Summary

Driving a proactive communications and engagement strategy for the premier mobility organization in the Denver region, the Chief Communications and Engagement Officer oversees all strategic communications, media relations, public relations, marketing, and community engagement for RTD.

Description

Please complete the application in its entirety. Include all previous employment so that it may be taken into consideration. Please include a resume attachment with submittal of your application. Resume should document months and years with your dates of employment. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date and time listed.

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections!

When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.

RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits

(RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions

Serve as an integral member of the agency’s Leadership Team to ensure effective collaboration and integration of activities with other agency departments in pursuit of established success outcomes.
Coordinate with the GM/CEO, members of the agency’s 15-member elected board of directors, and staff regarding interactions with the media.
Demonstrate leadership in employee engagement and continuous improvement efforts.
Direct the creation of a comprehensive media strategy to better position the agency in print, online and social media platforms.
Determine and implement measures to support the agency’s strategic priorities, mission, vision, and values in concert with the agency’s board-adopted five-year strategic plan.
Take action to advance the goals of the organization’s equal opportunity and small/disadvantaged/women-owned business enterprise plans.

Key Initiatives

The Chief Communications & Engagement Officer will collaborate with partners throughout RTD to deliver the following strategic initiatives in alignment with RTD’s recent Strategic Plan:

Develop and implement a public relations strategy for RTD.
Develop and implement RTD’s strategy to showcase the value and benefits of RTD to the community.
Enhance RTD’s engagement with diverse audiences.
Enhance and develop internal communications among RTD employees.
Develop and drive strategies to promote and enhance RTD’s brand in the community.
Develop and promote customer service mindset throughout the RTD enterprise.
Drive strategies to grow engagement via RTD’s social media platforms.
Lead customer engagement efforts, including but not limited to the development and monitor the implementation of the Customer Experience and Transit Utilization Plan.
Manage content development, both for the RTD website and in terms of internal- and external-facing deliverables.
Support RTD’s engagement with elected stakeholders.
Develop and implement a plan to increase RTD’s revenue from advertising. Develop systems for receiving and managing requests from the community. Develop systems for managing and tracking customer feedback.
Develop a crisis communication strategy.
Collaborate with cross functional teams to better communicate internal programs and initiatives.
Collaborate with cross functional teams to support external communications for RTD initiatives related to planning, safety, personal security, , transit service delivery, equity, inclusion, and more.

People Power Management

Maintains appropriate staffing levels and reviews progress to ensure the quality and quantity of work meet standards and deadlines for deliverables to meet program goals and objectives.
Recruits staff to include interviewing, hiring, assigning work, training, coaching, and counseling to ensure consistent application of Employee Guidelines, processes, and procedures.
Conducts performance reviews and holds employees accountable for optimal performance of their responsibilities.
Fosters a safety-first culture, prioritizing prevention, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Takes action to advance the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity, Small/ Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Title VI and ADA Plans, thereby ensuring RTD's hiring programs, work environment, contracting and procurement practices, and transit services/programs are fair, equal, and non-discriminatory.

Other:
All other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualification:

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, or related field
Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in communications, public relations, or related.
Minimum of five (5) years of senior leadership experience.
Experience working in a politically sensitive environment (Public Sector, Government, or similar industry experience preferred).

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, or related field preferred

Key Competencies & Characteristics:

Proven ability to develop and drive a communications and engagement culture that is proactive to the community, employees, and customers of RTD.
Proven experience developing and managing communication and engagement strategies for internal and external audiences, with an emphasis on the value RTD delivers to customers and the community.
Proven written and verbal communication skills.
Proven experience to serve as RTD’s spokesperson and be the primary contact for the organization with media, the community, and stakeholders.
Proven ability to engage and build relationships among broad and diverse segments of the community as well as with local and regional media outlets.
Proven experience in the development of outcomes-based marketing and communications campaigns.
Proven experience in the utilization of traditional media, web-based resources, innovative print, publication, advertising, social media, and digital platforms for effective communications and engagement.
Proven ability to develop and drive a proactive public relations and media agenda.
Demonstrated ability and passion for compelling storytelling about the impacts of transit in people’s lives and communities.
Demonstrated experience in team building and organizational alignment to achieve measurable results in a communications and engagement focused team.
Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing innovative approaches to communication and engagement strategies.
Demonstrated experience in implementing and evaluating collaborative, diverse, innovative, and strategic approaches to improving customer care and customer engagement.
Proven experience in developing processes and implementation of crisis related communication strategies.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.

The work environment is a typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues.

CAREER MAP:

Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be:

Deputy CEO

We are considering all applications for this position up until the position close date of 6/10/2026 at 11:59 PM MST. For consideration, please be sure to apply before the posting end date.

Pay Range:

$170,479.00 – $240,801.25 Annual

EEO POLICY AND ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

RTD is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless to the race, sex, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. RTD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, promotions, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our Employment ADA Coordinator Kris Frazier at adarequests@rtd-denver.com, or the Talent Acquisition team rtd.ta@rtd-denver.com.

To learn more or see our EEO policy, please visit our EEO page at: https://www.rtd-denver.com/open-records/reports-and-policies/eeo-policy

RTD posts a compensation range that represents a good faith estimate of what RTD anticipates paying for the position at the time of posting. Starting salary is based on the candidate’s relevant and verified education, training and work experience. Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application.