Senior Public Engagement Specialist

HNTB Corporation; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB Corporation in Nashville, TN seeks a Senior Public Engagement and Communications Specialist to support a major transportation program. You will lead development of communication strategies, materials, and digital and print content for a public agency client, informing community stakeholders and partners.

Acting across outreach plans for Metro Nashville's CHYM program, you will coordinate with planners, environmental and engineering teams to ensure alignment, measure KPIs, and deliver

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Marketing, Communications, English, Journalism or related field with 6 years of relevant experience, or 10 years of relevant experience in lieu of education.
• Experience leading strategic communication and outreach across multiple channels for public sector or transportation projects.
• Strong writing, editing, and public speaking with ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.
• Ability to develop and implement public outreach plans and KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Develops and helps implement dissemination of outreach materials to stakeholders using print, radio, social and digital media.
• Tracks social engagement and digital strategies; refines records of public involvement meetings.
• Drafts speeches, prepares remarks and briefing documents for public events.
• Develops and implements digital strategies for websites and social channels.
• Supports coordination for public meetings and engagements with clients and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Strategic communications

Public engagement

Stakeholder management

Written communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Marketing, Communications, English, Journalism or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

What We're Looking For

HNTB is seeking a Senior Public Engagement and Communications Specialist to support an impactful transportation program in Nashville, TN with opportunities to lead engagement efforts and strategic communication strategies on high-profile and complex initiatives. The position will focus on developing and implementing strategic communications and engagement plans for a public agency transportation client. This role leads the development of communication strategies, materials, and digital and print content that support project goals and inform the community and key program partners, stakeholders, and community. This role will work on community engagement and strategic outreach for Metro Nashville's Choose How You Move (CHYM) program. CHYM is Nashville's voter-approved plan to modernize transportation and give everyone safer, more reliable ways to get around. Implementation is underway, delivering practical investments in safety, reliability, and access that work for everyone, whether you walk, roll, ride, bike, or drive.

What You'll Do

• Develops and helps implement effective dissemination of outreach materials, facts and information on project messaging and supports client activities to stakeholders according to the public outreach plan including external agencies, associations, and news organizations using print, periodicals, radio, social and/or visual communication media.
• Reviews and refines records and reports related to public involvement meetings, forums and public hearings as well as tracks social engagement and other digital strategies as needed.
• Drafts speeches, creates and designs presentation materials, prepares remarks, briefing documents and/or composes correspondence for use in mailings, meetings, workshops and other public events.
• Responsible for initial fact checking for reports, articles, and other publications.
• Develops and implements digital strategies for use on web-based communications, including but not limited to websites and social channels.
• Helps develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and reviews draft reports to indicate a campaign's milestones.
• Supports coordination efforts for public meetings and engagements to best support outreach and initiative goals.
• Interacts with clients to coordinate implementation of communication programs and goals.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You'll Need

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Marketing, Communications, English, Journalism or related field and 6 years of relevant experience, or In lieu of education, 10 years of relevant experience

What You'll Bring

• Lead strategic communication and outreach strategies that include branded messaging, education campaigns, progress updates, and other creative social media, website, video, media, and press initiatives in support of the program and its projects.
• Lead stakeholder and community engagement efforts, support the planning and facilitation of public meetings and workshops, and coordinate closely with clients and multidisciplinary project teams, including planning, environmental, and engineering staff, to ensure alignment with project goals, schedules, and technical work.
• This role also ensures public input is effectively captured, documented, and integrated into project communications and deliverables.
• Responsibilities also include task management, research, data gathering, and developing clear, public-facing messaging and communication resources to support project delivery.

What We Prefer

• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to lead development of clear, public-facing messaging across deliverables.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, public-friendly messaging for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing production workflows, prioritizing deliverables, and maintaining quality across fast-paced, concurrent projects.
• Public engagement, media relations, and community engagement expertise, including leading outreach strategy and execution.
• Proficiency in Adobe and Microsoft tools, with experience producing high-quality materials and reviewing work of less-experienced staff.
• Experience developing and guiding social media strategy and content, providing directions to junior staff.
• Ability to lead research efforts and synthesize findings into clear materials for internal and external use.
• Experience overseeing stakeholder databases and engagement tracking, including directing updates and maintaining data quality.
• Ability to plan and lead public meetings, workshops, and outreach efforts, including overseeing logistics, materials, and deliverables.
• Experience coordinating with clients and multidisciplinary teams to deliver engagement products aligned with project goals and schedules.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to ensure quality control and consistency across all materials and make informed editorial decisions.
• Experience leading or supporting public engagement for large infrastructure or transportation projects.
• Experience working with public sector clients.

Additional Information

Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Locations: Nashville, TN (City Center).

About HNTB

At HNTB, we are harnessing the power of collaboration and innovation to establish a new vision for the future of mobility across our country. You don't have to look far to see our impact. For more than a century, HNTB's spark has connected people and places, expanded opportunity, and left a lasting impact on our communities. Our culture of integrity and inclusion, combined with groundbreaking solutions, has affirmed our reputation and positioned our firm as the industry leader in delivering extraordinary value. When you join HNTB, you are joining an employee-owned firm founded on the values of integrity, collaboration, personal accountability, respect for others, and the development of all employees. We are committed to the continual improvement of an inclusive workplace. We encourage our employees to bring their whole and authentic selves to work, provide them a meaningful welcoming environment where they are valued, celebrated and respected. Diversity of thought and unique perspectives drives innovation, engagement and retention, which makes HNTB better and brings value to our clients and our communities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HNTB is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other status protected by law. We will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability where appropriate.

Work Authorization

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, we will only employ qualified individuals legally authorized to work in the United States (if the position is or will be one which is subject to U.S. law). Verification of employment eligibility will be required.

E-Verify and Rights

HNTB participates in E-Verify Know your rights: Right to Work