Senior Communications and Public Involvement Consultant

Senior Communications and Public Involvement Consultant

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Communications and Public Involvement Consultant for our western Missouri or Kansas offices. The position will support communications and community engagement efforts for a variety of infrastructure projects in the region.

• Serve as a key communications and outreach consultant on infrastructure projects, including electric transmission line and roadway projects
• Implement effective public outreach strategies for infrastructure projects
• Take initiative and ownership of public involvement tasks to develop effective strategies that solicit feedback and input from the public
• Serve as liaison between projects and the community
• Develop news releases, brochures, fact sheets, media alerts and other collateral for the public and media
• Develop and implement strategic messages that educate the community on the purpose, need, benefits and perceived impacts of projects and programs
• Coordinate and participate in virtual and in-person public meetings and community events as assigned
• Respond to public inquiries and escalated stakeholder issues
• Implement strategic social media outreach plans including the research, writing and vetting of various posts (X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
• Research and write content for a variety of communication channels, including websites, social media, talking points, presentations, marketing materials and media notifications
• Monitor, archive and elevate media coverage of project issues
• Research and possibly respond to a variety of client, stakeholder, or media requests in a timely manner
• Analyze the effectiveness of outreach campaigns, including website and social media content
• Direct and coordinate the work of support services such as graphic design, website development, videography, and photography
• Work closely with project teams and clients on communications alignment with client priorities and program messaging
• Participate in external project, agency, and community meetings to provide community engagement updates and help identify public involvement issues
• Coordinate development of project deliverables and public outreach according to project schedules
• Build strong relationships with clients and assist with business development activities
• Interact in a clear and concise manner with a variety of diverse internal and external audiences
• Perform other duties as assigned or required by WSP USA Inc. and our clients

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field
• 5-7 years of communications and community engagement experience
• Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communications skills
• Superior organizational and time management skills with a high attention to detail
• Proven experience writing content for fact sheets, websites, social media, and/or media releases
• Ability to understand and translate complex, technical information into easy-to-understand, accessible content for public consumption
• Previous experience working on infrastructure projects with a cross-discipline team
• Deadline driven with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to help de-escalate and mitigate community concerns
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Power Point
• Ability to work effectively with teams and demonstrate initiative to lead tasks
• Ability to work well with the public and interact effectively with all organizational levels, including senior management
• Ability to work beyond standard business hours on some nights and weekends
• Candidate must be able to immediately work in the United States on a full-time permanent basis.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.

• Communications/public involvement experience with energy infrastructure projects
• Previous experience with elected officials, stakeholders, and news media communication
• Social media experience for community outreach campaigns
• Previous experience with planning public meetings
• Local candidates preferred

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company…