Community Engagement Specialist

Community Engagement Specialist

The role of Community Engagement Specialist, part of the Public Information Group within the Education and Public Outreach (EPO) Division, is a mid-level professional position that serves as a liaison between the Observatory and community stakeholders. This position develops and maintains strategic relationships, designs and implements engagement plans, and ensures stakeholder input is gathered, communicated, and incorporated into planning and decision-making processes to support NRAO initiatives, programs, and goals.

The location for this position will be based at one of our U.S. sites (Charlottesville, VA; Socorro, NM; or Green Bank, WV), or a remote workstation within the U.S. may be considered for candidates with sufficient experience who can work independently while effectively completing their work with the team.

The Community Engagement Specialist will:

• Identify, build, and sustain relationships with community organizations, advocacy groups, businesses, residents, public agencies, and other groups in regions affected by or partnering with NRAO.
• Develop stakeholder engagement plans that align with NRAO priorities, including timelines, outreach strategies, and measurable outcomes.
• Identify and map key stakeholders for various projects and initiatives, maintaining current records of contacts, interests, and engagement history.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for community concerns, questions, and feedback related to NRAO, ensuring timely and respectful responses.

• Plan and coordinate community meetings, listening sessions, focus groups, and public forums to share information about NRAO activities and gather stakeholder input.
• Represent the Observatory at community events, conferences, and stakeholder meetings, including events hosted by local governments, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other groups.
• Develop strategies to increase public participation and engagement, with attention to inclusive practices and participation from underrepresented communities.
• Support EPO outreach activities and special events related to NRAO, and represent NRAO at public events and professional meetings.

• Prepare presentations, reports, newsletters, and community updates that clearly communicate NRAO project status, impacts, and opportunities for involvement.
• Communicate project updates and organizational initiatives to stakeholders through a variety of channels, including email, web content, printed materials, and in-person briefings.
• Manage stakeholder databases and track engagement activities, utilizing CRM or similar systems as appropriate.
• Facilitate communication between internal departments (e.g., NRAO offices, EPO, site operations) and external partners to ensure stakeholder perspectives are considered in planning.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues across all NRAO divisions and sites, media producers, and external partners who support public and community engagement.

• Work closely with NRAO leadership and program teams to gather stakeholder input on project proposals, siting, mitigation, and community benefits.
• Support the implementation of community-based programs and initiatives associated with NRAO, such as educational partnerships, workforce development efforts, and local outreach projects.
• Coordinate partnerships and collaborative projects with external organizations, including preparation of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and partnership agreements as needed.
• Assist NRAO leadership and other staff in preparing materials for presentations to the general public, community groups, and public agencies.

• Collect and analyze stakeholder feedback from meetings, surveys, and other engagement activities.
• Prepare engagement metrics and outcome reports for NRAO leadership, documenting activities, participation, and key themes emerging from community input.
• Track outreach activities and evaluate engagement effectiveness, recommending improvements based on community input and engagement data.
• Document projects and work following established processes in the Public Communications/EPO groups, using platforms such as Jira, Google Suite, and Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, One Drive).

• Support public relations efforts by answering requests from journalists, media producers, educators, and the general public about NRAO community engagement and project impacts.
• Compliance with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures in own work area is expected.
• Depending on work location or project assignments, travel can be expected 2–4 times a year (and potentially more during key project phases) for conferences, outreach, and special events.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Work environment typical office environment with occasional outside work with potential exposure to environmental extremes. Will be required to stand and sit, and operate a personal computer. Will be required to lift 25 pounds or more occasionally and have the ability to…