Community Construction Liaison

MJA is seeking a Community Construction Liaison (CCL) to serve as the day-to-day, on-site point of contact between the agency’s project team and the local community on a public infrastructure construction project in the West Bronx. The CCL ensures clear, consistent, and proactive communication with local residents, small and large businesses, schools, religious institutions, community boards, elected officials, and other stakeholders impacted by construction, and focuses on ensuring two-way communication, minimizing disruptions, and proactively addressing community concerns.

About the Firm

Melissa Johnson Associates, Inc. (MJA) is a WBE/DBE/SBE-certified public relations and communications firm specializing in community outreach and stakeholder engagement for public-sector projects. We help government agencies and their consultants work effectively with stakeholders and the public, with a focus on inclusive, innovative, and community-driven engagement strategies.

Our success is rooted in our reputation for excellence, our demand for innovation, and our commitment to social responsibility. MJA’s portfolio includes some of the most high-profile public projects throughout the Northeast. We engage communities across all phases of transportation, transit, mobility, economic development, housing, and resiliency projects, navigating sensitive issues with skill and care.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-site point of contact for the local community and neighborhood stakeholders throughout construction

• Work collaboratively as part of the project team consisting of engineers, project managers, and construction professionals

• Build and maintain a notification network and up-to-date contact list of residents, businesses, schools, elected officials, city agency staff, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), and other individuals or entities impacted by the project

• Stay up to date on significant community events (school schedules and testing, community activities, religious events, etc.) to ensure that project activity does not conflict with community events

• Conduct outreach to local businesses, residential buildings, and schools to keep the community informed of construction activities

• Review construction lookahead schedules and anticipate upcoming work activities that have community impacts

• Prepare and distribute project communications, including construction notices and bulletins, newsletters, advisories and lookaheads for project-related impacts such as street and lane closures, impacts to bus stops and bus routes, sidewalk closures and detours, parking changes, staging and setup operations, night work, etc.

• Prepare and distribute a project newsletter for physical and electronic distribution

• Respond promptly and professionally to inquiries, complaints, questions, and concerns from residents, businesses, elected officials, and city agencies via phone, email, and in person; refer community members to the appropriate agency or resource when an issue falls outside the project scope

• Maintain a record of all project community outreach efforts, including questions and complaints received by the public

• Observe current construction conditions, activities and progress to identify potential community concerns

• Prepare and submit weekly and daily reports documenting community outreach activities

• Attend regular Community Board (CB) meetings, District Service Cabinet meetings, BID/merchant meetings, and task force and stakeholder meetings

• Attend agency community liaison meetings, typically held at agency headquarters

• Prepare project-related press releases and assist the agency with responses to media inquiries and inquiries from other city agencies

• Create clear, accessible, and visually engaging written and graphic materials for public distribution, aligned with agency standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of experience working in field-centric community outreach activities; OR a high school diploma and significant prior community construction liaison experience

• Professional experience in public relations, community engagement, political science, urban planning, journalism, communications, or advocacy, paired with working knowledge of construction and city government

• Previous experience as a Community Construction Liaison strongly preferred

• Experience working with NYC agencies strongly preferred

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong public speaking and presentation ability

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, work independently, and remain responsive to the project team and community stakeholders

• Comfortable engaging diverse communities, fielding sensitive or difficult questions, defusing conflict, and working with representatives from adjacent city government agencies

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially Word and Excel) and Adobe Acrobat; familiarity with Google Workspace, Dropbox, and SharePoint

• Graphic design skills with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) a plus

• Spanish fluency required

Mobility & Physical Requirements

This is a field-based role that requires daily physical presence and mobility throughout an active construction project area. The CCL must be able to:

• Walk and stand for extended periods and move on foot throughout the project limits

• Conduct door-to-door outreach throughout the local neighborhood

• Travel between the field office, project sites, community meeting venues, and agency offices, including travel within the Bronx and Manhattan

• Carry and distribute outreach materials such as notices, flyers, and newsletters

• Work outdoors in varying weather conditions and in proximity to active construction

• Comply with all site safety requirements, including wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE) when within the project site

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Group medical, dental and vision insurance
• Flexible spending account
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D insurance
• Optional pre-tax commuter benefits
• Optional employee-paid supplemental life insurance
• Lifestyle allowance to support personal well-being
• Professional development opportunities

Work Environment

This is a fully on-site, field-based position. This position does not allow for remote work. The CCL works on-site Monday through Friday at the project field office location in the West Bronx. The schedule may include occasional evening or weekend work to attend community meetings or events.

Salary Range: $79,000-$90,000 annually, based on experience

Applicants

Please send a resume, letter of interest, and writing samples to Kaitlin Magee, Practice Lead-Construction & Design-Build at View email address on click.appcast.io. Selected candidates may be asked to perform a simple job-related task as part of the interview process. The Community Construction Liaison position is an at-will position. Melissa Johnson Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.