Public Engagement Specialist

Communities everywhere share the need for clean water. And as they work to meet that need, they’re facing new, more complex challenges every day. Our water professionals collaborate to contribute innovative ideas, guided by scientific rigor and a vision for sustainable growth. Every day, we’re helping communities improve, reuse, and protect our world’s most precious resource.Join our team to deliver transformational projects that will benefit future generations. Grow with us, H2O+U.Your OpportunityStantec’s Sacramento C Street office is seeking a Public Policy and Engagement Specialist to join our team working on integrated water management projects in the Western United States. This is a role for a talented and entrepreneurial individual with experience focused on facilitating multi-party collaborative processes, outreach and engagement, program and contract management, and water resources planning and management. The selected candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team of public policy, planning, and engagement professionals, each committed to delivering sound and strategic consulting services to a range of local, regional, state, and federal clients.Your Key ResponsibilitiesThis position is an external client-facing position with our Public Affairs team. Your key responsibilities include:Coordinate and collaborate with community members, clients, project managers, project engineers and staff, regulatory agencies, and subcontractors to create effective public policy.Prepare initial assessments and communications plans, facilitate meetings, serve as a trusted advisor and drive collaborative solutions.Lead preparation and facilitation of in-person and virtual public and agency meetings focused on complex water resource topics. Includes collaboration with internal and client teams on preparation of client exhibits, public presentations, and plan documents for online and hard copy publication.Present and communicate technical and policy analyses to diverse audiences, adapting messaging in real time to meet audience needs and ensure understanding.Leverage experience with local, regional, state and/or federal agency staff and elected officials about topics including water resources, environmental justice, watersheds, water-related infrastructure, applicable laws/policies/regulations.Participate in multi-disciplinary teams of technical experts to develop outreach and education materials tailored to the specific information needs of various audiences and communities to be engaged on complex water and environment topics.Prepare and implement educational components through proactive steps to deliver information matched to the needs, learning styles and most used language of the target audience.Manage projects from planning through delivery, overseeing scope, budget, schedules, and client communications to ensure successful outcomesPerform other duties as assigned.Your Capabilities and CredentialsStrong familiarity with California water challenges associated with water supply, water management and environmental stewardship.Experience with facilitating multi-party collaborative processes.Strong interpersonal abilities for working in diverse team environments with staff, clients, and interested parties.Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.Self-starter capable of efficiently and proactively working independently as well as with a geographically dispersed team on multiple projects simultaneously.Ability to translate technical material into language that is clear and digestible for a range of diverse audiences.Excellent skills in inclusive community engagement using a variety of tools and techniques suited to a variety of communities and audiences.Strong commitment to team success by supporting team members, sharing responsibilities, and contributing to achieve collective goals.Working knowledge of and interest in state and federal government organizational structure, budgeting/reporting, and types of services they provide.Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Pro and other business systems required.Willing to travel as needed. Travel may be up to 25%.Must have a good driving record and valid driver’s license.Education and ExperienceA minimum of six years of experience supporting communities, agencies, and policy makers with engagement, education, and decision-making related to water, natural resources, utilities, or similar.Master’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in journalism, public relations, environmental studies, communications, political science, English, or a closely related field.Excellent written and oral communication skills with a demonstrated ability to adapt to different audiences.Experience leading and managing inter-disciplinary teams and facilitating large, complex processes.Strong interpersonal and entrepreneurial abilities and a proven track record for working independently was well as part of a diverse team of staff, clients, and interested parties.Typical office environment working with computers and sitting at a desk for long periods of time. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.Pay Range:• Locations in CO, HI, IL, MD & Various CA, NJ, VA Areas-$96,100.00 - $139,400.00 AnnuallyPay Transparency: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.Benefits Summary: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreementsPrimary Location: United States | CA | SacramentoOrganization: BC-1840 Water-US PacificEmployee Status: RegularManagement Level: Individual contributorBusiness Justification: New PositionTravel: NoSchedule: Full timeJob Posting: 13/10/2026 03:10:16Req ID: 1007921Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.