Community Relations Director

Salary: $90,000 - $105,000

Location: 415 N. Zarfoss Dr. York, PA - OR - 901 N. Cameron St. Harrisburg, PA 

Paid Weekly

Full Benefits Package Health, Dental, Vision, Simplified Employee Pension, Paid Holidays, Paid time off, Sick Leave, Company provided life and disability

Regular Driver's License required. 

The position is critical in assisting the Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority in meeting our mission of mobility. The impact of public transportation runs much deeper than a trip from point A to point B. We are the means for which people have access to experiences that alter their lives in meaningful ways. Our culture of innovation and stewardship champions that mission. The Community Relations Director serves as a key strategic advisor and engagement leader for the Authority, building trusted relationships with elected officials, business leaders, advocacy partners, and the broader community. This role is critical in driving inclusive engagement, cultivating public trust, and aligning local, state, and federal priorities with the Authority's long-term mission of expanding equitable mobility across Central Pennsylvania.

Key Reporting Relationship: 

This position reports to the Chief of Staff and the Executive Director. This position receives general instructions regarding the scope and approach to assignments. This position is not eligible for remote work. 

Some of the Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Achieves the Authority's mission by communicating and promoting rabbittransit's goals, services, and funding needs to external stakeholders and the general public. 

Builds strong alliances by serving as a liaison between the Authority and business, nonprofit, and community leaders ensuring alignment of transit goals with public priorities. 

Develops and implements strategies to build and strengthen relationships with community organizations, businesses, and advocacy groups. 

Advises the Executive Director and Executive Team on public perception trends, outreach strategies, and reputation of management efforts. 

Develops and leads Authority-wide public engagement strategies, including organizing listening sessions, stakeholder meetings, and public forums. 

Cultivates and maintains partnerships with government agencies, community-based organizations, non-profits, and businesses.

Represents the Authority at community, local, state, and federal forums related to public engagement, business development, and transit advocacy. Conducts regular meetings with local and state officials to brief legislators regarding rabbittransit initiatives within members' districts. 

Collaborates with the Executive Director to align engagement efforts with legislative priorities and funding opportunities. 

Ensures that the Authority's messaging is aligned with public engagement, transit funding, and stakeholder priorities. 

Oversees issue resolution with elected officials to ensure staff has the resources to investigate and provide meaningful feedback to elected officials and/or their constituents.

Prepares and makes comprehensive presentations to a variety of audiences and performing complex, confidential, and sensitive assignments.

Engages in information gathering that could assist in the development of the Authority's strategic direction. 

Collaborates with the Executive Director and Chief of Staff to ensure unified direction and communication across all stakeholder-facing initiatives. Expected to exercise considerable initiative and judgment in carrying out assigned duties.

Preserves historical reference by establishing and maintaining a record-keeping system, documenting procedures and decisions, maintaining required documentation, and ensuring delivery of documents as necessary. Compiles and maintains a procedure system and organized office to ensure continuity of position.

Support association activities such as PPTA, APTA and CCTA to help connect the message to key stakeholders, including elected officials. 

Maintains trust, confidence and protects the organization by keeping information confidential and disclosing only on a need-to-know basis; ensuring high ethical standards; and using good customer service skills with both internal and external customers.

Ensures communication and positive image of Authority by reviewing critical incidents, exceptions to policy and/or goal achievement with Executive Director.

Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational classes/workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and participating in relevant professional societies.

Some of the Essential Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Experience:

• This position requires 50-75% travel within the rabbittransit service footprint within Central Pennsylvania. 
• Minimum requirement of at least a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Communication, Business Management, Political Science, or a related field. 
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in large-scale coordinated efforts with community education/engagement, public affairs, advocacy, and/or related field.
• Ability to advise executive leadership on public engagement, stakeholder relations, and perception strategies. 
• Ability to identify, build and sustain strategic partnerships at local, state and national levels and lead in the development and execution of strategic goals and initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to public speak, facilitate and handle stakeholder communications.
• Ability to have an extensive working knowledge of legislative matters and protocols for community ang government relations. 
• Ability to understand transit system operations and service areas.
• Experience in using personal computers, applications, and proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools.
• Excellent powers of concentration - ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously within a distracting environment is essential.
• Ability to manage through influence and working successfully within a complex organization to create an effective, efficient culture. 
• Ability to listen actively and to persuade others to accept recommendations.
• Ability to analyze situations, solve problems and deal with a variety of changing situations in a timely manner.
• Able to function effectively under stress and remain calm and collected during emergencies; enjoy working under pressure.
• Ability to be accountable by meeting expectations of being detail oriented, organized, accurate, meeting deadlines and able to prioritize work tasks.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to maintain compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Ability to be self-motivated and results oriented to accomplish objectives.
• Ability to establish, collaborate and maintain effective working relations with internal and external partners to build trust and engagement in accomplishing goals. Ability to interact courteously with diverse individuals. 
• Ability to represent the Authority in a professional and positive manner at all times. Protects and enhances the Authority's image. 

Ready to be a driving force behind an essential community service? Apply today.

The Authority is an equal employment opportunity employer.