Strategic Public Involvement Lead

Burns & McDonnell; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell in Austin, TX seeks a Senior Public Involvement Strategist to lead engagement for large‑scale permitting and construction projects. You will guide outreach, manage stakeholders, and direct communication strategies across meetings, content creation, and digital channels.

The role requires strong written and verbal skills, media relations experience, and the ability to mentor staff while meeting deadlines in a dynamic team environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Environmental Sciences, Environmental or Urban Planning, or related field with 8 years strategic communication experience.
• Master Degree in a related field and 7 years strategic communication experience required.
• Experience communicating technical, political, public policy, or work issues to the public via TV, print, web and town halls.
• Experience developing, editing content for proposals, collateral, reports, high-level messaging, speeches, and presentations.
• Strong media-relations skills and experience working with media to deliver key messages.
• Experience directing conceptual design and strategy for communications plans and campaigns.
• Experience managing social media strategy preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work in a dynamic team environment.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Related consulting experience preferred.
• High attention to detail with ability to perform quality reviews.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagement strategies for moderately complex and large-scale projects, establishing goals and outreach tactics.
• Manage programmatic and project-level public involvement efforts with standards and best practices.
• Manage stakeholder relationships with public officials, agencies, property owners, and community reps.
• Address escalated stakeholder concerns at a strategic level with guidance on resolution and communication.
• Lead development and management of strategic outreach plans including meetings, surveys, newsletters, web content, and social media.
• Develop detailed workshop agendas and facilitate complex or contentious meetings.
• Conceptualize graphic and visual communication strategies and direct designers for infographics, presentations, and webinars.
• Manage presentation development, client interviews, engagement scoping, and cost estimating.
• Maintain compliance with public involvement standards across projects.
• Mentor and direct less experienced staff in public involvement.
• Lead development of division business plans and execute them.
• Prioritize project objectives and allocate funds to engagement goals.
• Track performance against financial, utilization, and profitability targets.
• Participate in government briefings, executive presentations, and client discussions.
• Produce and oversee weekly and monthly reporting on public involvement activities and outcomes.
• Comply with company and site safety policies and procedures.

Skills

Engagement strategy

Stakeholder management

Public relations

Media relations

Proposal content

MS Office

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Public Relations/Journalism/Marketing/Environmental Sciences/Environmental or Urban Planning

Master's degree in related field

Job description

Burns & McDonnell in Austin, TX seeks a Senior Public Involvement Strategist to lead engagement for large‑scale permitting and construction projects. You will guide outreach, manage stakeholders, and direct communication strategies across meetings, content creation, and digital channels.

The role requires strong written and verbal skills, media relations experience, and the ability to mentor staff while meeting deadlines in a dynamic team environment.