Specialist, Community Engagement

RTD - Regional Transportation District of Denver, CO (RTD); United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is seeking a Community Engagement professional to conceptualize, plan, and execute outreach programs advancing agency initiatives and educational campaigns. You will manage records and partner with community organizations to promote RTD services.

You will supply talking points, draft communications, and present information across meetings, events, and internal teams, ensuring accurate messaging and stakeholder engagement.

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 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Public relations

Community engagement

Media relations

Public affairs

Marketing

Public speaking

Writing/editing

Event coordination

Education

Associate’s degree in Public Administration, Communications, Marketing, Social Work, Non-Profit Management, Education or a closely related field

Job description

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections! 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

Pay Range: $59,796.00 - $84,462.00 Annual

CLOSING DATE

Closing date: 11/9/2026 at 11:59PM.

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.

ABOUT RTD

RTD provides public transportation services in an eight-county region centered in Denver, Colorado. As a public agency, employees are dedicated to serving the public and providing for the transportation needs of over 3.1 million area residents as well as visitors to the region. Services include bus, rail, shuttles, ADA paratransit services, demand-responsive services, vanpools, and more. The agency’s dedicated workforce epitomizes RTD’s mission of making lives better through connections. In 2024, the system had more than 65 million boardings, a number that has seen year-over-year increases since 2020. RTD employs over 3,100 people and has an operating budget of $1.5 billion. Together, RTD employees work hard to keep this region moving day and night.