Community Engagements Lead

Location: Houston, TX

Job Title

Community Engagements Lead

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service

Department

Disaster Resilience & Recovery

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Houston, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University

• Texas A&M Forest Service

• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

About Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR)

The Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR) unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service plays a vital role in supporting communities across all 254 Texas counties as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. As an integral part of the Texas A&M System’s Keeping Texas Prepared initiative and the National Extension Disaster Education Network, DAR is at the forefront of disaster education and community resilience.

Working with DAR means being part of a collaborative and mission-driven team dedicated to empowering Texans through credible, research-based information and hands-on assistance. Our specialists lead damage assessments, coordinate emergency animal sheltering, provide critical resources, and deliver educational workshops on disaster preparedness and recovery, all while partnering directly with local, state, and national agencies during times of need.

If you are passionate about public service, community education, and making a difference when Texans need it most, consider joining DAR. Together, we help individuals, families, and entire communities reduce risks, recover quickly, and build resilience for the future.

Click here to learn more about joining AgriLife!

Position Information

The Community Engagements Lead, under general supervision, plans, coordinates, and executes communications and engagement activities supporting CHARM products and initiatives within the DAR Mitigation Branch. Serving as a working lead for a small communications group, this position provides day-to-day direction while actively contributing to engagement campaigns, content development, digital communications, and community engagements such as workshops, trainings, and product demonstrations. The role requires strong project management, organizational, and communication skills, and works closely with CHARM product leadership, internal technical and program teams, external partners, and community stakeholders. This position may also support additional DAR Mitigation Branch communications and engagement priorities as needs and capacity allow.

Responsibilities:

• Plans, coordinates, and executes communications and engagement projects primarily supporting CHARM products and initiatives.
• Turns product and program priorities into project plans, schedules, assignments, and deliverables. Tracks progress, follows up on outstanding work, and helps resolve issues that could affect deadlines or completion.

• Creates, edits, and coordinates communications materials, including presentations, reports, briefings, web content, announcements, newsletters, outreach materials, marketing collateral, and event materials.

• Works with the content writer, graphic designer, product team, planners, and technical staff to develop clear and accurate written and visual communications for different audiences.

• Plans and coordinates conferences, exhibits, product demonstrations, webinars, stakeholder meetings, and other CHARM engagement opportunities, including event logistics, materials, staffing, procurement, travel, and follow-up. This may require transport, set up, and break down of workshop, exhibit, and outreach equipment and materials including displays and presentation/AV equipment.

• Partners with the Community Planning Team Lead to plan and coordinate CHARM workshops and community engagements, including schedules, participant communications, materials, staffing, technology needs, logistics, and follow-up.

• Maintains project schedules, communications and engagement calendars, and task boards. Uses Jira or similar tools to assign work, tracks deliverables and deadlines, identifies dependencies, and keeps the team informed of project status.

• Serves as a working lead for assigned communications staff by setting priorities, coordinating assignments, providing feedback and support, and taking an active role in completing the work.

• Translates technical or complex information into communications that are understandable and useful to communities, government partners, sponsors, professional audiences, and other stakeholders.

• Maintains CHARM web and digital content using WordPress or similar platforms and ensures communications follow Texas A&M AgriLife branding and accessibility requirements, in coordination with MarComm as necessary.

• Coordinates communications and engagement work with consultants, vendors, sub-awardees, partners, and other contributors, including timelines, deliverables, and follow-up.

• Supports budgets, purchasing, procurement, and expense tracking associated with conferences, workshops, communications, and other engagement activities.

• Builds productive relationships with community partners, agencies, professional associations, and other stakeholders and represent CHARM at meetings, workshops, demonstrations, conferences, and other activities as needed.

• Attends occasional evening meetings and overnight travel as required.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public affairs, marketing, project management, or a related field.

• At least five years of professional experience in communications, project management, stakeholder engagement, public outreach, marketing, event coordination, or related work.

• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage projects, coordinate contributors, manage deadlines, and follow work through to completion.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to take initiative and manage multiple projects and changing priorities.

• Strong verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills and the ability to professionally represent programs and products with partners and stakeholders.

• Experience coordinating events, workshops, conferences, stakeholder engagements, or similar activities.

• Strong writing and editing skills, including the ability to translate technical or complex information into clear communications for different audiences.

• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and coordinate work across people with different areas of expertise.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

• Ability to learn and effectively use project management, content management, and collaboration platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading or supervising communications, content, design, engagement, or project staff.

• Experience using Jira, Confluence, or similar project management platforms.

• Experience working with federal, state, or local government agencies or clients.

• Experience in community planning, hazard mitigation, emergency management, resilience, public outreach, or a related field.

• Experience planning or supporting community workshops, conferences, demonstrations, exhibits, or other public or stakeholder engagements.

• Experience using WordPress or a similar content management system.

• Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design and content development tools.

Other Requirements:

• May require lifting and transporting workshop and outreach equipment weighing up to 30 pounds, which may include extended bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and squatting.
• May require extended communication with visitors, stakeholders, and employees in person, by telephone, or electronically.
• May require occasional travel, including overnight stays.
• May require operating computers and high-definition screens for extended periods.

What you need to Know

Salary: Compensation is commensurate with candidate qualifications.

Position Funding:

This position is funded through grants or contracts. Continued employment is dependent upon ongoing funding and satisfactory job performance.

Location:

This position is located in Houston (Clear Lake), TX

Flexible Work Arrangements:

This position requires an on-site presence and is not fully remote. Flexible work schedules and limited partially remote work options may be available, depending on the nature of the role and employee eligibility, in accordance with AgriLife Alternate Work Location Procedures. Remote work arrangements are limited to U.S.-based locations only.

Sponsorship:

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.

Benefits and Leave:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance (AgriLife contributes to premiums)

• 12–15 annual paid holidays

• Up to 8 hours/month sick leave and at least 8 hours/month vacation

• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Employee Wellness Initiative

• Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs

How to Apply

Applications must include all job application data or a complete resume. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Applicants are encouraged to upload a resume or use LinkedIn to prepopulate application fields.

Required Documents:

• CV / Resume

• Cover Letter

• List of References (3 Professional)

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.