Manager, Communications and Public Affairs

Job Description

SUMMARY

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Communications and Public Affairs Manager supports Metrolink’s efforts to engage customers, stakeholders, communities, and the broader public. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Communications and Public Affairs, this position works collaboratively with Public Affairs and Customer Experience staff to develop and implement strategic communications and engagement programs that advance agency priorities, foster relationships with cities, counties, and other key stakeholders, and protect and enhance Metrolink’s reputation. The Manager also serves as the secondary spokesperson under the Southern California Regional Rail Authority’s (SCRRA) emergency communications procedures.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This job description is not part of a job series.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED

• Receives supervision from departmental management/supervisory level role.
• This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not to be interpreted as an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

• Respond to community, public and media inquiries.
• Build and maintain relationships with cities, counties and other stakeholder groups in Metrolink's service area to ensure timely, appropriate and accurate information is provided to stakeholders.
• Serve on Metrolink’s 24/7 public affairs on-call team, providing crisis communications support, participating in the team rotation (typically one week as backup and one week as lead each month), and training new team members to ensure a consistent, disciplined response during incidents.
• As directed, collaborate across departments, member agencies, and industry partners to surface, shape, and package proactive storylines and develop appropriate responses to community, public, and media inquiries about Metrolink services and projects.
• Through a variety of sources, monitor emerging capital, state-of-good-repair, and maintenance project issues, including construction impacts, environmental concerns, or political resistance, and coordinate timely strategic outreach plans to mitigate risk to project delivery or public perception.

• Represent SCRRA at special events, community group meetings, etc.

• Create presentations, community notices, communication plans, press releases, media advisories, talking points, fact sheets, video scripts, newsletter articles, board notices, and other high-quality internal and external communications materials.

• Maintain up-to-date, targeted community database and/or contact lists. Manage, expand and, as necessary, distribute an up-to-date contact list.

• Direct and oversee the work of contractors performing communications, public affairs, and community relations activities; establish clear expectations and ensure quality compliance.
• Support the administration and oversight of departmental budgets, contracts, and procurements.

• Maintain relationships with appropriate railroad or functional industry partners and stay current on relevant issues, practices and procedures.

• The responsibilities outlined above are representative of the role but not exhaustive. Additional duties may be assigned as needed, and reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations, Communications, English, Marketing or related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in communications, government relations, public relations, journalism, community outreach, or a similar field.
• A combination of training, education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered when determining minimum qualifications. Advanced relevant coursework may also substitute for a portion of the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in a public or governmental agency as an employee, contractor, or consultant with a Class 1, intercity passenger, major commuter railroad, or transit provider in a 24/7 operations environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of :

• Project management and coordination.
• Principles of graphics and layout.
• Transportation issues.
• Communications in government agencies.
• Political sensitivities.
• Community relations.
• Media relations.

Skilled in:

• Writing and editing.
• Customer service.
• Microsoft Office.
• Verbal and written communication.
• Organization and time management.

Ability to:

• Organize work and handle multiple requests and priorities.
• Adapt to effectively meet changing customer expectations.
• Demonstrate an analytical skill set that will support the reporting and analysis of data or trends related to stakeholder inquiries and comments.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships.
• Maintain composure under stress.
• Work weekends and extended hours.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Transition between a stationary position at a desk or work location and move about Metrolink facilities or other work site locations
• Operate tools to perform the duties of the position, such as computers, office equipment, and work-related machinery
• Transport equipment or boxes up to 25 lbs
• Exchange ideas by means of communication
• Visual acuity to detect, identify, and observe employees or train movement and any barriers to movement when working on or near railroad tracks
• Hear and perceive the nature of sounds when working on or near railroad tracks
• Balance, ascend/descend, climb, kneel, stoop, bend, crouch, or crawl within assigned working conditions and or locations

Working Conditions

Position requires work in a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, or temperature. Work may also be conducted in outdoor environments, at construction sites, Railroad Track and Right-of-Way environments, and warehouse environments, with possible exposure to individuals who are hostile or irate, moving mechanical parts, and loud noises (85+ decibels, such as heavy trucks, construction, etc.)

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Selection Process:

Following a review of resumes and/or applications, the most highly qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Eligible applicants will be notified of the exact time and place of assessments and interview. Candidates will be interviewed to determine their relative knowledge, skills and ability in job related areas. Offers of employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a reference check, including degree verification and criminal records check provided through SCRRA.

Internal Candidates: Employees with active discipline as defined in the HR Policy No. 5.3 Positive Discipline Program and/or with performance that does not meet the standard for "meets expectations" as defined in the Performance Planning and Appraisal Process may be precluded from consideration and placement in the position.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the SCRRA will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

The SCRRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EEO/ADA.

