Manager, External Affairs

North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Inc.; Newark (NJ); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority seeks a Manager of External Affairs to lead public engagement for major agency initiatives, including the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and represent the agency at external meetings, conferences and events.

This hybrid Newark-based role requires updating the Public Engagement Plan and coordinating with consultants and stakeholders to ensure inclusive outreach.

Qualifications

• Extensive public speaking and project management experience.
• Highly organized with strong coordination skills.
• Inspired by incorporating public voices into transportation planning.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend outreach events.

Responsibilities

• Lead agency public engagement efforts for LRTP and related initiatives.
• Represent the agency at external meetings, conferences, and events.
• Update and align with the Public Engagement Plan across 13 counties.
• Manage consultant efforts and innovative outreach initiatives.
• Coordinate meetings and involvement of advisory groups and partner agencies.
• Plan and staff outreach events, including underrepresented populations.
• Produce communications materials: videos, social media, publications, presentations.

Skills

Public speaking

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Written communication

Interpersonal communication

Event planning

Public engagement

Strategic thinking

Job description

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority seeks a Manager of External Affairs to lead public engagement for major agency initiatives, including the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and represent the agency at external meetings, conferences and events. Under the direction of the Senior Manager of Outreach, the Manager of External Affairs is responsible for updating the Public Engagement Plan and ensuring outreach and other initiatives align with the plan’s requirements. This position manages consultant efforts and leads the agency’s innovative public engagement initiatives, including the UpNext North Jersey young adult advisory group. The Manager of External Affairs works closely with stakeholders, including coordinating Morris Canal Working Group meetings and agency involvement in conferences, such as NJ TransAction and the New Jersey Association of Counties, and represents the agency at meetings of county transportation advisory boards, partner agencies, and other organizations. The ideal candidate can help build collaborative partnerships and has extensive public speaking and project management experience, is highly organized, and is passionate about incorporating public voices into transportation planning. This position requires excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. While much of this work is conducted during business hours, this position requires attendance at occasional evening and weekend outreach events. This is a hybrid position based in downtown Newark, NJ with the option to work remotely part of the time.

Essential Functions:

• Leading agency public engagement efforts, including coordinating outreach across 13 counties for the quadrennial Long Range Transportation Plan update.
• Serving as project manager for consultant-supported efforts related to public engagement.
• Representing the agency at external meetings and events including professional conferences, county transportation advisory board meetings, NJ TRANSIT board meetings, and other partner agency meetings and events.
• Pursuing innovative outreach and communications strategies; maintaining and updating the Public Engagement Plan and ensuring initiatives align with the plan’s requirements.
• Planning and staffing outreach events, including efforts focused on engaging traditionally underrepresented populations.
• Overseeing the UpNext North Jersey young adult advisory group, including planning events, finding opportunities to involve the group in NJTPA-funded planning work, and drafting a monthly newsletter.
• Coordinating the Morris Canal Working Group in collaboration with the Canal Society of NJ and other partners.
• Working with staff in the Communications & Public Affairs division, as needed, to create videos, social media content, and publications, as well as presentations, scripts, posters, and other materials to support the agency’s work.
• Reviewing and editing materials related to public outreach.