Public Engagement Advisor

Are you passionate about fostering meaningful connections between the City and its residents? Do you thrive in an environment where your expertise in public engagement directly contributes to impactful decision-making? The City of Edmonton is seeking up to two highly skilled and dedicated Public Engagement Advisors to join our dynamic City Operations Public Engagement team that supports a wide range of programs and services impacting the daily lives of Edmontonians (such as waste services, transit service, snow and ice control, urban forestry etc.). This is an exciting opportunity to lead and support engagement activities that shape our city's future. If you're a collaborative professional with a knack for strategic planning, effective communication, and navigating complex issues, we encourage you to apply.

A s a Public Engagement Advisor, you will be a cornerstone in delivering on the commitments of the City's Public Engagement Policy (C593D). You will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the City engages with its diverse communities and effectively incorporates their input into City and Council's decision-making processes in an authentic, meaningful, and inclusive way.

What will you do?

The City of Edmonton is committed to the highest quality of meaningful public engagement with Edmontonians. Using your breadth of knowledge about best practices in public engagement and relationship building, you will support project teams in the planning, implementing, analysis, reporting and evaluation of public engagement processes. You will succeed in this role if you approach challenges with a curious, tenacious and service-minded attitude. Here are some of the key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic advice and guidance on public engagement best practices, frameworks, policies, tools, and techniques to project/program teams, branches, and business areas, including decision-makers at various levels
• Collaborate with the Senior Public Engagement Advisor to develop public engagement strategies and plans based on research and stakeholder knowledge
• Support the development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of digital engagement tactics
• Utilize project management to identify strategies, action plans, resource requirements, and timelines for public engagement
• Manage engagement event details, including documentation, space planning, logistics, and invitations
• Facilitate and participate in engagement events
• Implement strategies to manage stakeholder and participant concerns, mitigate issues, and navigate a range of public and stakeholder emotions
• Gather, analyze, and report on input collected during engagement activities
• Monitor, report, and evaluate participation in and participant experience of public engagement activities
• Work collaboratively with clients to understand their engagement needs and priorities
• Oversee procurement and/or manage and evaluate consultant teams, ensuring consistency and contract compliance
• Utilize consistent corporate processes and procedures to capture diverse points of view and support the creation of communication materials for engagement
• Research, implement best practices, and test new engagement techniques
• Participate in the development of policies, processes, and tools to support common and consistent engagement activities across the City
• Identify and understand complex and sensitive public issues that may impact engagement strategies and the City's reputation
• Support relationship building and collaboration with community organizations, including facilitating or participating in public meetings or liaising with other City departments
  
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences, Community Development, Planning, Communications or Public Relations, or a related field
• A minimum of five years of experience in the design and delivery of public engagement processes and strategy, including understanding of the theory, best practices and application of public engagement, and data analysis and reporting. An equivalent combination of work and other experiences will be considered
  
  
  

Assets:

• International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) or other formal training in public engagement
• Experience planning and delivering engagement events; facilitation experience
  
  
  

Skills required for success:

• Ability to work respectfully, collaboratively and strategically in large, cross-functional teams
• Ability to develop trust and take initiative in a complex, high pressure environment
• Experience in facilitating meetings and workshops with a demonstrated ability to leverage strong relational and project management skills to work with internal and external groups
• Experience with inclusive approaches to engagement (e.g., Gender Based Analysis+)
• Experience managing and evaluating consultant teams
• Experience analyzing and summarizing data as well as writing reports
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Proficient in using Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Meet; an aptitude for learning other software
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies ( https://bit.ly/4brRrXm )
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion.
  
  
  

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants may be tested
  
  
  

The City of Edmonton values applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourages you to apply. We strive to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected] . Learn more about our benefits https://bit.ly/COEbenefits

Up to 2 temporary full-time positions for up to 11 months

Hours of Work : 40 hours per week. Monday-Friday.

Salary : $40.727 - $51.131 (Hourly)

Salary ranges are in the process of being updated in accordance with the recently ratified collective agreement between the City and CSU 52 and will be forthcoming shortly.

Talent Acquisition Consultant : AG/VH