Planning & Development Specialist, Senior

Seattle Public Utilities; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Free Orca Pass

City pension plan

Growth opportunities

Family-friendly environment

Generous benefits

Job summary

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is seeking an Outreach and Engagement Lead to drive community engagement for the CSO Reduction Program. You will shape outreach strategy, mentor consultants, and manage program-wide engagement standards and the CSO Program website.

You will plan dynamic community events, collaborate with City departments and partner agencies, and ensure clear, equitable communication with neighborhoods. Hybrid work is available with a strong benefits package.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in planning, capital projects, community engagement or related fields.
• Experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders and departments.
• Ability to develop and execute equity-driven outreach strategies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SPU primary outreach subject matter expert for internal project teams and partner agencies.
• Lead development of program messaging and engagement standards for the CSO program.
• Plan and lead community engagement events, in person and virtual, with diverse stakeholders.
• Oversee outreach materials and ensure accessibility and language guidance compliance.
• Measure and report on engagement effectiveness and compliance with public participation mandates.
• Coordinate work of outreach staff and manage consultant budgets/deliverables.
• Track outreach activities in SPU's CRM system.
• Coach project teams in communication and engagement skills.
• Elevate emerging issues for SPU leadership and impacted communities.

Skills

Community engagement

Public outreach

Project management

Communication skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning/public administration

Tools

CRM system

Job description

Position Description

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is looking for an Outreach and Engagement Lead to drive community engagement for the Combined Sewer Overflow Reduction Program (CSO Program). In this role, you’ll shape outreach strategy from options analysis through construction, lead and mentor a team of outreach consultants, set program-wide engagement standards, and manage the CSO Program website.

In this role you will plan and lead dynamic community events, collaborate with City departments, elected officials, and partner agencies, and ensure clear, consistent communication with impacted neighborhoods. Working closely with project managers, engineers, and construction teams, you’ll help advance SPU’s mission to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and deliver equitable community benefits.

About the CSO Program

The CSO Program protects Seattle’s waterways by reducing sewage and polluted stormwater overflows, as required by a federal Consent Decree. The team manages multiple concurrent projects and seeks to incorporate meaningful public benefits through CSO infrastructure improvements.

About Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU’s work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

For More Information

• SPU Website
• SPU Workplace Expectations(Download PDF reader)
• Strategic Business Plan

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Why Join Us

We know work isn’t only about what you do it’s also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:

• Hybrid work schedule opportunities
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free Orca Pass
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as SPU primary outreach subject matter expert for internal project teams, consulting firms, and coordinate with other City departments and agencies.
• Lead the development of programmatic messaging and engagement standards, develop and execute comprehensive, equity-driven outreach and engagement strategies for the multi-year CSO program.
• Lead community engagement efforts (in person and virtual), such as public meetings, neighborhood briefings, and one-on-one meetings with politically sensitive stakeholders, impacted businesses, and community groups to solicit input and mitigate construction impacts.
• Oversee the development of outreach materials such as fact sheets, websites, notices, etc. adhering to the City’s language access, digital accessibility, and writing style guidance.
• Measure effectiveness of community engagement efforts and ensure documented compliance with all federal and state public participation mandates.
• Oversee and coordinate work of consultant outreach staff and manage consultant budgets and deliverables.
• Track outreach activities, contacts, and community interactions using SPU’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
• Coach project team members in communication, presentation, and engagement skills.
• Identify and elevate emerging issues to ensure the “no surprises rule” for SPU leadership and impacted communities.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The full salary range for this position is $56.23 - $65.54 per hour.

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records incompliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SME 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in planning, capital projects, community engagement, human services, environmental issues, conservation, project management; or other work directly related to City planning and capital projects, urban planning and development, community engagement.
• Education: Baccalaureate degree in planning, urban design, capital projects, environmental studies, public administration, project management, or related field (or a combination of education and/or experience and/or training which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work).

Desired Qualifications

• Infrastructure Capital Project Experience: 5+ years of experience leading public involvement or strategic communications for public works projects, such as wastewater, stormwater, or green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects.
• 3+ years of experience working with Seattle’s diverse communities, including communities of color and low-income communities.
• Demonstrated strategic planning skills and experience delivering high-quality outreach under tight timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to convey complex information clearly.
• Experience overseeing consultant deliverables.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with flexibility and adaptability.

Additional Information

Workplace Schedule/Environment

• Hybrid schedule with remote work flexibility (minimum 3 days/week in-office). Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.
• Work is performed both in an office environment and in a public setting.
• Collaborative, inclusive team environment.

Benefits

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits

Who May Apply

The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Zachary Brown @ [e-mail].

http://www.seattle.gov/jobs Learn more about Seattle Public Utilities at www.seattle.gov/util/ and check us out on social media.