Chief External Affairs Officer

The Chief External Affairs Officer provides leadership and strategic direction for the District's regional partnerships and economic development, government affairs, customer service, internal and external communications, marketing, and community engagement functions. This position develops, plans, and sets agency strategy, policy, priorities, and budgets for the above areas. Coordinates TriMet's efforts to demonstrate transparency by establishing channels for effective two-way communication with TriMet employees, other stakeholders, partners, the public, and the media.

Serve as a good steward of TriMet by regularly utilizing our transit system to maintain a strong and current understanding of customers' experiences and TriMet's product and service offerings. Provide recommendations to ensure a safe, and dependable customer experience in our transit system.

The incumbent must have the ability to work any days, hours, or shifts as required by the District. They must be available to respond to emergencies and be on-call 24/7 as it relates to functions within the division.

Ensure a commitment to safety through consistent and professional behaviors in performance of job requirements. Safety is a fundamental value that guides all aspects of our work. Perform related duties as required.

Serve as a good steward of TriMet and maintain a strong and current understanding of customers’ experiences and of TriMet’s product and service offerings. Reliable in-person attendance is an essential function of all positions.

TriMet is an in-person first organization, with a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration, customer service, and safe and efficient operations. Some positions may be able to work up to two days remotely depending on department policy, business needs, and manager discretion.

To learn more about TriMet and Portland, TriMet & Portland Brochure.

1. Provides leadership and strategic direction for the government relations function. Develop strategy recommendations and implement actions related to legislation to support TriMet services. Provides leadership over the agency's federal, state and local legislative program, funding and revenue advocacy efforts, and lobbyists. Works with elected officials and agencies at all levels of government, fulfilling policy and legislative and intergovernmental initiative and objectives. Collaborates with TriMet Board and other executives to actively participate in the development and implementation of the strategic legislation and governmental relations plans and programs for the agency. Keep the General Manager, Board, and executives apprised of legislatives updates.
2. Provides oversight for advancing the agency's regional influence, economic development initiatives, and external partnerships and relationships with all levels of government, businesses organizations and economic development agencies to support the agency's mission, enhance mobility, and drive regional growth.
3. Provide leadership over the identification of funding and revenue opportunities for the agency and keep the agency apprised of federal and state legislative updates as it relates to funding.
4. Lead the partnerships function to build coalitions and establish TriMet as a trusted partner; conduct an evaluation of the impacts/results of such strategies and recommend new approaches as needed. This includes the design, development, production, and distribution of materials to educate partners on the issues and opportunities facing TriMet.
5. Provide leadership and strategic direction to TriMet's community outreach programs to support TriMet services and enhance ridership. Establish and maintain effective internal and external coordination and communication with all participants in the District's business and programs, including government officials and neighborhood groups. Provide guidance to TriMet's implementation and evaluation of transit practices that fosters community engagement throughout TriMet's multi-modal system.
6. Provide leadership and strategic guidance to the communications, marketing and customer experience departments, to promote positive, informative, and timely interactions with employees, media channels, and others in the community, and to promote TriMet programs to expand ridership and corporate fare programs.
7. Develop, control, monitor, and approve budgets and operational forecasts for division, including capital expenditures, labor resources, and materials and supplies (M& S); accountable for monitoring own department. Identifies opportunities for containing costs, and may be responsible for increasing revenue. Accountability for budget includes direct reports’ monitoring.

A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree is required.

A Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, or Communication is preferred.

A minimum of twelve (12) years total credited experience. *

Ten (10) years of experience in public relations, governmental relations, communications and policy development are required.

Seven (7) years of experience with an emphasis on multi-modal public transportation or similarly complex public or private organizations are required.

Five (5) years of management experience are required.

Or any equivalent combination of training or experience.

*The amount of credit a candidate receives for prior years of experience is based on the relevancy of that experience to the required or preferred prerequisites of the job description. Experience is prorated based on hours worked. LRHR assigns and validates the "credited experience".

Type of Position / Grade / FLSA

Grade 26, Exempt, Non-Union, Full-Time

Salary Range

Minimum: $233,346.00

Maximum: $350,020.00

Salary offers will be determined by a candidate's education, training and relevant experience. Any final offer of employment will fall within the range stated above. For transparency, we choose to list the full available grade range, however, TriMet's salary administration process will ultimately determine the final salary offered.

Selection Process

1. Application Review (please include: Cover Letter and Resume)
2. Panel Interviews
3. Reference Check and Degree Verification

Supplemental Information

Make sure you describe in detail how your education, training and work experience fit with this role. You are encouraged to attach a resume, cover letter, training certificates and/or letters of recommendation with your application. You are permitted five attachments of less than 5MB each.

Internal applicants: Information in your personnel file will not be used in lieu of information requested on your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you are a qualified veteran and would like to apply for veterans' preference points, you will need to reflect your status on the application and attach supporting documentation at the time of application submission.

If you need accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any part of the application process, contact our Human Resources staff at View phone number on click.appcast.io, or the TTY line at 7-1-1. Note that we require a minimum of two workdays' notice prior to the need for accommodation.

TriMet is an equal opportunity employer, committed to developing an organization that is reflective of and sensitive to the needs of the diverse community we serve, including veterans, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement

As applied to the workplace, applicants and employees must be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions may include required job functions performed infrequently as well as production standards related to the quality and quantity of work.

If a person with a disability could meet job qualifications with a reasonable accommodation, TriMet will work with the employee to accommodate the need. If TriMet's accommodation is effective in allowing the employee to perform the essential functions of the job, it need not be the employee's preferred accommodation.