Outreach Professional

Job Description

UTILITIES DIVISION - OUTREACH PROFESSIONAL


PG 19 - NON EXEMPT - $29.99HR - $44.98HR.


Employee Benefits

• Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• FRS Retirement
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Education Incentives
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Wellness Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Employee Gym
• Free Employee Health Clinic

Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts,
responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:

The Utilities Division is responsible for public health and safety, as well as safeguarding the
environment, by providing crucial safe water and wastewater services. This position is part of the
team that provides services necessary for human health, economic stability, and overall societal
well-being. At the core of the mission of providing these services includes commitment to providing
excellent customer service to our citizens, business partners, regulatory agencies, and other
county divisions.

MAJOR FUNCTION


This is responsible, professional work focused on educating internal and external customers, community partners, and stakeholders about utility services and programs. The position identifies customer and utility needs, coordinates initiatives such as irrigation restrictions and reuse concerns, and promotes understanding of utility operations. The role requires building strong relationships and fostering effective communication between the utility, the public, and partner organizations to inform, educate, and address community issues. Strong written and verbal communication skills, along with the ability to engage diverse audiences, are essential.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES
The employee will be responsible for engaging the public and promoting awareness of utility programs and services. Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Developing and implementing outreach programs to educate the public about the Utilities Division's products and services.
• Interacting with customers, community groups, and stakeholders to address inquiries, concerns, and to encourage participation in utility programs, including promoting the safety of drinking water and reclaimed water.
• Creating and distributing educational materials (e.g., brochures, presentations, online resources) in coordination with Communications to inform the public about utility services, programs, industry changes, and challenges.
• Organizing and facilitating workshops, classroom presentations, school tours, and community events to promote hands-on learning and encourage sustainability awareness.
• Promoting utility updates, services, policies, and initiatives to the public and stakeholders.

• Tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of outreach programs and recommending improvements.
• Collaborating with County staff, community organizations, and government agencies to achieve outreach objectives.
• Developing a master calendar of public events for Division-wide customer relations and water resource protection activities.
• Preparing reports for the Water Conservation Supervisor and Utilities management regarding decision-making needs and potential policy changes.
• Representing Polk County Utilities (PCU) at regulatory and public meetings, conferences, and seminars, as a participant or presenter, and providing sworn testimony and evidence in court hearings as required.
• Providing targeted program updates, including coordinating with the Communications Division on blog posts, press releases, and social media content, to funding agencies and customers to highlight program success.
• Performing related duties as assigned.
Work Conditions
• This position requires both field and office work, including significant tasks outside of regular business hours (early mornings, evenings, and weekends) to support events, regulatory schedules, and operational needs.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; able to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, critical thinking, and attention to detail while addressing county-wide priorities.
• Maintains professionalism, objectivity, and composure in all situations.
• Knowledge of water resource management principles, utility operations, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Understanding of water and wastewater system operations, quality assurance sampling, safety standards, and laboratory protocols.
• Ability to interpret and apply statutes, regulations, and ordinances to ensure program and regulatory compliance.
• Skilled in planning, supervising, and supporting professional and technical staff to promote performance and morale.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with officials, staff, and the public.
• Experience preparing budgets and adhering to County financial policies and procedures.
• Proficient in analyzing, interpreting, and presenting field and laboratory data.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams); preferred experience with Customer Information System (CIS) Infinity, Lucity CAM, HachWIMS, Simplify I3, and PowerBI.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Must have valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida Driver's License within 30 days of employment.
• Bachelor's degree in public administration, civil or environmental engineering, physical geography, geology, environmental studies, natural science, or a closely related field
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in utility conservation, public outreach, grant writing, and/or communications.
• A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
• This position is subject to standby and/or call out for emergencies.

All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.