Public Engagement & Outreach Lead - VA/WV

The Public Engagement & Outreach Lead executes the planning and delivery of meaningful, inclusive, and transparent engagement for electric transmission projects. This role builds relationships with communities, landowners, public officials, agencies, Tribal representatives, environmental justice communities, and other stakeholders throughout project planning, permitting, construction, and closeout.

Due to projects being mostly situated in Virginia and West Virginia, preference of location is there. Otherwise, the role is available to states: Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina too.

The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgment, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across engineering, environmental, regulatory, real estate, legal, and stakeholder-engagement disciplines.

Core functions of the job may include:

• Develop and implement public engagement and stakeholder outreach plans for electric transmission projects.

• Coordinate open houses, workshops, public hearings, community meetings, site visits, and other outreach activities.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with landowners, community groups, municipalities, regulators, elected officials, Tribal entities, and partner organizations.

• Prepare stakeholder materials, including presentations, fact sheets, newsletters, meeting notices, FAQs, web content, comment forms, and other project communications.

• Assist with venue selection, invitations, registrations, accessibility, logistics, staffing, materials, and documentation for engagement events.

• Explain project purpose, routing, schedule, potential impacts, benefits, and mitigation approaches in clear, accessible language.

• Collect, document, track, and summarize stakeholder questions, concerns, and feedback.

• Maintain accurate outreach records, contact lists, issue logs, commitments, and engagement metrics.

• Coordinate with project managers, engineering, environmental, permitting, real estate, regulatory, and construction teams.

• Support compliance with applicable public participation, environmental review, and permitting requirements.

• Identify emerging stakeholder issues and recommend timely, practical response strategies.

• Promote culturally appropriate, equitable, and accessible engagement practices, including outreach to historically underserved communities.

• Assist with preparing responses to comments and developing project communications that reflect agency and community input.

Primary responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction for engagement on complex, high-profile, or multi-jurisdictional transmission projects.

• Serve as a senior point of contact for significant stakeholder relationships and sensitive community issues.

• Develop comprehensive engagement strategies, escalation approaches, and long-term stakeholder management plans.

• Direct outreach programs that involve multiple communities, agencies, contractors, and internal workstreams.

• Lead major public meetings and facilitate discussions involving competing interests or elevated public concern.

• Advise project leadership on stakeholder sentiment, reputational risk, permitting strategy, and community acceptance.

• Review or direct the preparation of regulatory filings, reports, testimony support materials, and executive-level briefings.

• Establish engagement standards, tools, metrics, and quality-control processes across projects.

• Mentor outreach staff, supervise consultants or employees, and help shape departmental practices.

• Act as a trusted representative of the organization in high-stakes discussions with public officials, community leaders, regulators, and other key stakeholders.

Bachelor's degree in communications, business, public relations, public policy, environmental studies, planning, political science, community development, or a related field (or equivalent relevant experience).

Eight or more years of progressive stakeholder engagement, public affairs, community relations, or communications experience.

Experience with electric transmission, utilities, renewable energy, major infrastructure, or environmental permitting.

Demonstrated success leading engagement strategies for complex, controversial, or highly regulated projects.

Strong facilitation, negotiation, issue-management, and executive communication skills.

Experience directing consultants, leading project teams, or coaching engagement professionals.

Ability to exercise sound judgment independently and represent the organization in sensitive public and regulatory settings.

Valid driver’s license and ability to travel up to 25% of time for site visits, community events, agency meetings, and evening/weekend public events.

Ideally, you'll also have:

• Knowledge of local, state, or federal siting and permitting processes.

• Experience engaging landowners and communities affected by linear infrastructure.

• Experience with environmental justice, equity-focused engagement, or Tribal consultation.

• Familiarity with stakeholder relationship-management databases, GIS-based outreach tools, or survey platforms.

• Ability to communicate in languages commonly used within the project area.

• Experience coordinating with regulatory agencies, municipal governments, or elected officials.

• Due to projects being mostly situated in Virginia and West Virginia, preference of location is there. Otherwise, the role is available to states: Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina too.

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Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.