Public Participation and Engagement Coordinator - TERM

The Opportunity:

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Public Participation and Engagement Coordinator to fill an 18 month full-time term position. This position is responsible for facilitating meaningful ongoing dialogue between citizens, stakeholders, and The City, utilizing the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) model of public participation and The City of Red Deer model. This position is responsible for leading and advising on City public participation and engagement initiatives by working with departments to plan, design, deliver and evaluate public participation strategies and report on outcomes. This position plays a central role in designing and delivering participatory processes resulting in improved decision making. The public participation coordinator utilizes advanced-level knowledge in public participation (IAP2) to establish public participation and engagement programs and build capacity that supports The City as it aims to achieve its priorities and address emerging issues.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Knowledge gained through completing an undergraduate degree in communications, public engagement, public relations, stakeholder relations, or related field, plus a minimum of five years of progressively more complex public participation experience in the public sector. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Hold or be eligible for IAP2 Professional Certification.
• A Certified Public Participation (CP3) designation is preferred.
• IAP2 Licensed Trainer for the Foundations in Public Participation Program is an asset.
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and/or Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) membership and/or accreditation is an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of public participation theory and practice.
• Advanced and extensive facilitation experience in a public setting.
• Advanced knowledge of community and stakeholder relations.
• Advanced knowledge of new and innovative engagement processes, better practices, tools, and techniques. Strategic and systems thinking skills to develop and encourage commitment to new approaches, work within a broadly defined conceptual framework, and manage multiple complex issues.
• Advanced leadership skills and the demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders, external partners, and internal clients.
• Experience cultivating and leveraging strategic partnerships, internal and external. Excellent interpersonal skills, including seeking and establishing relationships, influencing others, negotiating, and building consensus and mediating and resolving disputes. Advanced relationship building skills with a focus on team collaboration, multi-stakeholder relationships and partnership development, internally and externally.
• Advanced problem-solving skills with demonstrated experience synthesizing and interpreting complex concepts and data. Strong conflict management and negotiation skills to balance and mediate conflicting interests and perspectives.
• Advanced project management knowledge supplemented with several years of demonstrable experience. Experience planning, implementing, delivering, and evaluating complex strategies, programs and projects. Strong time management and project management skills to adapt to changing priorities.
• Knowledge of the relationship between public participation and decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality when working with confidential material and subject matter.
• Advanced written, verbal, and visual communication skills with a focus on presenting complex information in plain language that is suitable for identified audiences.
• Knowledge of municipal governance and administrative processes.
• Demonstrated ability to carry through on commitments with precision and ability to attend to detail.
• Digital information management and technology skills including Microsoft Office suite, emerging communication technologies.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills that can be leveraged in sharing information with City Council, senior leadership and the public as it relates to public participation and communications information.
• Ability to approach issues and projects corporately; understanding the need for reputation management throughout all public participation processes.
• Valid Class 5 Alberta driver's license

Affiliation:

Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417

Remuneration:

$43.37 to $45.93 per hour

Hours of Work:

75 hours biweekly; Monday to Friday, ability to work outside of regular working hours, at times, to facilitate public participation program delivery.

Additional Information:

The term of this position is anticipated to be approximately 18 months.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.