DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, COMMUNITY RELATIONS (PROJECT DELIVERY COMMUNICATION)

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Plans, directs, and manages assigned functional units within Community Relations, which includes local government and external affairs, community education, program management/capital projects, and other special projects agency wide. The Deputy Executive Officer, Community Relations will oversee community engagement programs and communications campaigns for large-scale transportation projects that require enviornmental planning in accordance with state and federal laws. They will oversee a team whose work portfolio includes project delivery of more than 100 projects from the planning phase into construction and operations.

Examples of Duties

• Develops and implements the strategic framework for public outreach, engagement, mitigation, and education for Metro's programs, projects, and initiatives agency wide in compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other governing and regulatory agencies

• Establishes, reinforces, and fosters relationships with regional and local elected officials and business, professional, civic, government and community groups, and key stakeholders to build trust in Metro's plans, policies, programs, and services

• Provides executive direction and carries out the policies of the agency for business units

• Ensures coordinated and consistent reporting of issues and communications at all levels with large and complex sets of stakeholders and constituencies

• Develops, implements, and promotes meaningful public engagement strategies and programs

• Leads inter-departmental and inter-agency collaboration and cooperation among Metro staff on Metro projects

• Oversees the department's budget planning; continuously and proactively evaluates and optimizes resources on an ongoing basis

• Directs the development and implementation of department work plan goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards and monitors progress

• Analyzes the department's operations to identify successes and areas for improvement; modifies processes as necessary to ensure alignment with Metro's mission and goals

• Develops community outreach scopes of work and negotiates contractual agreements, directs and oversees activities of outside consultants, and ensures services are provided as expected

• Consults and advises Board members and Metro management on the most effective means of informing the public and stakeholders about controversial and sensitive matters

• Recruits, manages, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff

• Establishes and implements performance measures for staff

• Ensures coordinated and consistent reporting of issues and communications at all levels

• Oversees department's participation in and management of responses to internal and external investigations related to department-specific matters

• Coordinates Metro participation in local and regional government arenas

• Prepares and presents written and oral reports to Board members, Metro management, government officials, key stakeholders, community groups, and the general public

• Represents Metro before public officials, private entities, and professional, civic, governmental groups, and task forces at career fairs, community, and special events

• Communicates Metro's safety vision and goals; oversees the implementation of agency and departmental safety rules, policies, and procedures; and maintains accountability for safety performance of all assigned employees

• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  
  May be required to perform other related job duties
  

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Communications, Political Science, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Five years of relevant senior management-level experience in public affairs, community relations, public relations, or communications for a public or government agency

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience developing, implementing, and managing community engagement programs, particularly in the context of large-scale development projects
  
• Experience utilizing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, for community engagement and communication
  
• Experience creating complex plans and policies, and applying political dynamics influence to the decision-making processes.
  
• Experience handling communications during sensitive or challenging situations, including contentious public debates, environmental concerns, and stakeholders
  
• Experience developing strategic communication plans that support community relations for large, complex projects
  

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of community relations, public affairs, and regional and local government affairs, communications, community outreach and engagement, and crisis management
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Title VI, and Metro's Public Engagement requirements
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing human resources for a public agency
• EEO and Affirmative Action rules and regulations
• Organizational structures, functioning, and protocols of public agencies and local governments
• The diverse constituents of Los Angeles County, including awareness of social and cultural sensitivities
• Social, political, and environmental issues influencing transportation programs
• Research and report preparation methods
• Land use processes and regulations
• Public speaking techniques
• Administrative principles and methods, including planning, goal setting, program and budget development and implementation, capital and operating budgets, and funding sources
• Modern management theory
• Theories, principles, and practices of human resources management, including recruitment, selection, training, benefits, classification, and/or compensation
• Digital communications and social media
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Planning, organizing, and leading the work of a department
• Strategic and critical thinking, planning, and implementation
• Analyzing complex planning concepts
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
• Communicating effectively in writing and orally
• Interacting professionally with Metro employees, Board of Directors and their staff, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public
• Exercising interpersonal skills with tact and diplomacy
• Engaging the public

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Develop and implement policies
• Develop and edit high quality content and materials
• Represent Metro before the public
• Understand and navigate the diverse constituencies of Los Angeles County
• Think and act independently
• Work well under pressure of multiple projects and priorities
• Meet tight time constraints
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Plan and monitor financial and staffing needs
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Handle highly complex and confidential information
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
  
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
  

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
  
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
  
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
  
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
  

EY

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan- Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance- PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance- PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance- 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays- 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP)- Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year30 days
Beginning of 16th + years35 days

Pension Plan- PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at www.benefits.metro.net .

Closing Date/Time: 5/19/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

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