Specialist, Community Engagement

RTD; Rock Hill (SC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

RTD in Rock Hill, SC is seeking a Community Engagement professional to lead outreach initiatives and coordinate partnerships with community organizations, schools, and government agencies. The role emphasizes crafting compelling messages and presenting RTD services to diverse audiences, across multiple channels.

The position requires strong writing, public speaking and event coordination skills, with a flexible schedule to support early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday events as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree preferred in a related field.
• 2+ years of experience in public relations, community engagement, media relations, communications, public affairs, marketing or a related field with a public agency or private company.
• Fluency in a language identified by RTD’s language access plan strongly preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate RTD values in all interactions and work activities.
• Ability to build coalitions, foster partnerships and communicate with diverse audiences.
• Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills for clear, concise material.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage time and workloads, plan, prioritize and follow through on assignments.
• Equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities accepted.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualizes, plans and executes outreach programming related to agency initiatives and educational campaigns.
• Manages comprehensive records documenting outreach activities and their effectiveness.
• Assists the Manager, Community Engagement with routine and special projects.
• Cultivates partnerships with community organizations, government agencies and educational institutions.
• Crafts talking points, drafts stories, and creates presentations; delivers messages at public meetings, events and interviews.
• Establishes relationships with internal departments to coordinate outreach programs and events.
• Oversees the team’s inventory of marketing materials and equipment.

Skills

Public relations

Community engagement

Media relations

Communications

Public affairs

Marketing basics

Event coordination

Writing & editing

Public speaking

Time management

Confidentiality & ethics

Education

Associate’s degree in Public Administration or Communications

Job description

When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD’s values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.

RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits

(RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

Focusing on increasing public awareness of RTD services and initiatives, this position supports a variety of transit-related public engagement projects with agency departments and community partners.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential:

• Under the direction of the Manager, Community Engagement, this role conceptualizes, plans and executes outreach programming related to agency initiatives and educational campaigns.
• Manages comprehensive records documenting outreach activities and their effectiveness in advancing RTD’s strategic priorities.
• Assists the Manager, Community Engagement with routine and special engagement projects.
• Cultivates and maintains effective partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions to promote awareness of RTD services and initiatives. Facilitates collaboration, gathers feedback, and co-hosts events aligned with RTD strategic goals.
• Crafts talking points, drafts stories, and creates presentations regarding RTD services and initiatives. Delivers these messages through various channels, including public meetings, interviews, community events and organizational presentations, ensuring clarity and resonation with diverse audiences. Collaborates with internal teams to ensure accurate and up-to-date information is disseminated.
• Establishes relationships with internal departments, including Transit Police, Service Development, Civil Rights, Planning, Government Relations and the Board Office. Provides guidance on outreach best practices and facilitates the coordination of community outreach programs and events across multiple departments.
• Oversees the team’s inventory, including marketing materials, promotional giveaway items and equipment, and anticipates when additional supplies are needed.

Other:

All job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s degree in Public Administration, Communications, Marketing, Social Work, Non-Profit Management, Education or a closely related field is preferred.
• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, community engagement, media relations, communications, public affairs, marketing or a related field with a public agency or private company.
• Fluency in a language identified by RTD’s language access plan strongly preferred
• Ability to demonstrate the RTD values of Passion, Respect, Diversity, Trustworthiness, Collaboration and Ownership in all interactions and work activities.
• Ability to build coalitions, foster local and regional partnerships and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of audiences.
• Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills and the ability to write clear, concise, factual material in an understandable manner with various audiences in mind.
• Strong public speaking, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to efficiently manage time and workload, which includes proactively planning, prioritizing, organizing and following-through on a variety of assignments.
• Ability to use sound judgment and maintain the strictest of confidentiality.
• Knowledge of transit operations is a plus.
• Experience working in a sales environment is a plus.
• Basic analytical and research skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, which includes attending events and meetings that occur in early morning and evening hours, as well as weekends and some holidays

Or:

An equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities.

Working Environment & Physical Requirements:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to work flexible hours in a variety of environments, including RTD’s administrative offices, school gymnasiums and other community spaces, and outdoors. The employee is expected to work outdoors exposed to weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow.

CAREER MAP:

Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be:

Senior Specialist, Community Engagement

Pay Range:

$59,796.00 - $84,462.00 Annual

EEO POLICY AND ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

RTD is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless to the race, sex, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. RTD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, promotions, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our Employment ADA Coordinator Kris Frazier at [e-mail], or the Talent Acquisition team [e-mail].

To learn more or see our EEO policy, please visit our EEO page at: https://www.rtd-denver.com/open-records/reports-and-policies/eeo-policy

RTD posts a compensation range that represents a good faith estimate of what RTD anticipates paying for the position at the time of posting. Starting salary is based on the candidate’s relevant and verified education, training and work experience. Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application.