Government & Community Affairs Officer, School Liaison

The Government & Community Affairs Officer, School Liaison is responsible for planning and organizing the outreach and engagement efforts in support of the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), as well as the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA).  This position serves as a key point of contact for schools, school districts, community colleges, youth-serving organizations, and community partners. The role focuses on strengthening relationships with education-sector stakeholders, supporting student ridership initiatives, communicating information about transit services and programs throughout San Mateo County, conducting on-site engagement, and helping to resolve school-related service concerns in coordination with internal departments.

Examples of Essential Functions: 

• Act as liaison to school, school district and community college administration, parent groups and youth-serving organizations on transit and transportation services, student ridership, and SamTrans products.
• Gather, document, and summarize qualitative and quantitative feedback from students, parents, school administrators and community members, working with GCA Program Manager to implement new outreach tactics and partnerships based on feedback. 
• Monitor school-oriented service issues and concerns, including schedule coordination, crowding, safety, student rider behavior, and service reliability; coordinate with internal departments to develop responses and support issue resolution.
• Work directly with school, school district, and community college administrators to understand transportation needs, communicate agency updates, and support timely resolution of service-related questions or concerns.
• Create, review, edit, and present external communications including presentations, newsletters, parent communications, talking points, and emails to school and stakeholder group leadership including School Board meetings and other events. 

• Assist with the planning and execution of robust, inclusive, and broad-based outreach and engagement efforts for strategic planning, capital, and policy initiatives for SamTrans and SMCTA as needed.

• Coordinate with school administration to collect accurate information on school bell times; work with internal teams to support route timing and service coordination.
• Identify, track and assist in resolving issues that may impact student riders including those raised by external parties and internal operational needs. 
• Plan and execute annual countywide school leadership meeting with SamTrans, coordinate with the County Office of Education, agenda development, presentation materials and follow-up items. Help deliver presentation and answer questions.  
• Coordinate school communications and engagement schedules, including outreach calendars, deliverables, contact lists, stakeholder follow-up, and coordination with marketing, social media, website, and media relations staff as appropriate.
• Serve as a liaison between Bus Operations, Safety and Security, Customer Service, and schools/school districts in school-oriented route and student rider related matters.        
• Draft, write, review, and edit public-facing materials, including webpages, presentations, fact sheets, FAQs, project updates, newsletters, and correspondence, ensuring accuracy, clarity, consistency, accessibility, and alignment with agency messaging.
• Represent Government and Community Affairs on cross-functional teams; track action items, deliverables, schedules, and follow-up items.
• Give public presentations on agency projects to agency committees and outside stakeholder groups, such as parent teacher organizations, advocacy groups, and other school or student focused boards and committees.
• Maintain Government and Community Affairs distribution lists, school contact databases, stakeholder records, and related engagement documentation.
• Coordinate and staff outreach activities and events at schools and other locations to promote SamTrans services, products and programs. 

• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect oneself, fellow employees, and the public from injury or harm. Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Political Science, Journalism, Planning, Public Policy, or relevant field.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience in government and community affairs, community engagement, public outreach, communications, public relations, education, nonprofit, advocacy, political campaigns, community organizing, student/youth groups, or related work supporting stakeholder engagement, public information, events, or policy and program initiatives. 
• Able to work a flexible schedule (occasional nights and weekends as required).
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs. with the use of assisted technology

• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and follow-up tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Experience supporting public outreach, stakeholder engagement, or communications for public agencies, transportation, infrastructure, planning, or construction projects.
• Experience writing and editing public-facing materials such as fact sheets, FAQs, presentations, website content, notices, and stakeholder correspondence.
• Experience interacting professionally with community members, elected officials, advocacy organizations, local jurisdictions, and partner agencies.
• Experience speaking in public and responding professionally to questions in community or stakeholder settings.
• Experience with Mailchimp, or similar software.
• High level of comfort with using digital tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, database programs, website updates, slide deck creation, and email blast programs.

The selection process may include a panel interview, written and skills test assessments, or supplemental questions.  Only those candidates who are the most qualified will continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to continue in the process.      

How to Apply

• Complete an online employment application by 11:59 p.m. of the listed closing date.  Resumes and cover letters will not be accepted in lieu of fully completed applications.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that applications are completed with all relevant information (experience, education, certifications, licenses, references and/or other information). 

• The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request.  If you have a need for an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department.   

• We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace environment.  We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.  Minorities, Women, Persons with Disabilities and Veterans are encouraged to apply.