Specialist, Public Relations

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections!

When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.

RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits

(RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

This position leads a variety of public relations, public information, public outreach and media relations duties, with a focus on external communications.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential:

• Develops plans for external communications, addresses and resolves communications issues; and leads development and implementation of various initiatives and outreach efforts.
• Conceptualizes themes and ideas for implementing external public education and awareness campaigns, and initiates planning and coordination for public relations and outreach activities, meetings and special events. Develops written and video content for the newsroom (News Stop).
• Leads development of collateral materials; researches, writes, edits and distributes collateral materials including content for the intranet; and translates complex concepts and data into understandable communication materials.
• Develops and delivers presentations and tours and represents the organization at neighborhood meetings, public meetings, and other informational meetings.
• Serves as a back-up media spokesperson as needed for transit-related media requests.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with elected officials and business/community leaders to keep them updated and engaged in the organization.

Other:

All other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, public outreach, media relations, communications, public affairs, intergovernmental relations, or a related field with a public agency or private company.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills and the ability to write clear, concise, factual material in an understandable manner. Proficiency in AP writing style.
• Proficiency in basic research techniques and writing and disseminating news releases and other publicity materials.
• Proficiency in media technology and techniques such as advertising, promotion, direct mail, social media and production.
   

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Administration, Political Science, or closely related field.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking and presentation skills.

• Knowledge of public information resources in the Denver Metro area including newspapers, television, radio, social media outlets and publicity materials.

• Ability to efficiently manage time and workload, which includes planning, prioritizing, organizing, and following-through on a variety of tasks, assignments, project, and reports.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

• Ability to use sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule which includes attending evening and weekend meetings as required and being on-call.
  
  OR:
  
  An equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform with or without reasonable accommodation.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and color vision.
• The work environment is a typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues.

CORE COMPETENCIES PROFESSIONAL

SAFETY: Promotes safety as agency’s number 1 priority in decision-making, reporting, learning, mitigation and follow-up. Zero tolerance for unsafe conditions or acts. Promotes continuous improvement of safety culture.

COMMUNICATION (D): good written and verbal communication, organized thought processes, polite and respectful of others, adapts presentations to the audience.

ANALYSIS/PROBLEM SOLVING: thoroughly thinks out and evaluates alternatives, innovative problem resolution, pro-active approach, initiative to resolve problems.

WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT (D): works with little direction and supervision, timely completion of projects, makes time for unplanned assignments, adapts to changing priorities.

ETHICS AND INTEGRITY: perceived fairness; tolerance; honesty; consistent in application of policies and procedures.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

CONCEPTUAL THINKING: applies common sense, theory and experience to decision-making; interprets data for discrepancies and trends, and recognizes subtle patterns; identifies key issues or uses inductive reasoning in complex situations.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION SKILLS: engages an audience, creates interest and excitement while taking the complex and making it simple for effective understanding and learning of the information and message.

CAREER MAP:

Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be:

Senior Specialist, Public Relations

We are considering all applications for this position up until the position close date of 4/16/2025. For consideration, please be sure to apply before the posting end date.

RTD is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless to the race, sex, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. RTD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, promotions, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our Employment ADA Coordinator Kris Frazier at adarequests@rtd-denver.com, or the Talent Acquisition team at rtd.ta@rtd-denver.com. 

 

Pay Range:

$59,796.00 - $84,462.00 Annual

RTD is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy [ https://www.rtd-denver.com/sites/default/files/files/2022-12/EEO%20Policy%20Statement-%20UPDATED.pdf ]

RTD posts a compensation range that represents a good faith estimate of what RTD anticipates paying for the position at the time of posting.  Starting salary is based on the candidate’s relevant and verified education, training and work experience.  Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application.