Community Engagement Lead

Bellevue is building the city of the future. Today, Bellevue is known as a community with beautiful natural areas, a vibrant downtown and strong economy, some of the nation’s best schools, and healthy neighborhoods. Bellevue’s success today isn’t a fluke. It stems from decades of community work, foresight, and planning. Bellevue has a strong social fabric, where community groups, businesses and the city organization work together to address our needs and plan for our growth into the future. The city makes citizen engagement a high priority and knows that broad public participation in city planning initiatives creates better outcomes in city decision-making. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. It’s what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore. The Community Engagement Lead will work in partnership and collaboration with professional planning staff to provide overall outreach, communications and community relations functions for key citywide planning initiatives. Primary functions include executing the overall strategy for City outreach and community relations related to city planning initiatives and developing and executing communications that support the overall functions of the Planning and Community Development department. Ideal candidates will possess a strong grasp of public outreach strategies for city initiatives, including an understanding of a wide assortment of outreach tools and approaches, a strong background in event planning, and possess strong communication skills and creativity and innovative approaches for community engagement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position is a limited term position anticipated to last 2 years*

Consider applying here if you want to:
Work in a dynamic environment where being innovative, collaborative, and future focused are the status quo.

Broaden public engagement and ensure greater trust and transparency in city decision-making.

Bring innovation to the outreach and communication strategies of Planning and Community Development workgroups.

Work in partnership with PCD staff to create and execute outreach and community relations strategies for key citywide planning initiatives as assigned, possibly including but not limited to, Neighborhood Area (Subarea) Planning, Affordable Housing Strategy, Eastside Men’s Shelter, and engagement supporting Arts and the Environmental Stewardship Initiative.

Ensure the community engagement plans address issues of equity, inclusion, cultural competence and access for all Bellevue residents and other stakeholders to fully participate.

Orchestrate public outreach events that support planning initiatives, including all supporting logistics and follow up materials.

Facilitate and attend a broad range of community meetings, forums, focus groups and public events including evening or weekend meetings, to solicit public input and advance community engagement throughout each step of a planning initiative (from launch to implementation).

Work closely with PCD staff to Prepare and present written and verbal communications that support PCD initiatives for various audiences, including elected officials, residents, and business and community leaders.

Assemble a multifaceted outreach toolbox for PCD workgroups to utilize in support of their independent outreach to support their programs.

Craft communication strategies, press releases, social media posts, and related summaries of community meetings for public awareness and engagement.

Maintain selected PCD web pages with up-to-date information on project details, and make use of social media tools (such as twitter, Nextdoor, Facebook, etc) to enhance communication and broaden public engagement.

Track public engagement and interested parties lists per planning initiative and provide timely and accurate responses to public inquiries or questions.

Ensure outreach coordination on citywide planning initiatives with the Neighborhood Outreach Team and the Diversity Advantage Team, providing coordination with other citywide public outreach and engagement with Bellevue’s diverse communities.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Urban Planning, Political Science, Non-Profit Administration, Communications, Social Work, Public Relations, Philanthropy, or related field.

Four or more years of event planning, fund development, or project management requiring managing timelines, resources, and logistics for that demonstrate successful community engagement on shared outcomes.

Four or more years of professional related experience involving communicating with a diverse community, including but not limited to, event promotion and use of social media and online web tools, community surveys, public speaking and/or group facilitation.

Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of community outreach and public relations principles, practices, methods, and techniques.

Ability to plan, execute, and manage multiple outreach efforts, including identifying project milestones, timelines, essential materials, and communication strategies utilizing appropriate and varied techniques for each purpose and audience.

Excellent verbal communication skills and strong listening skills, including the ability to present information to the public and elected officials, ability to address contentious and controversial issues in a variety of forums, and build trust and transparency with the broad community at every stage of the planning process.

Knowledge-base of asset-based community development and best practice in cultural competence as it pertains to community engagement is highly desirable.

Excellent written communication skills, including developing messages for a variety of audiences and formats.

Ability to coordinate with multiple internal departments and work groups to ensure consistent and timely messaging.

Recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.

Contribute to Bellevue’s One City culture and values of Sharing Leadership, Communicating and Collaborating Widely, Engaging and Empowering Employees, Encouraging Innovation, and Keeping a Short- and Long-term vision.

OTHER:
For questions regarding this position please contact Mike McCormick Huentelman, Neighborhood Outreach Manager, 425-452-4089.

The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected status. Persons needing assistance in the application process make call the Human Resources Office at 425-452-6838.