and writer who can effectively work with clients, community members, and colleagues, translating complex information into clear, accessible language.

They are professional, attentive, accurate and willing to meet each challenge directly.

Every day is different at JLA (and that is part of the fun). As a Coordinator, you can expect to help the larger team provide quality products for our clients and ensure that we can engage with communities about the projects that affect their lives.

As a Coordinator, your daily work activities and responsibilities will include:

• Solving problems and being curious as you help clients and the JLA team figure out how to communicate, run a meeting or event and engage with the community. You will be gaining a better understanding of public involvement principles as you work on projects and through training.
• Gaining an understanding of public involvement principles by working on several projects at once, collaborating with multiple internal and external teams. You will learn about public decision-making processes and JLA’s role in them, including working on planning/visioning projects that require a different focus than construction projects. You should feel comfortable and curious about learning about many aspects of our government.
• Working closely with managers to track the details on an average of 10 projects. Organization is a skill that will serve you well! This may look like scheduling and planning logistics for public and internal events and meetings; coordinating with other teammates to get materials produced, responding to emails and phone calls from stakeholders; helping facilitate and take notes at virtual and in-person meetings;
  
  and summarizing community feedback collected during meetings, events, and other engagement opportunities.
• Summarizing complicated or conflicting information by asking questions and capturing key messages from meetings, conversations, and written materials. You will need to rewrite and explain complex information so that the public can understand issues related to a wide range of projects: roadway and transportation, wastewater treatment, long-range planning, and others. You should feel comfortable and curious about learning about many aspects of our government.
• Able to communicate with a wide range of people with curiosity, respect, and kindness. You will need to feel comfortable both in front of the public and directly interacting with people from all walks of life, as well as working behind the scenes to complete summaries, reports, and data processing of what you’ve heard from the public.
• Being self-directed. You will be assigned work and will also need to seek out work from others. You must be able to work both independently and with others to manage your daily work and ensure each task is delivered on time and budget.
• Being responsive to internal team members and external clients (government agencies and the public) who expect us to be responsible stewards of public funds while balancing the needs of the wider community. You will also provide quality control review on others work products to ensure that clients receive polished work products. You should feel comfortable managing up and with your peers, as well as asking for help as needed.
• Being respectful, courteous, and kind as you interact with people who may be upset or with whom you disagree.

Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they can meet every experience or skill listed in the job description. However, we know that each new JLA staffer brings unique skills (some that we haven’t considered) to our collaborative team. We encourage you to apply, even if you…