Content and Engagement Specialist

Content and Engagement Specialist

Salary

$85,311.42 - $114,400.85 Annually

Location

Metro Regional Center, OR

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

2026-0340-PDR

Department

Planning

Division

Public Involvement - Plan Dev

Opening Date

07/17/2026

Closing Date

8/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Summary

Hello, we're Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Planning, Development and Research department is looking for a Content and Engagement Specialist to develop engaging and relevant content that builds interest in regional policies, long-term plans and investments related to land use, transportation, housing, community development, arts and culture. The content and engagement specialist will join a team of five other communications and engagement specialists who work across the department's many projects and programs.

As the Content and Engagement Specialist you will

• Implement content and storytelling strategies across multiple projects and initiatives that demonstrate the interconnectivity of the issues and elevate a diversity of voices in policy design.
• Identify storytelling and content ideas that resonate with a variety of audiences to support public dialogue about regional policies and investments.
• Create, manage, and optimize content for various platforms and channels (website, social media, newsletters, and informational materials), including managing day-to-day content creation, publishing, and analytics tracking and reporting.
• Distill technical and complex information into relatable, engaging and plain language content.
• Concurrently project manage communications for multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams that include communications, public involvement, planning, program, and technical staff.
• Engage directly with community based organizations, industry representatives, public agencies, and members of the public, especially those historically marginalized, to source, coordinate and collaborate on communications efforts.
• Deliver timely support for communications materials and channels, including proofreading, and website updates, to ensure accuracy and consistency across platforms.

Attributes for success

• Passionate and/or curious about public involvement in local policy-making, planning and public investments with an interest in motivating civic engagement through effective communications and relationships.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to make connections across differences, build rapport, understand what motivates people, and communicate in a way that connects with diverse motivations.
• Strong writer and editor with knowledge of the structure of the English language, rules of composition and grammar, and ability to write plainly and succinctly.
• Demonstrated success engaging audiences through online communications platforms including websites, e-newsletters, social media and content management systems.
• Comfort using design and content editing software, graphics and video.
• Self-motivated to produce high-quality work in a timely fashion.
• Comfortable providing and receiving edits and feedback.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and enjoys connecting with agency partners and community members in-person at events and meetings across the greater Portland region.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro's goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about Metro's Diversity Action Plan

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in political science, business or public administration, public relations, marketing, the behavioral or social sciences or related degree; and
• Five years professional level experience in public relations or affairs; or
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Hybrid Telework

At this time, this position is designated as "hybrid telework." This position is required to come into the office at least day per week and additionally as needed for in-person meetings[MC1] and events. You will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The manager will work with you to identify a schedule that balances the operational needs of the department and your needs. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Previous experience working in political environments, with elected officials and/or with other high level decision-makers.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects with multiple interested parties.
• Multilingual communication skills, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian or other languages commonly spoken in the region.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed Resume that includes the details for each employer

• Name of employer, working title

• Dates of employment; including if the work was full-time or part-time your title,

• Number of employees supervised

• Summary of your responsibilities

• A cover letter describing projects that you've worked on, your specific role, challenges you faced and how you and/or you and your team solved them and the outcomes.

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Reference check

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATION

The full-salary range for this position is step 1: $ 85,311.42 to step 7: $ 114,400.85. However, unless a candidate's qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirementsand Metro's internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1: $ 85,311.42 to the equity range step 4: $ 98,833.71.

This position is not eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME 3580. It is classified as a Senior Public Affairs Specialist.

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.

Questions?

Recruiter: Christina Rentas

Email: christina.rentas@oregonmetro.gov

Additional Information

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Hybrid Telework

Positions designated as "hybrid telework," meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

How to Apply

For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro's "How to apply" page.

Government Jobs

For assistance with your account or to reset your password please visit GovernmentJobs "Help and Support" page.

Metro

Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area's garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.

As part of the Metro family, you play a vital role in serving the people of the greater Portland region.

Family members, including eligible spouses, domestic partners, and children, are covered under most of our benefits programs. Benefits vary depending on position and full-time, part-time, and variable hour status.

This is a budgeted, regular status position with a full-time schedule. The position is eligible for these benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision health insurance
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation, holiday, and other leave
• Paid parental leave
• Full contribution to Oregon PERS retirement
• No-cost TriMet Hop Pass
• Employee Assistance Program
• Training opportunities
• Flexible schedules depending on position and department
• Hybrid/Telework living in Oregon /Washington depending on position and department

Metro also offers a variety of perks for all employees, including free admission to the Oregon Zoo (including ZooLights!), Oxbow and Blue Lake Regional Parks, membership discount at Lloyd Athletic Club, credit union eligibility and more. Employees also receive access to financial wellness and legal consultation services, as well as first-time home buying and ownership counseling.

Learn more about employee benefits.

Some positions are represented by a union and have additional benefits.

View union contracts here.

01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High school diploma or GED
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree or higher
• None of the above

02

If you have a degree, is it in political science, business or public administration, public relations, marketing, the behavioral or social sciences or related degree?

• yes
• no

03

How many years of professional experience do you have in public relations or affairs?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 4 years
• 4 years but less than 5 years
• 5 years but less than 6 years
• 6 years but less than 7 years
• 7 years but less than 8 years
• More than 8 years

Required Question

Employer Oregon Metro

Address 600 NE Grand Ave

Portland, Oregon, 97232

Phone 503-797-1570

Website http://www.oregonmetro.gov