Engagement & Communications Specialist

At GHD, we don’t just believe in the power of commitment, we live and breathe it every day. That’s why we pledge to empower our people to make a positive impact. Combining our deep expertise with the capabilities of our clients and partners, we respond to some of the most complex challenges facing our planet today. See where your commitment could take you.

That’s the #PowerOfCommittment

Who are we looking for?  
GHD is seeking a Engagement and Communications Specialist to join our Strategic Communications, Engagement and Communities team in our Sacramento, Roseville, or Santa Rosa offices. Applicants preferring to be based in Eureka or San Luis Obispo will also be considered. 

In this role, you will provide clients with engagement and communication services on a broad range of projects across multiple GHD markets and services. You will help develop engagement and communication plans, define key messages, coordinate engagement activities, lead activities during community meetings, and create written communications and other collateral. 

If you’re passionate about making a difference in your community through meaningful public participation, we invite you to bring your skills and experience to GHD.

Our Hybrid Work Model:  Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Engagement: Lead development of Engagement Plans and Communication Plans, including stakeholder analysis, desktop research, and community and social media scans. Develop, coordinate, and manage meetings, events, open houses, information sessions, and workshops, along with supporting materials, to promote stakeholder awareness, understanding, and commitment.

• Written and Visual Material Preparation: Research and write first drafts of straightforward content for print or websites. Research and summarize information for more senior colleagues to develop more complex content. Develop print and digital communications materials, including newsletters, letters, display boards, presentations, fact sheets, advertisements, and media releases. Work with creative services colleagues to develop visual communication materials and creative assets including presentation decks, infographics, renderings, event graphics, signage, social/digital content, website management, and video/animation.

• Data Collection and Analysis: Work with colleagues in location intelligence, data and analytics, and AI-focused roles to collect, collate, and analyze qualitative, quantitative, and geography-based data using preset tools, methods, and formats such as online surveys, map-based platforms, market research.. Prepare draft recommendations based on findings.

• Task and Project Management: Manage multiple concurrent engagement and communication projects, prioritize tasks, track budgets, and ensure timely delivery and quality control of deliverables. Assist senior colleagues in managing projects using GHD’s project management systems.

• Document Preparation: Organize and prepare complex documents using a variety of applications for technology devices, such as standard office software. Collect and summarize data for reports. 

• Public/Government Relations Campaign Execution: Execute a public relations or government relations campaign for a particular product, service, or specialty area.

• Public/Government Relations Campaign Management: Deliver required outcomes by coordinating activities of subcontractors and suppliers; act as a primary point of contact for them while working within an established contract to deliver successful public relations and government relations campaigns.

• Client Relationship Management: Help senior colleagues manage client and customer relationships by using GHD’s customer relationship management and project management systems.

• Business Development:  Assist  senior colleagues with developing proposal content to secure new projects.

• Information and Business Advice: Resolve queries from internal or external customers or suppliers by providing information on complex processes and the related policies, referring issues to others where necessary for interpretation of policy.

• External Communications: Help others get the most out of external communications systems by offering support and advice.

• Public/Government Relations Campaign Planning: Develop tactical public relations campaigns planning to assist in the achievement of public relations goals.

• Operational Compliance: Identify, within the team, instances of noncompliance with the organization's policies and procedures and/or relevant regulatory codes and codes of conduct, reporting these instances and escalating issues as appropriate.

• Personal Capability Building: Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching; gain or maintain external professional accreditation, where relevant, to improve performance and fulfill personal potential. Maintain an understanding of relevant technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, planning, or social science

• Equivalent knowledge and experience will be considered in lieu of degree

Experience

• 5 to 7 years of progressive experience in community engagement or strategic communication roles, ideally within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), infrastructure or public-sector context

• Fluent in written and spoken English; Spanish-language skills are a plus

• Proficiency with standard office software (e.g., Microsoft suite) and social networking platforms; familiarity with community engagement software/platforms for meetings are a plus (e.g., virtual conferencing, virtual whiteboards, and map-based feedback)

• Self-starter and strong organizational skills: able to lead through ambiguity, manage budgets/timelines, coordinate across disciplines, deliver high-quality work under deadlines

• Excellent storytelling ability and communication skills (written, verbal, presentation)

• Collaborative mindset, comfortable working with both creative teams and technical professionals (engineers, planners, architects) and translating technical content for public audiences

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with project staff and partners

• Ability to effectively work in a fast-paced environment

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status or veteran status.

Salary Range: $74,000-$124,000 based on location and experience

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