External Affairs Representative

AC Transit; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free AC Transit Bus Pass

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Job summary

AC Transit is seeking an External Affairs Representative to build and maintain relationships with chambers, business groups, community organizations, and public agencies to promote awareness and support for public transit in the East Bay.

The role requires strong liaison and communication skills, with four years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree in a related field. A CA driver license and availability for after-hours events are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, public relations, community planning, transportation planning, or a directly related field.
• Four years of verifiable experience with local agencies, public officials, and community based organizations.
• Must be available to work outside normal business hours and possess or obtain and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains ongoing dialogues between AC Transit and constituent groups; advocating for the District's interests.
• Acts as a liaison for community-based transit constituencies and District staff regarding operational issues.
• Communicates and coordinates with public and community agencies and District staff to resolve problems, and recommend new service or service changes.
• Promotes "transit first" policies with city and county planning agencies, and promotes collaborative efforts to increase transit ridership.
• Identifies and tracks State Transit Association legislative issues.
• Conducts research on community transit issues; and prepares and writes reports for the Board of Directors, the General Manager, and a wide variety of external groups.
• Performs related duties as required.

Skills

Public outreach

Stakeholder engagement

Policy advocacy

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

AC Transit is seeking a qualified External Affairs Representative. Under general supervision; this position. develops and maintains on-going relationships between the District and external organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, local business groups, community organizations, cultural and economic development interests, local and regional political constituencies, churches, and other public agencies to promote the awareness of, value of, and need for public transit within their respective communities.

This is an excellent opportunity to work for the largest bus agency in California, make a difference in our local community, and promote AC Transit as a great employer of the East Bay.

In addition to working with some of the best in the business, AC Transit also has an excellent benefits package that includes pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, and 457 savings plan.

• Establishes and maintains ongoing dialogues between AC Transit and constituent groups; responding effectively to constituents' issues, while advocating for the District's interests.
• Acts as "go-between/go-to" person for community-based transit constituencies and District staff regarding operational issues.
• Communicates and coordinates with public and community agencies and District staff to resolve problems, and recommend new service or service changes.
• Promotes "transit first" policies with city and county planning agencies, and promotes collaborative efforts to increase transit ridership.
• Identifies and tracks State Transit Association legislative issues.
• Conducts research on community transit issues; and prepares and writes reports for the Board of Directors, the General Manager, and a wide variety of external groups.
• Performs related duties as required.

Education/Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, public relations, community planning, transportation planning, or a directly related field.

Experience:

Four (4) years of verifiable experience working with local agencies, public officials, and community based organizations and/or special interest groups.

Special Requirements:

(1) Must be available to work outside normal business hours to attend meetings and community events. (2) Must possess or obtain and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License, and meet the District’s safe driving standards

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in the public transportation sector
• Experience in monitoring and shaping public policies, such as local ordinances and/or state legislation
• Proven ability to conduct public engagement in diverse communities

Physical Requirements:

Must maintain the physical condition necessary to: (1) perform tasks in an office setting operating a personal computer, keyboards, and other peripheral equipment; and (2) possess physical mobility in order to travel to and attend meetings and events.

THIS POSITION IS A UNION POSITION, REPRESENTED BY AFSCME

Benefits:

The transit professionals who call AC Transit home represent the rich cultural diversity of the Bay Area. For more than 60 years, we have been an equal opportunity employer honoring religion, ethnic background, national origin, gender, gender expression, genetic information, disabilities, age, and veteran status. We are not only an inclusive employer but also offer a comprehensive benefits package rooted in choice, flexibility, and affordability. Most Benefits are effective the first of the month following your hire date. Employees and eligible dependents have access to the following benefits*:

• Medical - Choice of two Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): Kaiser Permanente and Health Net. $10.00 office visit co-pays; $5.00 - $35.00 prescription co-pays.
• Dental – MetLife Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) $50 annual deductible per person/$150 per family; $3,000 per person annual maximum; preventative care covered at 100%; basic and major care covered at 90%; $4,000 lifetime maximum orthodontia covered at 50%.
• Vision - Vision Service Plan - $10.00 copay; eligible for an exam, lenses, frames or contact lenses every 12 months – based on the last date of service. $200 frame allowance or $120 allowance for contact lenses.
• Employer paid Basic Life Insurance
• Employee paid Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health Care, Dependent Care, Parking, Transit
• AC Transit contributes up to $50.00/month towards an employee’s FSA Transit costs
• Free AC Transit Bus Pass
• Federal Credit Union
• Vacation and Sick Leave or Personal Time Off
• Ten (10) paid holidays; 2 paid floating holidays; 1 paid birthday holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement – up to $2500 per fiscal year on approved courses
• Wellness Program

*AC Transit benefits are negotiated and subject to change based on collective bargaining agreements.

Pension:

All AC Transit employees participate in a lifetime defined benefit pension. All employees hired on or after January 1, 2020, may be in the District's Tier II pension plan covered by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). As such, he/she may be required to contribute a small portion of annual income towards the cost of his/hers District pension.

ADA Compliant and Drug Free Workplace:

The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If you have a need for an accommodation, please call Human Resources at [phone].

The Alameda Contra Costa Transit District has established the goal of a 100 percent drug and alcohol-free workplace. Applicants will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment and those in safety sensitive positions will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing through their period of employment, including random drug and alcohol testing.

In accordance with federal requirements, all job applicants selected for appointments in a safety sensitive position are subject to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. A final job applicant will be tested for five prohibited drugs: Cocaine, PCP, Amphetamines, Marijuana and Opiates. During employment, employees holding safety sensitive positions are subject to random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. Additionally, in the event of an absence of more than 90 days from a safety sensitive position, pre-employment drug testing will be performed.

Equal Opportunity Employer