Communications Specialist

Hazen and Sawyer; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

FSAs (pre-tax)

Disability & life insurance

Holidays & PTO

401(k) plan

Professional growth

Job summary

Hazen and Sawyer in Richmond, VA is seeking a Communications Specialist to join our growing Communications and Public Outreach practice. You will develop and distribute newsletters, fact sheets, project updates, and content for websites, social media, and presentations, while coordinating public meetings and stakeholder briefings.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in communications or public outreach, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and strong writing and editing skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in communications, public outreach, public affairs, community engagement, or stakeholder engagement.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
• Strong writing, editing, and message development skills.
• Experience working with water or wastewater agencies or consulting in water/wastewater.
• Experience planning public meetings and community engagement (in person and virtual).
• Experience coordinating with clients and diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic communication plans tailored to client demographics and issues.
• Meet with client representatives to understand needs and issues of concern.
• Engage with Hazen technical teams to understand engineering and utility issues.
• Collaborate with Hazen communication team members to share resources.
• Advise clients on communications strategy and engagement best practices.
• Translate complex technical information into clear messages for key audiences.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Message development

Client coordination

Public outreach

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications/public relations/journalism

Job description

Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a Communications Specialist to join our growing Communications and Public Outreach practice. This role supports Hazen clients on water and environmental projects by executing strategic communications activities like developing and distributing newsletters, fact sheets, and project updates; drafting content for websites, social media, and presentations; coordinating and staffing public meetings, open houses, and stakeholder briefings; maintaining project contact lists, distribution databases, and comment-tracking logs; conducting research on community demographics and local issues to inform outreach materials; assisting with the design and layout of communication materials; scheduling and supporting client and stakeholder meetings; and providing day-to-day administrative and logistical support to senior communications staff on strategic initiatives.

Experience in the water or environmental sector is preferred, especially prior experience working with or for water utilities; previous communications consulting experience preferred; strong transferable experience in public facing, issue driven communications is essential.

Salary Range: $65,000 - $85,000 (Final salary is based on experience and location.)

Why Hazen And Sawyer

• Founded in 1951 by the son of Allen Hazen (developer of the Hazen-Williams equation), we are an employee-owned company with a singular focus on "all things water."
• Our work includes planning, design, and oversight of construction of environmental infrastructure – for water, wastewater, and stormwater management.
• We foster a work environment low on bureaucracy and high in creativity.
• We recruit talented professionals, provide them with challenging, interesting, and creative assignments, and furnish them with the tools they need to succeed.
• We currently have over 2,400 employees in 90+ offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Canada, and the UK.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Client Advisory

• Develop and implement strategic communication plans and processes that are tailored to the unique demographics, issues, and available resources of clients
• Meet with client representatives to gain understanding of needs and issues of concern
• Engage with Hazen technical teams to understand complex engineering and utility management issues
• Collaborate closely with other Hazen communication team members to share expertise, resources, and insights
• Advise clients on communications strategy and engagement best practices
• Translate complex technical and regulatory information into clear, accurate, audience appropriate messages and how best to deliver those to key audiences

Community & Public Outreach

• Identify and analyze stakeholder groups and recommend effective engagement approaches tailored to diverse audiences
• Prepare compelling content tailored to key audiences for use in outreach materials such as fact sheets, presentations, mailers, infographics, web content, and digital engagement tools
• Attend community meetings, client discussions, and other gatherings as needed

Communications Specialist

• Self-starter with proven aptitude in strategic thinking
• Supports and implements communications and outreach efforts in collaboration with others
• Produces high-quality content and supporting visual materials
• Assists with client coordination and public engagement activities

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in communications, public outreach, public affairs, community engagement, or stakeholder engagement
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field experience developing and executing strategic communication efforts tailored to key audiences and issues, using tools and practices relevant to meet defined outcomes
• Strong writing, editing, and message development skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information
• Comfort engaging directly with clients, public agencies, and diverse stakeholders
• Experience working for a water or wastewater agency, or in a consulting agency working with water and wastewater agencies
• Experience working in a consulting agency, or multi-client environment
• Experience supporting infrastructure, environmental, public health, or water related projects
• Familiarity with risk or crisis communications principles
• Experience planning or supporting public meetings and community engagement activities (in person and virtual)
• Experience collaborating with designers, videographers, or web developers to produce outreach materials
• Proven strategic thinking skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working for a water or wastewater agency, or in a consulting agency working with water and wastewater agencies
• Experience working in a consulting agency, or multi-client environment
• Experience supporting infrastructure, environmental, public health, or water related projects
• Familiarity with risk or crisis communications principles
• Experience planning or supporting public meetings and community engagement activities (in person and virtual)
• Experience collaborating with designers, videographers, or web developers to produce outreach materials

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans)
• Pre-tax flexible spending plans for medical, dependent care, and transportation
• Short and long-term disability, and employer paid life insurance
• Paid holidays, floating holidays, and paid time off (PTO)
• Employer-contributed 401(k) plan and additional financial planning support
• Professional growth opportunities, including tuition reimbursement, in-house training, and incentives for professional registration and professional organization memberships
• Starting pay range for this position depends on skills, experience, education and geographical location