MEDICAL:

SCRRA offers a choice of health plan options provided through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). You may choose from Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. Some health plans are only available in certain counties and/or zip codes.
SCRRA will contribute 87.50 percent and you will contribute 12.50 percent of the premium for coverage of you and your eligible dependents.
You may waive coverage if you are covered under another group health plan; you must provide proof. Once you waive coverage, you will only be allowed to enroll during Open Enrollment or within 60 days from the date on which your other coverage is no longer available (proof is required). If you elect to waive coverage, you will receive $300.00 per month taxable earnings, paid in two installments of $150 each on the first two paychecks of the month. A retiree or an employee who is a spouse, child, or any other eligible dependent of another SCRRA employee is not eligible for the opt out/cash in lieu credit if he/she is covered under a SCRRA health plan.
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or qualifying event.

DENTAL:

SCRRA offers two dental options provided by Delta Dental. Under the DeltaCare (HMO) program, you must select a contract dentist within their network to perform your dental services. If you require treatment from a specialist, your contract dentist will handle the referral. Many services are covered at no cost to you. A co-payment applies for other services.
The Delta Dental PPO plan allows you to visit a dentist of your choice, change dentists at any time, go to a dental specialist of your choice, receive dental care any-where in the world, and save on out-of-pocket expenses when you visit a PPO net-work dental office.
SCRRA pays the full premium for coverage of you and your eligible dependents un-der both plans.
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or qualifying event.

VISION:

SCRRA offers two (2) vision plans through Vision Service Plan (VSP), providing coverage for eye examinations, prescription eyewear and contact lenses through network providers. You have the option of seeing out-of-network providers, but full reimbursement is not guaranteed.
VSP has contracted with many laser surgery facilities and doctors, offering you a discount on PRK and LASIK surgeries.
If you enroll in the VSP Basic Plan, SCRRA pays the full premium for coverage of you and your eligible dependents. If you enroll in the VSP Buy-up Plan, which offers enhanced vision benefits, you pay the difference between the cost of the Basic Plan and the Buy-up Plan.
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or qualifying event.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS:

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow for the deferral of pre-tax dollars to be used for reimbursement of eligible medical, dependent care, and commuter parking expenses related to commuting to/from work.
Below are the 2026 contribution limits:
• Health FSA: $3,400 per year
• Dependent Care FSA: $7,500 per household per year for single filers or married couples filing jointly, and $3,750 per year for married couples filing separately
• Commuter Parking Benefit: $340/month
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or a qualifying event.

GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE:

SCRRA provides for an amount equal to one (1) time your annual salary, rounded to the nearest $1,000, to a maximum of $350,000. Your life insurance benefit will re-duce to 65% at age 65 and 55% at age 70.
IRS regulations require that the portion of Group Term Life (“G.T.L.”) insurance benefits provided to you by SCRRA, which exceeds $50,000, be added to your Federal, State, and Medicare taxable earnings for W-2 reporting. This amount is reflected on your pay statements each pay period in the “Other Benefits and Information” sec-tion.
In addition, SCRRA offers a voluntary plan, which may be purchased in increments of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000 without evidence of insurability (initial enrollment period only) and up to 5 times your salary to a maximum of $500,000 with evidence of insurability. Dependent life options are also available. The voluntary plan is portable; you may retain it if you leave SCRRA and pay the premium.
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or qualifying event.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT:

SCRRA provides for an amount equal to one (1) time your annual salary, rounded to the nearest $1,000, up to a maximum of $350,000. Your AD&D insurance benefit will reduce to 65% at age 65 and 55% at age 70. In addition, SCRRA offers a voluntary plan, which may be purchased in increments of $10,000, subject to a maxi-mum of the lesser of 5 times your annual salary or $500,000. Dependent AD&D options are also available.
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or qualifying event.

SHORT TERM DISABILITY:

You are covered under the California State Disability Insurance (SDI) Program. Your maximum benefit amount is 52 times your weekly benefit amount or the total wages subject to SDI tax paid in your base period, whichever is less. Employees pay a mandatory contribution, through payroll deductions, for coverage under the SDI pro-gram. The contribution rate for 2026 is 1.3 percent of earnings (no wage cap).

LONG TERM DISABILITY:

SCRRA provides for income replacement of 60 percent of monthly earnings subject to a maximum benefit of $10,000 per month up to age 65. To qualify, you must be on disability for 90 days. (Note: there is a pre-existing condition clause in this program.)
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or qualifying event.
INDIVIDUAL DISABILITY INSURANCE (IDI):

SCRRA provides Individual Disability Insurance (IDI) for employees earning more than $200,000 per year. IDI supplements the LTD benefits to ensure that higher earners receive 60 percent of their monthly earnings should they experience a covered disability and are off work. The policy is fully portable, which means that if you leave Metrolink you can retain the policy at your own cost. No medical examinations required.

