Planner (Public Engagement)

The hiring salary range for this position is $5,604.56 – $7,006.58/month or $2,802.28 – $3,503.29/semi-monthly depending on qualifications.

Bring your passion for the region, along with your organizational prowess and people-skills to a rewarding, fulfilling position with the region’s premier nonprofit organization. Join a dynamic team of cross-disciplinary professionals dedicated to creating thriving and equitable communities! As a public engagement specialist, you’ll lead all aspects of coordination and implementation efforts to inform and gather input from the public and stakeholders across the Denver metro area. Specifically, you’ll help refine and implement DRCOG’s people-centered strategic engagement plan, and then, as projects and initiatives begin, you’ll advise what tactics, activities, tools and media are best-suited to ensure community input is gathered and considered.

You’ll be part of a team that includes social media, website and general communications specialists to organize and promote events and public meetings. You’ll coordinate and help host our renowned Civic Academy, educating and empowering people to become more involved in their communities. And you’ll work alongside a variety of professionals, from urban planners to social workers, to build a better region. If this sounds like the right fit, apply today!

The Denver Regional Council of Governments serves as a visionary leader along Colorado’s central front range. We tackle the BIG issues, like growth and development, transportation and meeting the needs of older adults. Our success is built on, and defined by, long-standing partnerships and serving as a forum for discussing these and other emerging issues in an effort to collectively find innovative solutions. DRCOG is a Regional Planning Commission per Colorado state statute, and is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Denver region. Our culture and values fuel and inform the work we do. Employees are rewarded with competitive compensation, generous benefits and an adaptable work environment. Sound like a good fit? We’d love to meet you!

About the Position of Planner (Public Engagement)
This class specification represents only the core areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the Division.

• Writes, edits and updates content for the communication and promotion of the organization and its programs; plans communication channels and content based on targeted audiences; coordinates resources; builds organizational awareness and ensures accuracy, quality and timeliness of communications.
• Receives and responds to inquiries from the public, media and other internal and external stakeholders; addresses issues and provides corrective action or recommendations for new or updated processes and procedures; provides notification of issues to appropriate staff and management.
• Plans, researches and coordinates communication activities, delivery methods, resources, meetings, digital platforms/site functionality and maintenance, and/or event logistics.
• Develops and maintains communications and marketing materials which may include brochures, inserts, newsletters, digital content, media releases and/or other promotional items.
• May serve as a lead worker of support staff by assigning work and monitoring work completion.
• Researches industry standards, trends, best practices and emerging technologies and makes recommendations for process or technical improvements.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.
• Coordinating, leading and implementing engagement efforts to inform and gather input from the public and other regional stakeholders, evaluate effectiveness of community engagement initiatives and report on measurable goals;
• Working across multiple divisions to develop and refine DRCOG’s public engagement plan;
• Organizing and delivering programming to educate and empower citizens, including DRCOG’s Civic Academy;
• Developing and implementing programs to evaluate effectiveness of community engagement initiatives, including establishment and reporting of measurable goals;
• Organizing, supporting and participating in formal and informal events, such as public meetings, hearings, open houses, focus groups, workshops and other stakeholder meetings;
• Leading DRCOG’s Limited English Proficiency (LEP) planning and implementation, including updating plan and support materials, and conducting training;
• Working with CAM to develop and execute outreach and engagement via social media and other online engagement platforms.
• Proficiency with digital accessibility, including techniques and best practices for presenting, remote meetings, document creation, the design, development, and testing of data-centric embeddable and exportable graphics, and writing web content (if tasked with web creation and editing responsibilities).
• Principles and practices of business communications.
• Principles and practices of target audience marketing utilizing applicable marketing channels.
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis.
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research.
• Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others (based on assignment).
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment).
• Business math concepts.
• Principles and practices of urban and regional planning.
• Best practices, trends and emerging technologies.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment).
• Customer service principles.
• Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment.
• Modern office technology.
• Outreach and public engagement;
• Social media and digital platform tools to support public engagement.
• Planning, preparing, and editing communications materials and media content.
• Gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason.
• Coordinating deadlines and prioritizing competing demands.
• Monitoring schedules, status and compliance.
• Facilitating meetings and workshops
• Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and presentations.
• Training and coaching staff (based on assignment).
• Assigning and monitoring work performed (based on assignment).
• Researching industry trends, solutions and best practices.
• Compiling and sorting data and articulating issues and recommendations.
• Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and communication materials.
• Coordinating meeting or event logistics and applicable resources.
• Recommending policies, procedures and process improvements.
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards (based on assignment).
• Providing customer service.
• Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications.
• Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Education and experience requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, planning or English or related field and one to three years of related communications and/or public relations experience.    OR   An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Status:
Full-time, Exempt

LICENSING/CERTIFICATIONS:

• None required.

Compensation and Benefits
The hiring salary range for this position is $5,604.56 – $7,006.58/month or $2,802.28 – $3,503.29/semi-monthly depending on qualifications.

Application Procedure
To view the full job description, a complete listing of benefits, and to apply for this position, please visit our website at https://drcog.org/drcog-job-openings.  

This position is open until 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on -Friday, November 22, 2024.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.