Director, Transportation Public Outreach

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Director, Transportation Public Outreach

San Jose, CA

We’re excited to offer a $7,500 sign-on bonus to welcome you to our team!

Southwest Strategies Group is seeking a full-time Director to support transportation and infrastructure public outreach and communications to join our team. This senior-level role is responsible for leading transportation client accounts, guiding project outreach strategy, and supporting business development. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to clients, working in person with clients onsite and leading and managing complex communication initiatives with the support of team members.

This position requires strong experience in public outreach, infrastructure communications and stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, results-driven leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and balances strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Southwest Strategies Group is focused on building leaders in our industry and community. With more than 130 professionals from diverse backgrounds and experience, our team is uniquely positioned to communicate with stakeholders where they are in a way they understand. We approach every project as a trusted partner, leveraging decades of expertise to provide custom strategies that help our clients get results.

This position is primarily based at a client site in San Jose, with an expected onsite presence of approximately 4 days per week, subject to change based on client needs and availability. The role may also involve early mornings, evenings and weekend hours, as needed.

Travel is required up to 30% of the time. Additional travel may arise to accommodate project demands, company needs and conference participation.

The annual base amount for this position is dependent on several factors, including the candidate’s geographic location, experience, and qualifications. The annual base amount may be adjusted based on market conditions in the location where the employee resides.

A typical annual base range for this role is: $125,000– $175,000 (actual compensation may vary by location and will follow local regulations).

• Support project budgeting, invoicing and cost forecasting for assigned transportation clients
• Lead client interactions independently and serve as a primary point of contact
• Oversee project timelines, deliverables and budgets to ensure work is completed on time and within scope
• Develop and manage strategic communication programs, including community relations, public outreach, public affairs, media relations, social media and executive positioning
• Review client materials such as fact sheets, maps, eblasts, presentations and press releases to ensure quality and accuracy
• Build and maintain strong relationships with transportation agency staff, consultants, contractors and community stakeholders
• Maintain knowledge of transportation industry trends, policy issues, and outreach best practices
• Translate complex technical transportation information into clear, accessible messaging for diverse audiences
• Support transportation projects across planning, design, environmental review, construction, and operations phases
• Manage multilingual and culturally responsive public outreach efforts, including engagement with traditionally underserved communities
• Supervise, mentor and coach Managers and junior staff through regular check-ins, feedback, and performance reviews
• Support proposal development for transportation-related pursuits, including strategy development and interview preparation
• Participate in networking events, professional associations and business development activities
• Contribute to internal professional development efforts and knowledge sharing
• Collaborate across SWS Group to support integrated client solutions
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned

• 7+ years of relevant experience in transportation public outreach, public affairs or a related field
• 5+ years of public outreach or public affairs agency experience or a combination of agency and in-house experience with a…