VOLUNTARY BENEFITS:

SCRRA offers the following employee-paid voluntary benefits, provided by Aflac:
• Group Accident Insurance helps pay for out-of-pocket costs that arise from covered accidents, such as fractures, dislocations, and lacerations.
• Group Critical Illness Insurance helps pay for the expected and unexpected expenses that arise from diagnosis of a covered critical illness, such as cancer (internal or invasive), heart attack, stroke, end-stage renal failure or a major organ transplant.
• Group Hospital Indemnity Insurance helps pay for the out-of-pocket costs as-sociated with a hospital stay, including benefits for hospital confinement, hospital admission, hospital intensive care and intermediate intensive care step-down unit.
• Group Short-Term Disability Insurance pays a monthly benefit directly to an employee who is off work due to an injury or illness for up to three (3) months after a seven (7) day waiting period.
Eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date or qualifying event.
9/80 ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULE:

SCRRA offers a 9/80 Alternative Work Schedule (AWS). During a 10-day work period, you work eight 9-hour days, one 8-hour day and have one day off. Your day off can be Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Approval from your supervisor, chief and HR is required to participate in the 9/80 AWS program.

TELECOMMUTING SCHEDULE:

SCRRA offers employees the option to telecommute up to two (2) days per week. At the CEO’s discretion, the maximum number of days per week may be increased due to a natural disaster, pandemic, civil unrest, federal/state/local stay-at-home order, or other special circumstances. Approval from your supervisor, chief and HR is required to participate in the telecommuting program. Employees on a 9/80 schedule cannot telecommute.

HOLIDAYS:

SCRRA observes twelve (12) holidays a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

PAID TIME OFF (PTO):

SCRRA provides employees with Paid Time Off (PTO) for vacations, illnesses, injuries, medical/dental appointments, religious holidays, personal business, and emergencies as follows:
Biweekly Approx. Annual

Years of Service Accrual Rate Equivalent

Through 4 years’ service 7.69 hours 25 (8 hr. days)

5-6 years’ service 9.23 hours 30

7th year service 9.85 hours 32

8th year service 10.16 hours 33

9th year service 10.47 hours 34

10-14 years’ service 10.77 hours 35

15-19 years’ service 11.70 hours 38

20 or more years’ service 12.93 hours 42

At the CEO’s discretion, prior service at a public transportation or public agency, or rail transportation company may be counted towards an employee’s total service years to increase the employee’s PTO accrual rate. To be considered, Human Resources requires that a written request along with verification and confirmation of the years of service be provided prior to the start of employment with SCRRA. Human Resources will provide the final determination on behalf of the CEO.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP):

SCRRA offers you and your immediate and dependent family members confidential counseling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for family, personal, work-related and substance abuse issues through the EAP. You are entitled to a telephone session(s) with a trained EAP professional to assess the nature of the problem and provide a referral for additional assistance, if needed. Services also include three (3) face-to-face counseling sessions per family member per six (6) month period.

HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICES:

SCRRA offers you and your eligible dependents free health advocacy services through Health Advocate. You are entitled to unlimited calls with trained professionals who can help you navigate the healthcare and insurance systems.

RETIREMENT PLAN:

The SCRRA contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). You pay an 8.00 percent employee contribution* and SCRRA pays an employer contribution, which varies each year. To be eligible for a service retirement, you must be at least age 52 and have a minimum of five (5) years of CalPERS-credited service. Upon retirement you are entitled to a monthly retirement benefit based on your years of credited service, age, and average compensation during your last three (3) years of service (“final compensation”). The retirement formula for New Members is 2%@62, which means at age 62, you receive 2 percent of your final compensation for every year of service.
Upon separation from employment with less than 5 years of credited service, you may request a refund of your employee contributions only, including interest, and end your membership with CalPERS, or leave it in your account and retain your service credit should you decide to work for another CalPERS-covered agency. If you are vested upon separation but do not retire, you may leave your contributions in your account until retirement or elect a refund.
*Subject to increase or decrease based on CalPERS annual actuarial valuation.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

You do not participate in Social Security except for Medicare. You will contribute 1.45 percent of your pay to cover the hospital insurance portion of Medicare.
Additional Medicare Hospital Insurance Tax: As of January 1, 2013, employees are required to pay an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax on earnings above $200,000 (for those who file an individual return) or $250,000 (for those who file a joint re-turn). This additional hospital insurance tax is not reflected in the rate above.

