Senior Public Engagement Lead - Transmission Projects

Jacobs; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) and stock purchase program

PPTO, holidays, caregiver leave

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Public Engagement & Outreach Lead to plan and execute meaningful engagement for electric transmission projects. You will build relationships with landowners, communities, regulators, and Tribal entities throughout planning, permitting, construction, and closeout.

The role requires sound judgment, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to work across engineering, environmental, regulatory, real estate, legal, and stakeholder-engagement teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, or related field.
• Eight or more years of progressive stakeholder engagement, public affairs, community relations, or communications experience.
• Experience with electric transmission, utilities, renewable energy, major infrastructure, or environmental permitting.
• Demonstrated success leading engagement strategies for complex, controversial, or highly regulated projects.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, issue-management, and executive communication skills.
• Experience directing consultants, leading project teams, or coaching engagement professionals.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment independently and represent the organization in sensitive public and regulatory settings.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement public engagement plans for electric transmission projects.
• Coordinate open houses, workshops, public hearings, community meetings, site visits, and other outreach activities.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with landowners, community groups, municipalities, regulators, elected officials, Tribal entities, and partner organizations.
• Prepare stakeholder materials, including presentations, fact sheets, newsletters, meeting notices, FAQs, web content, comment forms, and other project communications.
• Assist with venue selection, invitations, registrations, accessibility, logistics, staffing, materials, and documentation for engagement events.
• Explain project purpose, routing, schedule, potential impacts, benefits, and mitigation approaches in clear, accessible language.
• Collect, document, track, and summarize stakeholder questions, concerns, and feedback.
• Maintain accurate outreach records, contact lists, issue logs, commitments, and engagement metrics.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineering, environmental, permitting, real estate, regulatory, and construction teams.
• Support compliance with applicable public participation, environmental review, and permitting requirements.
• Identify emerging stakeholder issues and recommend timely, practical response strategies.
• Promote culturally appropriate, equitable, and accessible engagement practices, including outreach to historically underserved communities.
• Assist with preparing responses to comments and developing project communications that reflect agency and community input.

Skills

8+ years stakeholder engagement

Experience with electric transmission

Strong facilitation

Executive communication

Travel up to 25%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, business, public relations, public policy, environmental studies, planning, political science, community development, or related field

Job description

Jacobs is seeking a Public Engagement & Outreach Lead to plan and execute meaningful engagement for electric transmission projects. You will build relationships with landowners, communities, regulators, and Tribal entities throughout planning, permitting, construction, and closeout.

The role requires sound judgment, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to work across engineering, environmental, regulatory, real estate, legal, and stakeholder-engagement teams.