Public Involvement Lead Strategist

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Public Involvement Lead Strategist to serve as the statewide framework architect and primary technical advisor for public engagement.

Operating as a strategic leader, this role is responsible for establishing system-wide governance, standardized toolkits, and vendor management guidelines across all UDOT Regions.

Rather than managing day-to-day tactical outreach for individual local projects, you will focus on building the infrastructure, policies, and quality standards that "level up" UDOT's public engagement. You will serve as an internal consultant to Region Offices, Project Managers, and Program Managers - ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations early in the transportation process, mitigating legal risks during NEPA studies, reducing project delays, and creating consistent, high-quality public experiences across Utah.

• Salary Range: $46.67 - $74.06
• FT/PT Status:
  Full Time
• Background Check:
  You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
• Schedule Code: AX - Career service exempt (at-will)
• Location:
  
  Calvin Rampton Building, 4501 South 2700 West, Taylorsville
• Final date to receive applications: 10/20/2026
• * This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

• Long-Range Transportation Planning & Governance
  • Statewide Guidance:
    Develop, maintain, and update a unified Statewide Public Involvement Plan (PIP) aligned with federal requirements and UDOT goals.
  • Regional Integration:
    Partner with Region Offices to embed robust public involvement strategies into early corridor studies, sub-area plans, and long-range modal plans. Document and centralize engagement lessons learned and messaging across project phases.
  • Demographic Analysis:
    Utilize GIS and demographic tools to identify Environmental Justice (EJ) and Title VI populations, ensuring equitable, early, and continuous access to the planning process.
  • Engagement Analytics:
    Establish quantitative metrics and feedback loops (public sentiment tracking, demographic reach analytics, digital engagement rates) to evaluate outreach effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• NEPA Environmental Studies & Internal Advisory
  • PM Advisory Support:
    Serve as the central expert and internal consultant for Region Project Managers, offering technical assistance and strategic guidance on public engagement strategies.
  • Workforce Capacity Building:
    Design and deliver ongoing training for Region staff, Project Managers, and consultants on public involvement best practices, legal risk reduction, and proactive community engagement.
  • Risk Mitigation & Legal Compliance:
    Ensure public notices, hearing formats, comment periods, and responsiveness summaries strictly adhere to Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) legal standards.
  • Innovative Engagement Toolkits:
    Modernize and standardize accessible digital and in-person engagement toolkits (e.g., virtual public meetings, interactive mapping, hybrid workshops).
  • Consultant Quality Management:
    Establish vendor performance criteria and scoping guidelines to ensure contracted outreach aligns with state standards and expectations.
• Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Support
  • STIP Cycle Management:
    Design and execute the annual public comment and engagement process for the STIP and major amendments. Benchmark Utah's STIP outreach against national DOT best practices.
  • Data Translation:
    Translate complex financial, programming, and…