Public Policy and Engagement Specialist

Stantec is a global, multi-disciplinary firm that places innovation at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. At Stantec, we thoughtfully approach every water and natural resource project we undertake—whether at the local, regional, or watershed level— and execute it with excellence across all project phases. We partner with our clients and the communities they serve to design fit-for-purpose solutions that reinforce strengths and overcome challenges. Our experts lead their fields and guide our work with scientific rigor, an innovative spirit, and a vision for growth. We’re a place where you can apply your passion and collaborate with top talent on work that’s critical to our clients, our communities, and the industry at large.

Your Opportunity

Stantec’s Water Resources Planning and Management group is looking to hire a Public Participation Consultant to join our team working on integrated water management and safe drinking water projects throughout California. This is a role for a talented and entrepreneurial individual with experience focused on multi-party collaborative processes, community outreach and engagement, and water resources planning and management. The selected candidate will join a team of public affairs and community water planning professionals each committed to delivering sound and strategic consulting services to a range of local, regional, state, and federal clients.

This position is in and will be supervised from our office in Sacramento, California

Your Key Responsibilities

• Leverage and apply your experience with some, or all, of the following: - Integrated water resources planning and management
• Community outreach and engagement
• Facilitation and participatory planning
• Environmental justice
• Water infrastructure
• Strategic communications
• Water policy and governance
• Lead inter-disciplinary teams on water resources projects throughout California and the western U.S.
• Prepare initial assessments and communications plans, facilitate meetings, serve as a strategic advisor and drive collaborative solutions.
• Support planning and assessments for water supply, drought, sanitation, flood control, and environmental restoration projects.
• Coordinate and collaborate with community members, clients, project managers, project engineers and staff, regulatory agencies, and subcontractors to create effective public policy.
• Assist small and at-risk drinking water systems with effective governance and management in service to their communities, and in identifying and implementing long-term solutions to drinking water challenges
• Prepare educational resources with specific learning objectives, instructional materials, and content focused on water and environmental topics, and tailored to various audiences and communities based on their needs, learning styles, and most used language.
• Lead preparation and delivery of presentations for client exhibits, in-person and online community engagement events, public presentations, and plan documents for online and hard copy publication.
• Mentor and supervise younger level staff.
• Serve as an independent reviewer of materials prepared by peers or junior staff to ensure technical accuracy and appropriateness of messaging and content.

Education, Experience, and Credentials

• At least 5 to 8 years of experience supporting communities with engagement, education, and decision-making related to water, natural resources, utilities, or similar.
• Bachelor's degree in environmental management, political science, public relations or communications, water resources planning, city and regional planning/urban planning, environmental science, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a demonstrated ability to adapt to different audiences.
• Self-starter capable of efficiently and proactively working independently as well as with a geographically dispersed team on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong sense of Team. Always willing to step in and take on additional responsibility for the good of the entire Team.
• Strong attention to detail regarding quality deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage projects and teams.
• Demonstrated experience working with disadvantaged communities.
• Willing to travel as needed. Travel may be up to 25%.
• Spanish fluency is a plus.
• Experience in the following subject matter areas preferred, but not required: - California water resources.
• Surface water, groundwater, and recycled water supply projects.
• Drought planning and response.
• Flood management and conveyance.
• Natural resource management and environmental restoration.
• Western U.S. water resources industry, infrastructure and applicable laws, policies, and regulations.
• California Native American Tribes, environmental justice, and disadvantaged communities.

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.

Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other’s’ talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.

Pay Range:

• Locations in CO, HI, IL, MD & Various CA, NJ Areas-$94,300.00 - $136,700.00 Annually

Primary Location: United States | CA | Sacramento

Organization: BC-1840 Water-US Pacific

Employee Status: Regular

Travel: No

Schedule: Full time

Job Posting: 18/11/2025 11:11:54

Req ID: 1003042

Stantec 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.