RETIREE MEDICAL:

Unrepresented employees hired before 11/1/18*: You will be eligible for medical coverage when you retire if your separation date and retirement date are within 120 days of each other. SCRRA pays the same amount for retirees as it does for active employees, which is currently 87.50 percent, and you pay 12.50 percent of the applicable premium.

Unrepresented employees hired on or after 11/1/18: You will be eligible for medical coverage when you retire if your separation date and retirement date are within 120 days of each other and you have a minimum of 10 years of credited CalPERS service, five of which must be performed at SCRRA. SCRRA pays a percentage of the state annuitant contribution rate** in accordance with the vesting schedule below:

Credited Years of CalPERS Service

Percentage of Contribution

10

50%

11 - 19

50%, plus 5% for each additional year of service

20+

100%

*Once each year the employer may allow unrepresented employees hired before 11/1/18 the opportunity to individually elect to be subject to the vesting schedule.

**The state annuitant contribution rates for 2026 are: $1,084 (Retiree Only); $2,057 (Retiree + 1 De-pendent); $2,638 (Retiree + Family).

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN- 457(b):

A percentage of your pay or a specified dollar amount can be contributed to the 457(b) Plan on a pre-tax basis, or an after-tax basis as a Roth contribution. Pre-tax contributions reduce current taxable income, with taxes paid only on withdrawals later. Roth contributions won’t reduce your taxable income and can be withdrawn tax-free if the requirements for a qualified distribution are met.
The 2026 contribution limits for the 457 Plan are below. The contribution limits apply to the combination of pre-tax and Roth contributions.

Normal Limit - $24,500
"Age 50" Catch-up Limit- $8,000 ($32,500 Total)
"Super" Catch-up Limit (Age 60-63)- $11,250 ($35,750 Total)
"Pre- Retirement" Catch- up Limit- $24,500 ($49,000 Total)

TRANSPORTATION PASSES:

You may use your employee badge for unlimited free access to all Metrolink lines and trains. Your badge cannot be used on connecting public transportation. How-ever, if you commute to/from work on Metrolink on a regular basis and need to connect to other public transportation (e.g., Metro Red or Purple Line) you can be issued a Metrolink pass with the appropriate station pair or a TAP card, which will give you access to connecting transportation. Employees who have a business need to ride Metrolink system-wide, including but not limited to the Executive Leadership Team (XLT), will be issued a system-wide Metrolink pass, which can be used on all Metrolink trains and connecting transportation.
You are also eligible to receive a free transit pass to ride any greater Los Angeles area transit system other than Metrolink (such as Metro, Foothill Transit, LADOT, and LOSSAN) for commuting purposes. The commuter transit pass has a value up to the monthly maximum tax-free transit pass amount established by the Internal Revenue Service ($340 in 2026). You are responsible for any transit fares above the IRS monthly maximum. To receive this benefit, the SCRRA requires each employee to use public transportation to commute to and from work three (3) or more days per week.
Employees may purchase a monthly Metrolink pass for their eligible dependents at a fifty percent (50%) discount. The employee’s share of the fare will be deducted from the employee’s paycheck each pay period.
Eligible retirees who retire from Metrolink within one-hundred twenty (120) days of their separation date and have at least five (5) years of Metrolink service will receive a system-wide Metrolink pass for themselves and their eligible dependents as part of their retiree benefits. These system-wide Metrolink passes cannot be used to connect to other public transportation.

OTHER BENEFITS:

Educational Assistance - SCRRA will reimburse an employee up to $1,000 per fiscal year for tuition, books and mandatory student fees for courses that are relevant to employment. No reimbursement is allowed for parking.

Professional Memberships - SCRRA pays up to $300 per year for professional memberships.

Credit Union Membership - SCRRA offers credit union services for employees and their family members, provided by Northrup Grumman Federal Credit Union.

Jury Duty - SCRRA will continue an employee's salary during any non-voluntary jury service up to a maximum of ten (10) working days.

Pregnancy Disability and Family and Medical Leaves - A leave of absence may be paid or unpaid and shall be granted in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, and SCRRA policy. Refer to the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual for more detailed information.

Bereavement Leave -In the event of a death of an employee’s family member (spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sib-ling, parent-in-law), SCRRA grants up to three (3) working days, with pay, plus up to an additional two (2) days without pay. An employee may use PTO or accrued and available sick leave to provide compensation during the two (2) unpaid days of bereavement leave.
When an employee needs to travel outside the perimeter of the five member agencies’ jurisdictional areas due to the death of an immediate family member, the SCRRA grants a total of up to five (5) working days, with pay.

Military Leave - Employees will be paid for the annually required active period. At the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, and with Board notification, paid military leave may be granted beyond what is provided by the applicable state law

Closing Date/Time: 10/30/2026 5:00 PM Pacific