Senior Outreach Coordinator

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! Environmental Services (ES) operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Senior Outreach Coordinator builds public understanding about the importance of Met Council's often unseen and taken-for-granted work in water and wastewater. This position provides strategic direction in development of outreach and communications plans, leads efforts to assess how outreach and engagement activities relate to regional goals, allocates resources to outreach efforts, and provides leadership to coordinate with other Council work areas that have significant outreach components to assure consistency in methods and results.

The Senior Outreach Coordinator fosters the understanding of ES customer communities, Twin Cities area residents, and other stakeholders about how our partnering, planning, and providing services protects human health and the environment, and supports economic growth. Your efforts will showcase ES work in the region, through consistent messages and well-planned and executed outreach. Your work will help scientists, engineers, policy planners, and other staff identify key audiences and their connections to wastewater and water resource issues and develop outreach strategies to build and maintain community connection. Audiences will feel understood, as you serve as a liaison for ES to the region, listening and empathizing with different perspectives. Your interest in wastewater and water quality and your tailored and creative outreach will convey the importance of the work we do, influence opinions and outlook, and engage audiences from all backgrounds. As part of the ES Outreach Team that works across the division - including wastewater planning and capital improvement programs, community education, and workforce recruitment - you will network and coordinate with other Met Council divisions to connect projects and initiatives.

Notes:

• The person in this role is occasionally required to travel to other locations in the Twin Cities region that may not be accessible by public transit.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid (remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
• This position will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.
• This position requires a Cover Letter. Applications that do not submit a Cover Letter will not be considered.

• Manage outreach for ES programs. Collaborate with project and communications staff to develop communication plans for projects, programs, and campaigns. Identify all audiences, including the community members, diverse community groups, opinion leaders and community-based organizations. Coordinate work with Council staff, communications consultants, and cities to implement communication and engagement plans.
• Identify, design, and implement new and emerging outreach and education approaches, tools, and partnerships to enhance reach and engagement.
• Lead high-visibility special projects such as exhibits for Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair and other venues, and partnerships for teacher and student outreach.
• Collaborate with and manage the work of consultants to ensure their work complies with Metropolitan Council brand standards, including design, messaging, inclusion of diverse audiences, accessibility requirements; and assist with contract coordination.
• Assist with responses to ES customer and stakeholder inquiries.
• Ensure high-quality materials and provide writing and editing assistance for communications materials about ES, including publications, web content, videos, and social media.
• Plan events, including creating talking points and presentation materials; helping execute in-person and virtual meetings with stakeholders and customers; and presenting to customers, partners and stakeholders.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of ES outreach and engagement efforts using metrics.
• Collaborate with ES communications and outreach staff and other Metropolitan Council departments, such as the central communications office.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

Any of the following combinations of completed education (in community engagement, communications, marketing, relationship management, public relations or related field) and relevant experience in outreach and communications related to environmental quality (air, land and water), public utilities (such as wastewater and storm water facilities), public infrastructure projects, public health, or similar technical area:

• Bachelor's degree or higher with four (4) years of experience.
• Associate's degree with six (6) years of experience.
• High school diploma/GED with eight (8) years of experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers
• Knowledge of standard outreach and marketing/communications techniques and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience in representing an organization.
• Experience identifying, recruiting and mobilizing selected constituencies.
• Strong attention to detail, with a talent for disseminating complex information and making it understandable to a variety of audiences.
• High-level computer skills, using software such as the Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft SharePoint, Internet browsers, social media platforms, and Adobe Creative Suite or similar.
• Experience guiding graphic design and working with designers on visual storytelling through images, video, and infographics.
• Experience applying best practices for accessibility standards/508 compliance.
• Experience or training in tribal relations.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities should you have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge and understanding of the Council's relationship to cities, counties, governor's office, Legislature, and federal government.
• Knowledge and understanding of Council policies and procedures.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including writing and proofreading skills.
• Tactful, with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage a fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks at once.
• Ability to recognize, coordinate, and accommodate the interests and needs of multiple constituents.
• Ability to provide leadership in Council-wide outreach and engagement efforts.
• Ability to lead teams, both staff and volunteers, to accomplish outreach and engagement goals.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with Council members, staff, and others to ensure a high degree of cooperation and efficiency.
• Ability to build trust with internal and external partners.
• Ability to motivate others to complete tasks and be assertive when necessary.
• Ability to speak effectively before skeptical audiences.
• Ability to deal with conflict situations and resolve problems, particularly in situations that may be potentially volatile or politically sensitive.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and handle sensitive communications with Council members and their constituents.
• Ability to set priorities, organize time efficiently and work independently.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional documents.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage employees to develop skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Salary Grade: AFSCME, Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:

Work is performed in a standard office setting. May require travel between primary work site to other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview. You may be asked to present a work sample.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check that verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they relate to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.