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Develops and manages community outreach, programs, and activities in support of Metro's programs, projects, and initiatives. A Local Government Relations Manager serves as Metro's primary liaison to the 88 cities of Los Angeles County, local elected officials and staff, and Councils of Government. The manager represents the agency in the community, builds relationships with local jurisdictions and civic and community organizations to advance Metro projects and programs, and serves as a strategic local government resource for internal partners.

Responsibilities

• Supports Metro projects and programs during all project phases, including planning, project delivery, and operations.
• Develops, implements, and manages communication strategies and community engagement programs to inform the public, elected officials, and stakeholders of Metro projects, programs and initiatives.
• Serves as liaison between Metro executive management and local elected officials, Councils of Governments (COGs), 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 transportation and public works related projects, programs, operations and initiatives.
• Identifies opportunities and risks for Metro's projects, programs, initiatives, and operations; and develops strategies/tactics to maximize the opportunities and minimize the risks.
• Develops goals, objectives, workplans, and budget for the assigned area of the county and/or project unit.
• Identifies opportunities and develops and implements strategies to promote Metro programs, services, and goodwill.
• Manages, trains, and motivates staff engaged in outreach programs 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.
• Manages consultants, which includes developing and reviewing scopes of work and budgets, reviewing and approving invoices, and managing performance.
• Evaluates and recommends the level of outreach participation at events; and organizes and attends community meetings, press conferences, and special media events.
• Represents Metro at public venues and meetings.
• Maintains communications with staff of elected officials regarding constituent interests on studies, projects and initiatives.
• Researches 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.
• Provides or supervises responses to transportation concerns and inquiries from internal and external customers, offices of elected officials, and stakeholders.
• Develops content and oversees the creation of project information, including fact sheets, newsletters, e-blasts, and presentations.
• Provides recommendations to project management teams regarding community impacts during the planning, environmental, and engineering phases of major transit projects.
• Manages internal communication with senior staff to receive new directives for Metro projects and programs for implementation.
• Serves as the coordinator of communications and strategic development for internal departments, such as community relations, media, and marketing on major capital projects.
• Provides expertise for Metro Board and Council, such as advising on agendas, briefings, and meetings.
• Provides day-to-day management and strategic direction to assigned staff.
• Acts as lead strategist for use and development of visual, online and graphic communications.
• Utilizes social media metrics to continually enhance social networks and online communications.
• Develops strategic plans to mitigate impacts related to construction.
• Facilitates community advisory committees on challenging projects and achieves stakeholder consensus.
• Conducts crowdsourcing efforts.
• 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.
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out.

May be required to perform other related job duties.

Minimum Requirements

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

Education

• 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.

Experience

• Six years of relevant experience or three years of relevant supervisory-level experience planning, implementing, and managing public affairs or community relations projects for a government agency, preferably transportation and large public works or construction projects; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment.

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

• Experience interning or working for a federal, state or local elected official, a federal, state or city agency or department, or for a political campaign.
• Experience developing strategic communication materials, including background reports, memos, presentations, speeches, and talking points for public meetings or briefings.
• Experience navigating dynamic political and community landscapes to build effective relationships with elected officials, civic organizations, and community groups to influence policy and achieve desired outcomes.
• Experience in public speaking, either professionally or through extracurricular activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of community relations.
• Functioning and protocol of local and state government, public agencies and community groups.
• Theories, principles and practices for the effective use of online communication and digital media to reach targeted audiences.
• Theories, principles and practices of transportation and land use planning and regulation, and/or public finance.
• Engineering and construction disciplines, if applicable.
• Federal, state, municipal and related legislative processes, procedures and protocols.
• Research, and analytical techniques, methods, and procedures.
• Major public works and/or transportation infrastructure projects, programs and/or operations.
• Social media strategy.
• Marketing and branding.
• Protocol of communicating with and for public agencies.
• Group dynamics and community organizing techniques.
• Consensus building and conflict resolution.
• Modern Management theories.
• Applicable business software applications.

Skill in

• Developing and implementing communication strategies for complex transportation, infrastructure, and/or environmental planning projects.
• Designing, implementing, and managing public or community programs to promote Metro's services and programs through traditional and social media platforms.
• Working and communicating with non-governmental and community-based organizations; as well as diverse populations.
• Analyzing situations, identifying opportunities and problems, recommending appropriate actions and solutions, and evaluating outcomes.
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity within established guidelines.
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing, including public speaking and presenting.
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives.
• Researching and framing complex issues for communication to non-technical audiences.
• Reaching consensus through community engagement.

Ability to

• Conduct meaningful and appropriate outreach to support projects, programs and studies.
• Effectively communicate complex and technical information to diverse audiences.
• Work well with others across many departments and different external agencies.
• Represent Metro before the public and elected officials.
• Coordinate multiple projects and tasks, and meet critical deadlines.
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regs, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements.
• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data.
• Prepare clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence.
• Supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff and consultants.
• Interpret technical documents.
• Read, write, speak, and understand English.

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation.
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen.
• Work irregular hours, split shifts, weekends, holidays, or 24-hour-a-day on-call assignments.
• Work after designated regular hours in case of special assignments or emergencies.
• Local travel.

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table.
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium.
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions.
• Communicating through speech in the English language required.