Community Relations Manager jobs in North Carolina

The City of Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina and remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country.  Driven by a strong economy and outstanding quality of life, Raleigh is consistently ranked among the nation’s best places to live and operate a business. The “City of Oaks” is also known for its beautiful natural resources and greenway trails, with approximately 58,000 acres of tree canopy, more than 100 lakes, and 1,200 miles of streams.
 
The City of Raleigh’s Stormwater Management Division (Raleigh Stormwater) - which includes more than 70 full-time staff - implements programs, projects, and services to protect the City’s water resources and aquatic life, maintain stormwater infrastructure, prevent streambank erosion, manage flooding, and mitigate development impacts. The Community Relations Analyst will join the Water Quality Section, a highly collaborative team of nine that does more than just “check the boxes” when it comes to regulatory compliance and water quality protection. This group works across the City and with the public to identify water quality issues, strategically and creatively address water quality concerns, and implement Green Stormwater Infrastructure projects at highly-visible locations like Raleigh Union Station, Raleigh Rose Garden, Dorothea Dix Park, Chavis Park, Walnut Creek Wetland Park, and more.
 
Outreach, education, and public participation is critical to the success of the Raleigh Stormwater mission. The Community Relations Analyst position will coordinate and lead stormwater education, outreach, and engagement initiatives to advance local water quality protection and help the City of Raleigh achieve its vision of a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable community.

The Community Relations Analyst reports to the Water Quality Supervisor and is responsible for developing, coordinating, and leading stormwater education, outreach, and engagement strategies to fulfill regulatory requirements (i.e. NPDES MS4 Phase I permit and Neuse Nutrient Strategy Rules) and increase public awareness of Raleigh Stormwater services. This individual will research diverse strategies and use their knowledge and experience to create stormwater outreach materials, initiatives, and interactive lessons about the impacts of stormwater pollution on water bodies; actively inform and engage community members of all backgrounds on ways to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff; serve as a responsive liaison to community members, neighborhood groups, schools, regional partnerships, and other municipal staff; lead creative collaborations such as the annual Stormwater Capture It! Art Contest; grow community awareness and participation in volunteer programs, workshops, and trainings; monitor completion of City staff stormwater pollution prevention training; and proactively track, evaluate, report, and continuously improve key metrics related to these responsibilities.

This position is assigned a city vehicle and requires working occasional evening hours and Saturdays to attend public meetings and events, with the ability to offset these hours to maintain a 40-hour work week. This position also qualifies for the City’s Telework Program which provides the opportunity to work up to 40% of time remotely. 

• Develop, coordinate, and lead education, outreach, and public engagement strategies to fulfill the City’s regulatory requirements as outlined in Education and Outreach and Public Participation Program Plan(s). Coordinate training schedules and logistics, maintain educational material, and compile and organize data for these regulatory programs. Refine strategies based on annual evaluation of program effectiveness. 
• Serve as a liaison between Raleigh Stormwater, community members, K-12 schools and higher education, neighborhood groups, regional partnerships, and other municipal staff and departments.
• Coordinate and/or serve as lead staff for public engagement requests. Participate in meetings and manage event and public meeting logistics.
• Define goals and objectives, identify target audiences, and implement appropriate education, outreach, and engagement methods in support of water quality-related programs and specific stormwater pollution prevention measures, considering audience demographics.
• Research, develop, and coordinate targeted stormwater pollution prevention messaging through in-person activities and online and print materials. Attend conferences, seminars, and classes related to stormwater education, non-point source pollution, and other related environmental topics.
• Compile and utilize public input and strategic planning best practices to determine the most effective and efficient ways to communicate with internal and external stakeholders. Build trust and excellent working relationships with these stakeholders.
• Manage collaborative planning, implementation, and public engagement for the annual Stormwater Capture It! Art Contest (grades 8-12), including compiling submissions, internal voting processes, gallery display and reception, and public recognition of winners at Raleigh’s annual Earth Day event. 
• Manage the volunteer Storm Drain Marking program, implementing strategies to increase public participation; tracking, preparing, and distributing marking materials; and communicating with the public. Assist with the implementation of existing stormwater volunteer programs as needed. Contribute to the development and implementation of new volunteer programs.
• Lead and/or collaborate with staff on presentations, workshops, and trainings related to stormwater pollution prevention, green stormwater infrastructure, storm drain marking, stream monitoring, stream clean-up, and more.
• Occasionally interact with leadership and/or advisory committees, such as the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission, on community engagement goals and activities.
• Assist in managing and/or mentoring temporary staff / interns, as opportunities arise.
• Other duties may be assigned.

• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License, or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire, and a satisfactory driving record.

• Principles and practices of program administration and management.
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis.
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research.
• Best practices, trends and emerging technologies.
• Project management principles.
• Modern budget practices.
• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques (based on assignment).
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment).
• Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others (based on assignment).
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment).
• Customer service principles.
• Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment.
• Modern office technology.

• Managing a project or program.
• Gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason.
• Coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands and assigning/monitoring work performed.
• Researching industry trends, solutions and best practices.
• Interpreting, monitoring and reporting financial information and statistics.
• Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and presentations.
• Monitoring project schedules, status and compliance.
• Supervising and evaluating staff performance (based on assignment).
• Training and coaching staff (based on assignment).
• 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.