Community Engagement + Communications Specialist (MN)
Posted January 10, 2025. Open until position is filled.
About the position
Zan Associates is in search of a full-time Community Engagement & Communications Specialist. In this position, you would be part of a team of planners, engagement specialists and communications professionals, reporting to the team leader.
This person will help to empower communities to have a voice during the planning, designing and building phases for public infrastructure projects by providing community and engagement activities. Public infrastructure projects include places where people walk, bike, roll, take transit and drive; and places where people gather like parks, community and recreation centers, and other public gathering places.
You would be responsible for coordinating and implementing the community engagement and communications tasks for multiple projects. Specific tasks associated with this role include:
Plan, implement, and facilitate community engagement activities, including in-person and virtual events, pop-up tables, public meetings, presentations, and interactive activities.
Essential Functions
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Prepare communications materials such as communication and engagement plans, project fact sheets, project/event notifications (mailings, flyers, e-newsletters), event materials, social media posts, and website content.
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Prepare meeting/event notes and engagement summary reports.
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Proactively manage assigned work tasks
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Stay up to date on community engagement, communications, and social media trends and innovations.
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Work evening and weekend hours (Zan is committed to activities that engage people who are historically underserved and meeting people where they gather, which is often during evenings and weekends; frequency of these hours varies by season).
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Required Education & Experience
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Degree in communications, urban planning, journalism, marketing, public policy, geography, or a related field.
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2(+) years of experience, or equivalent mix of education and work experience is desired.
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Experience and/or interest in community engagement, public process and infrastructure planning and design.
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Excellent organizational skills and the ability to perform work as part of a team and in a self-directed environment.
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Strong verbal and written communications skills including public speaking and the ability to rewrite/explain complex information so that the public can understand the issue. Both technical and persuasive/marketing style writing are desired.
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Proficiency with the MS Office software suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
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Experience supporting diversity, equity and inclusion principles is preferred.
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Proficiency in multiple languages is preferred.
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Experience in visual communications is preferred.
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Experience working for a consulting firm or a job where you need to track and report the hours you work to specific projects or clients is preferred.
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Experience with ERSI GIS is preferred.
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Must have a valid driver’s license.
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Interested in career advancement.
Salary
Salary range is $68,845 - $80,314. Final salary is negotiable and based on experience.
Position location
Minneapolis, MN. We offer a flexible work environment.
About Zan Associates
Zan Associates’ core focus is to build communities by giving people a voice. Our purpose is to provide creative and authentic engagement, communications and planning primarily for public infrastructure projects. We hire people who want to influence and shape the communities we live, play and work in. We value diverse perspectives, and we seek to elevate historically underserved communities. We provide employees with competitive salaries and benefits including medical, dental and retirement, and perks like a flexible work schedule and location, a transit pass or bicycle/vehicle parking, cell phone, and frequent company and team outings. We are located in downtown Minneapolis and work with a wide range of public agencies in the Twin Cities, throughout Minnesota and in the Pacific Northwest.
Our core values:
• We believe in the work we do
• We have a culture of high performance
• We are professionally opinionated
• We prioritize inclusivity and belonging
• We care about our team
• We are fun to work with
How to apply?
If you are ready to be part of the Zan Associates team, please send a cover letter with an explanation of why your experiences are relevant for this position along with your resume and references to Linda Spohr, Operations Manager: hr@zanassoc.com
Zan Associates is a certified minority- and woman-owned small business, committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.