Job Information
Illinois Tollway Community Relations and Outreach Manager in Downers Grove, Illinois
This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more information, please see: https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/12001197
Position Overview
The Illinois Tollway is dedicated to providing and promoting a safe and efficient system of highways while ensuring the highest possible level of service to our customers. Whether it\'s I-PASS, theMove IllinoisProgram, open road tolling or keeping you safe with our H.E.L.P. trucks, we are committed to delivering great benefits and services to customers.
TheTollway is a user-fee system no state or federal tax dollars are used to support maintenance and operations. Operations are funded by toll and concession revenues.
Under the leadership of theBoard of Directors and Executive Staff,the Tollway is committed to achieving the following goals: increase collaboration with regional transportationand planning agencies, promote the regional economy, maintain financial integrity, foster environmental responsibility andsustainability, maintain the safety and efficiency of the Tollway system, further transparency and accountability, enhance customer service, and maintain public trust.
In support of this vision, the position of Community Relations and Outreach Manager is a key position in relation to the Illinois Tollway\'s capital programs, including the current \$15 billion Move Illinois program, and serves as a liaison between both internal and external entities by representing the Tollway at a senior level with community agencies and/ or organizations, regional planning groups, such as Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, as well as with various community councils and individual citizens.
Essential Job Functions
The Community Relations and Outreach Manager reports directly to the Chief of Planning. The Community Relations and Outreach Manager is responsible for supervising the Community Relations Coordinator. The Community Relations and Outreach Manager will work in close coordination with the Land Acquisition Manager, the Intergovernmental Agreement Manager, the Stakeholder Engagement Department as well as key planning personnel at IDOT, and other governmental agencies, counties and communities.
The Community Relations and Outreach Manager\'s main responsibility is to develop an overall outreach plan to help advance the goals and objectives of the Tollway and to represent the Tollway at a senior level with community agencies and/or organizations, regional planning groups, such as Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, as well as with various community councils and individual citizens. This position will serve as a liaison between both internal and external entities and will be responsible for developing and delivering pro-active System-wide community and public relations strategies in order to assist decision-makers in achieving the Illinois Tollway\'s mission and goals, and to keep the various governmental agencies and communities informed about the Tollway\'s accomplishments. They will coordinate closely with the Stakeholder Engagement Department regarding media needs in their community relations efforts and will further advocate the Illinois Tollway\'s activities and services to the various community agencies and/or organizations, and regional planning groups. Successful coordination between governmental agencies, communities and regional planning groups is key in the Tollway\'s effort to find common ground regarding management and funding issues that may impact the Illinois Tollway\'s future growth, land use, infrastructure and transportation issues as related to the agencys capital program.
This position will be required to identify emerging issues, develop and implement new approaches and/or refine the Illinois Tollway\'s approach in coordination with Tollway decision makers to ge erate the desired results as efficiently as possible. This role requires in researching complex issues and developing recommended actions in addition to the ability to prepare informative reports and deliver persuasive, succinct presentations to senior management and elected officials as required.
They will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and disseminating a professional media and community relations strategy, and for ensuring that all appropriate constituencies are adequately informed of community events provided by the Illinois Tollway. This role will further be responsible for conducting in-depth media and public opinion analyses, making policy recommendations, advising Tollway decision makers of emerging trends, and planning strategic responses to potentially adverse media coverage or public opinion in coordination with the Stakeholder Engagement Department.
The Community Relations and Outreach Manager will be responsible for planning and coordinating numerous community events and forums requiring large numbers of participants, including legislative officials, intergovernmental directors/managers and business leaders. They will participate in and lead cross-functional project teams; produce professional written, visual,