Job Abstract

Agency

Department

The Texas Community Watershed Partners (TCWP) team provides education, outreach, and planning support for communities around the state of Texas, focusing on approaches that foster collaboration and holistic solutions to reduce risks from floods and other hazards. Central to our approach is the engagement of community staff, elected officials, and decision-makers in interactive planning exercises. Leveraging data-driven methodologies and innovative tools, such as our award-winning GIS-based scenario planning software, CommunityViz, we facilitate collaborative sessions aimed at envisioning a future that can withstand future disasters and challenges.

Operating within the largest university-based extension program nationwide, TCWP is uniquely positioned to deliver highly impactful community planning tools and services. We cultivate strong partnerships with sister state agencies and federal entities, ensuring that our expertise reaches communities ready to embrace sustainable planning practices.

At the heart of our work lies collaborative planning and stakeholder outreach. This position requires expertise in communication, instrumental to developing targeted messaging programs and projects using a variety of communication materials. This role actively supports maintaining strong partnerships with our program stakeholders by engaging with them through various channels. By developing sustainable, effective communications projects and ensuring consistent and timely dissemination of information about our program, products, and activities, the Engagement Projects Lead contributes to expanding our outreach and fostering preparedness in communities across Texas and beyond.

The Engagement Projects Lead is passionate about community engagement and planning. As a member of our team, this position plays a pivotal role in enhancing the impact of the TCWP program as we work collaboratively with communities to identify and plan for innovative resiliency and risk reduction projects.

The Engagement Projects Lead is a communication professional who thrives on blending creativity with effective stakeholder outreach. As the Engagement Projects Lead at TCWP, this position is entrusted with providing mission-critical communication guidance for this program, creating, and managing a range of communication projects for our programs and products, and fostering connections with key TCWP program partners.

The Engagement Projects Lead is not only highly motivated, organized, and able to stand up communications projects but also possesses a keen creative eye and exemplary written and oral communication skills.  As part of our rapidly growing team, adaptability to evolving team dynamics, ability to manage ambiguous tasks, and effectiveness in virtual collaboration are key attributes we value.

• Develops and manages creative communication products utilizing human-centered design, including communication plans, marketing materials, reports, briefings, and infographics in support of TCWP programs, products, virtual trainings, community events, and focus groups.

• Identifies, synthesizes, and tailors complex messages into effective, on-point communication materials using a mix of oral, written, and visual communications. Engages in stakeholder analysis to determine the most optimal communication strategy for outreach and messaging.  

• Develops and manages communication project plans, scopes of work, milestones, and deliverables. Manages assigned project resources effectively to ensure success. Works with external consultants to ensure compliance and timeliness of production. Identifies risks to project goals and timelines. Monitors effectiveness of strategies.

• Assists in identifying and responding to funding opportunities.

• Contributes towards the strategic development of TCWP programs and projects from the perspective of effective communications. Provides insights on future project resourcing and budgeting.

• Proactively engages with project partners and stakeholders and collaborates internally with other staff.

• Leads and conducts updates to TCWP program web content using WordPress.

• Applies agency communication and branding guidelines to TCWP program communications and products. Coordinates with agency’s marketing and communications units to ensure compliance with agency branding and strategies.

• Represents our programs in relationship-building efforts with communities, agencies, and professional associations.

• Supervises one or more direct reports, and works in highly collaborative fashion with TCWP internal and external stakeholders.

• Attends project-related evening meetings and occasionally travels overnight.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public affairs, marketing, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Seven years of experience in communications, public relations, or marketing.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s Degree.

• Experience working as a communications team lead or standing up new communications projects.

• Experience working with federal, state and local government clients.

• Experience working in an urban planning, hazard mitigation planning, or emergency management role.

• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (especially Illustrator, Photoshop or, InDesign), Canva, or a similar tool.

• Experience using WordPress or similar tool.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• Experience writing for multiple media (e.g., online, print).

• Communications project planning and management.

• Excellent written communication skills to develop print-ready communication products, briefings, online content, etc.

• Excellent verbal communication skills to act as a spokesperson for the program.

• Meeting/workshop facilitation experience.

THIS IS A GRANT FUNDED POSITION

All applicants should upload their cover letter, resume, and a three page writing sample relevant to the Engagement Projects Lead position.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.