Public Affairs Specialist

Stantec is a global, multi-disciplinary firm that places innovation at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. We are at the forefront of solving complex societal and natural resource challenges through projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. We partner with our clients and the communities they serve to design fit-for-purpose solutions that reinforce community strengths and overcome challenges. Our experts lead their fields and guide our work with scientific rigor, an innovative spirit, and a vision for growth. We're a place where you can apply your passion and collaborate with top talent on work that's critical to our clients, our communities, and the industry at large.

Your Opportunity

Stantec recognizes that many of the complex challenges facing project proponents is understanding and adapting to the needs and concerns of the communities they serve. It is through this recognition that Stantec established a Public Affairs group to support communication and engagement objectives of our clients. While this group works nationally, its primary focus is California water resources, integrated planning, and community-led design and implementation. We have an immediate opening for a Public Affairs Specialist - Engagement and Collaboration Focus to join our multi-disciplinary team of integrated water resources and engagement professionals, each committed to delivering sound and strategic consulting services to a range of local, regional, state, and federal clients. We seek a talented professional with 6+ years of experience leading outreach programs, facilitating collaborative planning processes, and supporting public policy development and implementation. The selected candidate has an excellent reputation for analyzing challenging situations and developing thoughtful responses and building relationships with public agencies, civic organizations, and underrepresented communities.

The Public Affairs Specialist - Engagement and Collaboration Focus will support safe drinking water efforts in California, directly impacting quality of water service, financial and environmental sustainability, and addressing under-served communities. The selected candidate will also lead the design and implementation of communication and engagement activities in support of sustainable groundwater management planning efforts across the state. If working alongside a diversity of communities and agencies to plan and implement challenging projects and working on teams aimed at delivering solutions to some of California's most complex water resource opportunities appeal to you, join us.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Apply experience in California communities about topics including water resources, environmental justice, watersheds, water-related infrastructure, applicable laws/policies/regulations, and efforts to achieve the California legislated human right to water.
• Oversee facilitation and engagement activities in support of local public agencies across the state, including providing stakeholder assessments, outreach and communications strategies, targeted outreach to underrepresented groundwater users, Tribal government outreach, strategic planning, meeting and workshop facilitation, and intra-basin and inter-basin coordination support.
• Conduct community engaged planning and technical evaluations supporting water supply, sanitation, flood control, and environmental restoration projects.
• Prepare and present materials for client meetings, in-person and online community engagement events, public presentations, and develop documents for online and hard copy publication.
• Coordinate with community members, clients, project managers, project engineers and staff, regulatory agencies, and subcontractors.
• Perform project administration including preparing facilitation plans, reports, gathering information, drafting proposals and correspondence, completing progress reports, and conducting project management.
• Join and participate with multi-disciplinary teams on water resources projects throughout California and the western U.S.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• Kind, thoughtful, seasoned collaborator with experience delivering engagement-led approaches to planning and design.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a demonstrated ability to adapt to different audiences; working knowledge of languages other than English is a plus.
• Excellent skills in inclusive community engagement using a variety of tools and techniques suited to a variety of communities and audiences. Experience working in rural communities and/or communities in the San Joaquin Valley preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage projects and teams, including supervision of direct reports.
• Strong interpersonal abilities and entrepreneurial abilities and a proven track record for working independently was well as part of a diverse team of staff, clients, and interested parties.
• Experience in the following subject matter areas preferred, but not required:

Urban, community, or regional planning, public administration, public policy, community development, or other social sciences

Integrated water management, interactions with land and the environment, and interrelationships with social and economic development

Supporting community engagement with planning, designing, constructing, and owning/operating water/wastewater infrastructure

• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time. California driver's license required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in urban or regional planning, political science, communications, public administration, water resources planning, environmental science, ecology, natural resources, or related field.
• Seven or more years professional experience

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's' talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.