Deputy Chief Stakeholder Collaboration

Join Valley Metro as the dynamic leader of our stakeholder engagement initiatives! As the leader of Valley Metro’s stakeholder collaboration regionwide, you'll lead team members in connecting with diverse groups ranging from current riders and prospective riders to employers, business groups, neighborhood organizations, local nonprofits and other community and city partners. Your role will involve driving meaningful engagement and fostering collaborative relationships, ensuring that Valley Metro effectively listens to and acts on community feedback.

The Deputy Chief, Stakeholder Collaboration reports to the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and is responsible for executing strategic initiatives that enhance stakeholder collaboration across metro Phoenix, Arizona through innovative and best-practice outreach methods. By building and cultivating relationships with our riders and prospective riders, member cities, regional partners, and strategic business and non-profit partners, you'll help Valley Metro achieve its mission of connecting communities and enhancing lives. In this role, you will represent Valley Metro within the community, at key community events and public forums and coordinate closely with internal divisions and stakeholders to deliver comprehensive and impactful outreach strategies. If you're passionate about community engagement and strategic collaboration, this position offers the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact.Human Resources reserves the right to call only the most qualified applicants to the selection process.  

Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Public Administration, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.  Directly related experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

Ten (10) years of experience directing, planning, overseeing community relations, public involvement, and public affairs including five (5) years at the management level. 

Background Investigation: 
Employment is contingent upon the results of a background check.

Valid Arizona driver’s license and safe driving record. The statements listed below describe the general nature and level of work only.  They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills.   Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time. 

• Oversees all community outreach functions within the Valley Metro organization, guiding how Valley Metro engages with the community and delivers upon their feedback.
• Leads the development and implementation of engagement strategies targeting stakeholder groups, including current and prospective riders, employers, community and neighborhood groups and other stakeholders, ensuring their input as it the center of current and future services. 
• Develops outreach plans and strategies to deliver upon agency and divisional goals, leading teams who are focused on enhancing the rider experience as well as those who are dedicated to particular projects or programs, often working in the field, directly embedded with the local community or group.
• Leads, mentors and builds out a talented and diverse community relations team. Employs succession planning, mentoring and coaching, and performance management best practices across departments. 
• Executes the external-facing elements of the agency Strategic Plan’s “Deliver on Stakeholder Collaboration” objective and associated initiatives. Sets high level goals and targets for tailored outreach plans and innovative approaches to connect with the various and often hard-to-reach audiences and communities. 
• Enhances member city and regional partner relationships through strategic and tailored approaches, in coordination with the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer.
• Represents Valley Metro within the community, at community events and engages in public speaking on behalf of Valley Metro at Boards of Directors meetings, and at municipal, regional, and community stakeholder meetings. 
• Manages strategic business relationships with existing and prospective vendors, funders and business partners to enhance community engagement and connectivity and deliver/innovate upon programs.
• Builds strong relationships and closely coordinates with counterparts across the Marketing and Communications division and the agency. Develops and implements strategies to support the stakeholder engagement needs of departments such as Capital Development, Operations, Service Planning, and Safety and Security among others.
• Develops and manages the departmental budget, monitoring expenses, forecasting trends, procuring resources, managing contractors and ensuring costs and efforts are in alignment with the business office and strategic agency priorities.

Knowledge and Skills:  

Knowledge of:
Leadership principles;
Public relations/public involvement principles;
Community outreach tactics, including new and innovative tactics;
Relationship-building between public agencies and the community; 
Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills;
Contract management and negotiation principles;
Project management principles;
Budgeting principles and practices;
Staff supervision and performance management;
Ability to engage across diverse groups with appropriate sensitivity, messaging and enthusiasm.

Skill in:
Supervising and evaluating employees;
Planning, developing, and implementing effective public involvement strategies and campaigns; 
Public speaking;
Managing large, complex projects and making decisions in fast-paced environments;
Problem-solving;
Facilitating mediations and negotiations;
Establishing and maintaining effective and cooperative relationships with community organizations and other public and private sector entities;
Interpreting, analyzing, and applying federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations;
Developing, implementing and evaluating programs and projects for effectiveness;  
Communicating effectively and collaboratively with coworkers, supervisors, executive leadership, elected and appointed public officials, and the public at a level sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive feedback. Mobility to work in a typical office setting, use standard office equipment, and attend community events and meetings, with the ability to staff public meetings and lead onsite teams for public involvement and engagement. Additionally, the role requires the ability to read printed and digital materials and communicate in person or by phone.  Accommodation may be made for some of the physical demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodation.

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Valley Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Salary : $130,650 - $195,974