Senior Public Engagement Specialist

What We're Looking For
HNTB is seeking a Senior Public Engagement and Communications Specialist to support an impactful transportation program in Nashville, TN. The individual will lead engagement efforts and strategic communication strategies on high‑profile and complex initiatives, developing and implementing strategic communications and engagement plans for a public agency transportation client.

What You’ll Do

Develop and help implement the dissemination of outreach materials, facts and information on project messaging, supporting client activities to stakeholders as outlined in the public outreach plan, including external agencies, associations, and news organizations using print, periodicals, radio, social and visual communication media.

Review and refine records and reports related to public involvement meetings, forums and public hearings, track social engagement and other digital strategies as needed.

Draft speeches, create and design presentation materials, prepare remarks, briefing documents and compose correspondence for use in mailings, meetings, workshops and other public events.

Provide initial fact‑checking for reports, articles and other publications.

Develop and implement digital strategies for web‑based communications, including but not limited to websites and social channels.

Help develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and review draft reports to indicate a campaign’s milestones.

Support coordination efforts for public meetings and engagements to best support outreach and initiative goals.

Interact with clients to coordinate implementation of communication programs and goals.

Perform other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Marketing, Communications, English, Journalism or a related field and 6 years of relevant experience, or

10 years of relevant experience in lieu of education.

What You’ll Bring

Lead strategic communication and outreach strategies that include branded messaging, education campaigns, progress updates, and creative social media, website, video, media and press initiatives in support of the program and its projects.

Lead stakeholder and community engagement efforts, support the planning and facilitation of public meetings and workshops, coordinate closely with clients and multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring alignment with project goals, schedules and technical work, and capture, document and integrate public input into project communications and deliverables. Also manage task operations, research, data gathering and develop clear, public‑facing messaging.

What We Prefer

Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to lead development of clear, public‑facing messaging across deliverables.

Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, public‑friendly messaging for diverse audiences.

Experience managing production workflows, prioritizing deliverables and maintaining quality across fast‑paced, concurrent projects.

Public engagement, media relations and community engagement expertise, including leading outreach strategy and execution.

Proficiency in Adobe and Microsoft tools, with experience producing high‑quality materials and reviewing work of less‑experienced staff.

Experience developing and guiding social media strategy and content, providing directions to junior staff.

Ability to lead research efforts and synthesize findings into clear materials for internal and external use.

Experience overseeing stakeholder databases and engagement tracking, including directing updates and maintaining data quality.

Ability to plan and lead public meetings, workshops and outreach efforts, overseeing logistics, materials and deliverables.

Experience coordinating with clients and multidisciplinary teams to deliver engagement products aligned with project goals and schedules.

Strong attention to detail, ensuring quality control and consistency across all materials and making informed editorial decisions.

Experience leading or supporting public engagement for large infrastructure or transportation projects.

Experience working with public sector clients.

Locations: Nashville, TN (City Center)

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Disability Accessibility Statement: HNTB provides a fair and equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status or any other status protected by law. The HNTB Companies ensure nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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