Communications Specialist III - Community Engagement Planner

Summary

Community Engagement Planner III – Metro Transit is looking for a skilled planner to coordinate the planning and implementation of community engagement efforts. The role will solicit public input on Metro service and capital planning, programs, and policies. The position is part of the Partnership & Engagement group in the General Manager’s Office, which facilitates community engagement, government relations, language equity, and community‑based organization partnerships for King County Metro.

It also supports the Strategic Communications and Engagement section, providing trusted leadership, coordination, and expertise in engagement and communications with employees, stakeholders, partners, and the public to shape and implement equitable and sustainable regional mobility solutions.

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Community Engagement Planner III, you will:

• Collaborate with engagement colleagues to design and implement multi‑phase engagement strategies that let the public shape services, infrastructure, plans, and policies that affect them—creating feedback activities such as public meetings, surveys, advisory and working groups, focus groups, and partnering with community‑based organizations.
• Work closely with senior planners and project teams to identify opportunities and limitations for community engagement and translate technical information into accessible messages for the public.
• Coordinate with strategic communications, creative, and marketing teams to develop plain‑language, in‑language, and accessible communication products and strategies to reach external audiences.
• Build positive, lasting relationships with stakeholders, including community‑based organizations and community leaders, to engage priority populations in Metro’s decision‑making.
• Facilitate temporary and standing working groups, advisory boards, and formal commissions—handling recruitment, agenda preparation, orientation, facilitation, note‑taking, and ensuring accessibility of meetings and materials.
• Support development of engagement plans, summaries, overview presentations, and final reports that document goals, approach, activities, and outcomes for the public, Metro staff, leadership, elected officials, and community members.
• Apply project management skills to establish and document processes, plans, and timelines that meet engagement goals and overall project timelines.
• Track key learnings and metrics that support the team’s performance indicators and report on community engagement outcomes.
• Act as liaison with specific communities to provide information and education about transportation projects, articulate departmental perspectives, listen to concerns, and help resolve problems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Most competitive candidates will have at least 3 years of experience designing and implementing complex, equitable feedback‑gathering opportunities that center public and community voices to shape plans and outcomes.

• Experience implementing inclusive, multi‑phase community engagement initiatives that center underrepresented communities; tracking, documenting, and analyzing feedback.
• Familiarity with the spectrum of public participation and the ability to identify how community input can meaningfully shape decisions to address community priorities.
• Effective group facilitation skills: agenda setting, active listening, group dynamics awareness, inclusive environment creation, time management, and real‑time adaptation.
• Strong project management skills, including establishing documents and systems to track and manage engagement activities and deliverables on time.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills—adapting messages for diverse audiences, explaining technical information in public‑friendly ways, and inviting participation.
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with internal teams, leadership, communities, stakeholders, elected leaders, and the public.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Teams, SharePoint, survey…