Manager, Public Involvement

Manager, Public Involvement

Salary

$96,512.00 - $156,624.00 Annually

Location

Metro Bronze line Project Office, Saint Paul MN, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2026-00227

Division

Metro Transit

Opening Date

06/24/2026

Closing Date

7/8/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Manager, Public Involvement will serve as the METRO Bronze Line bus rapid transit project's programmatic manager for outreach, communications and consultant staff and be a member of the project leadership team. The position will lead and provide daily work directions to interagency community outreach and engagement staff allocated from two public agencies (Metro Transit and Ramsey County). The position will manage a contract, procured by Ramsey County, providing strategic communications, public outreach and engagement, and community relations consultant services for the project.

This position will be the unifying face of the project to stakeholders and public; and implement the strategic communications and public involvement plans; and plan and coordinate activities such as community focus groups, informational meetings and other events. This position will ensure concerns from stakeholders and the public are heard by transit engineering and design team, roadway engineering and design team, and the environmental team. This position will recommend the public participation category (e.g., inform, consult, involve, collaborate, empower) for each of the public participation opportunities associated with various project elements.

What you would do in this job

• Manage outreach staff including hiring, building, and maintaining a productive and competent workforce in a high stress environment.
• Provide strategic direction to the outreach staff regarding outreach efforts including defining the activities, prioritizing and reviewing documents for consistency with key messages.
• Serve as lead on public meetings such as identifying materials, developing the staffing plan, choreograph the event, serve as emcee.
• Implement, maintain and update project specific outreach plans.
• Report on progress toward achieving goals to Communications for the Communications management team and as part of summary reports to operating divisions and to the public.
• Guide and execute external communications strategy related to public outreach and engagement efforts and ensure communications meet standards for cultural competence, accessibility and public notification requirements.This includes oversight responsibility for social media activities.
• Oversee contracts with service providers such as venues, translators, social media functions, food vendors and others.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following

combinations of experience planning, community engagement, outreach, public policy, public relations, or project management and completed education

(degree field of study in Communications, Planning, Public Policy, journalism, community relations or closely related field):

• High school diploma/GED with nine (9) years of experience including two (2) years of experience in a management, supervisory, or lead role which could include time as a trainer, mentor, or providing work direction to others.
• Associate degree with seven (7) years of experience, including two (2) years of experience in a management, supervisory, or lead role which could include time as a trainer, mentor, or providing work direction to others.
• Bachelor's degree or higher with five (5) years of experience, including two (2) years of experience in a management, supervisory, or lead role which could include time as a trainer, mentor, or providing work direction to others.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Preferred experience in working on bus rapid transit projects in Ramsey County
• Preferred experience overseeing consultant activities and deliverables.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Background and experience in successfully implementing proactive public involvement and outreach strategies that engage a diverse community.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in effectively hiring, building, and maintaining a productive and competent workforce in a high stress environment.
• Ability to communicate and work well with others across department lines at all levels, including those that are technically oriented.
• Ability to communicate and work well with the public including residents, businesses, non-profits, historically underrepresented communities, and advocacy groups.
• Commitment to promoting diversity within the department and working with diverse community within the seven-county region.
• Understanding of and experience in working in a complex, multi-functional service department committed to the on-time, cost-effective delivery of projects.
• Ability to self-manage time and assignments, work under pressure, provide quality work product and meet tight deadlines while juggling multiple tasks.
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, which includes attending meetings in the evening and weekends.
• -Understanding of the political process and working with government entities, outside boards and general public
• Knowledge of transit and transportation principles.
• Knowledge of plain language principles.

The responsibilities listed are typical of the

positions included in the job classification; however, not all duties are

necessarily performed by each specific position. Reasonable accommodations may

be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties

of the position. Regular attendance is an essential responsibility.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We request your Work Record Evaluation (ATU employee only).
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above,

then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan

Council, you must pass a drug test

(safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies

education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check

and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal

conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers

felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis,

based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has

demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the

Metropolitan Council, you must pass a

drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive

position) and criminal background check if the job youre applying for is

safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance,

Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to

financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.

A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to

the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold

information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity,

Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to

a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages

persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with

disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires an accommodation

during the selection process, please emailHR-CCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

Additional information

Union/Grade: TMSA Grade I

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

Work Environment: Work is usually performed in a standard office setting but will require travel between primary work site to other sites periodically.

The responsibilities listed are typical of the positions included in the job classification; however, not all duties are necessarily performed by each specific position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position. Regular attendance is an essential responsibility.

We believe our employees are a key to our agencys success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

.

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important that your application shows all relevant education and experience you possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume." Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

How did you first hear about this job opening?

• CareerForce Center
• Community Event/Organization
• Employee Referral
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Metro Transit Bus Advertisement
• X (formerly known as Twitter)
• Website: governmentjobs.com
• Website: metrocouncil.org
• Website: metrotransit.org
• Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com
• Other

03

If you selected Other, please describe where you first heard about this job. if you selected Employee Referral please enter the employees first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

Please mark the options that best describe your experience related to the Manager, TSD Public Involvement position, check all that apply.

• BRT and related planning/design projects
• Community engagement
• Communications
• Project Management
• Working with diverse workforces
• Working with diverse communities
• Leading or facilitating meeting and training
• Working with community-based organizations, non-profit, or similar non-government organizations
• None of the above

05

Describe your experience planning outreach processes in Ramsey County or for BRT projects.

06

Describe your lead or direct supervisory experience such as training, mentoring, providing work direction, providing performance feedback, or managing/leading others through processes, including providing consultants work direction. If you do not have this experience, please type "None".

07

The Metropolitan Council recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative tools are increasingly used in application processes. While the Council permits the use of AI to assist in the preparation of application materials, all applicants must certify the following statement:

• I affirm that all information provided in my application including any uploaded documentation is true and accurate. I further affirm that I have personally reviewed, verified, and approved all content, including any content generated with the assistance of AI. I will provide all interview responses directly and in real-time without unauthorized assistance. I will not use AI avatars, external assistance in answering including computer-generated suggestions, or any recording and transcription tools during the interview process unless I have received prior approval from Human Resources for a disability-related reasonable accommodation.

08

Tell me about your experience working with minority and/or cross-cultural communities.

Required Question

Employer Metropolitan Council

Address 390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website https://metrocouncil.org