Communications and Public Involvement Senior Consultant

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Communications and Public Involvement Senior Consultant for our Los Angeles office.  This is an exciting opportunity to join our national Communications Advisory Services Practice and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges. 

The position will manage communications and construction relations efforts for the Metro Southeast Gateway Line (SGL) Project serving as the liaison between the project team and local elected officials, Council of Governments, city councils, neighborhood councils, chambers of commerce, public and private agencies, citizens, and community and advocacy groups to develop and maintain strategic relationships with various project stakeholders and opinion leaders in order to achieve resolution for SGL Project, Metro programs, initiatives and  operations. 

The position develops and manages construction relations and mitigation programs and activities in support of Metro’s SGL and Agency initiatives.

At WSP, we are driven by inspiring the best people to be part of our future-focused business objectives. Our devotion to teamwork has allowed us to build communities and expand our skylines. Here at WSP, anything is within our reach — and yours — as a WSP employee. Come join us and help shape the future!

Your Impact

• Serve as a key communications and community outreach consultant on transportation infrastructure projects
• Support Metro projects and programs during preconstruction, construction and operations.
• Develop, implement, and manage communication strategies and community engagement programs to inform the public, elected officials, and stakeholders on SGL construction project.
• Serve as liaison between Metro executive management and local elected officials, Council of Governments, city councils, neighborhood councils, chambers of commerce, public and private agencies, citizens, and community and advocacy groups to develop and maintain strategic relationships with various project stakeholders and opinion leaders to achieve resolution for SGL, operations and initiatives.
• Identify opportunities and risks for Metro’s projects, programs, initiatives, and operations; and develops strategies/tactics to maximize the opportunities and minimize risks.
• Develop construction relations goals, objectives, workplans, communications plans and budget.
• Manage, train, and motivate the SGL construction relations team to develop consensus and strategies for successful outcomes and promote Metro’s goals, services, programs and policies, including participating in the development of information for public dissemination
• Evaluate and recommend the level of outreach participation at community events; and organizes and attends community meetings, press conferences and special media events
• Represent Metro at public venues and meetings
• Research the more complex and sensitive incidents, complaints, and concerns, and works with staff and management at all levels of the organization, as well as stakeholders, to achieve solutions
• Provide or supervise responses to SGL construction concerns and inquiries from internal and external customers, offices of elected officials, and stakeholders
• Provide recommendations to project management team regarding SGL community impacts and mitigation programs 
• Serve as the coordinator of communications and strategic development for internal departments, such as community relations, customer experience, media, and marketing on SGL.
• Act as lead strategist and manages content development for a variety of communication channels, including website, social media, talking points, presentations, marketing materials and media notifications 
• Manage development of strategic social media outreach plans including the research, writing and vetting of various posts (X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
• Develop performance metrics to analyze the effectiveness of outreach campaigns, including website and social media content
• Direct the work of support services such as graphic design, website development, video, and photograph
• Provide day-to-day management and strategic directions to the SGL construction relations team.
• Develop strategic communication plans to mitigate SGL construction impacts 
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency’s safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees
• Coordinate closely with project teams and clients on communications and community outreach that aligns with client priorities and program messaging
• Participate in external project, agency, and community meetings to provide communications updates and help identify public involvement issues
• Coordinate development of project deliverables and public outreach according to project schedule
• Build strong relationships with technical team members and clients 
• Interact in a clear and concise manner with a variety of diverse audiences
• Perform other duties as assigned or required by WSP USA Inc. and our clients 
• Talent is the essence of meeting our client’s objectives, goals and challenges.  If this sounds like a fit for you, we’d love to have that first discussion of you joining our team.
• May be required to perform other related job duties

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the essential functions of the position.  Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-to-year basis.  A typical combination includes:

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Business or a related field; Master’s Degree in Public Policy or a related field preferred.
• 5-7 years of communications and public involvement experience and/or 3 years of relevant supervisory-level experience planning, implementing, and managing public affairs or community relations projects for a government agency 
• Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Superior organizational and time management skills with a high attention to detail
• Proven experience writing and editing content for fact sheets, websites, social media, and/or media releases
• Ability to understand and translate complex, technical information into easy-to-understand content for public consumption
• Previous experience working on infrastructure projects with a cross-discipline team
• Deadline driven with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to help de-escalate and mitigate community concerns  
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to work effectively with teams and demonstrate initiative to lead tasks  
• Ability to work well with the public and interact effectively with all organizational levels, including senior management
• Ability to work beyond standard business hours on some nights and weekends
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• Candidate must be able to immediately work in the United States on a full-time permanent basis.  
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise with public involvement best practices
• Communications and public involvement experience with transportation and other infrastructure projects, preferably large public works or construction projects.
• Knowledge of and project experience working with local public agencies  
• Established relationships with local public agency staff  
• Previous experience with team management
• Previous experience with elected official, stakeholder, and media communications
• Bilingual in Spanish
• Local candidates preferred

WSP Benefits: 

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings. 

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $95,000 - $133,000

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

#LI-SY1