Government & Community Affairs Officer, School Liaison

Job Description

General

The Government & Community Affairs Officer, School Liaison is responsible for planning and organizing the outreach and engagement efforts in support of the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), as well as the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA). This position serves as a key point of contact for schools, school districts, community colleges, youth-serving organizations, and community partners. The role focuses on strengthening relationships with education-sector stakeholders, supporting student ridership initiatives, communicating information about transit services and programs throughout San Mateo County, conducting on-site engagement, and helping to resolve school-related service concerns in coordination with internal departments.

Essential Functions & Duties

Examples of Essential Functions:

• Act as liaison to school, school district and community college administration, parent groups and youth-serving organizations on transit and transportation services, student ridership, and SamTrans products.
• Gather, document, and summarize qualitative and quantitative feedback from students, parents, school administrators and community members, working with GCA Program Manager to implement new outreach tactics and partnerships based on feedback.
• Monitor school-oriented service issues and concerns, including schedule coordination, crowding, safety, student rider behavior, and service reliability; coordinate with internal departments to develop responses and support issue resolution.
• Work directly with school, school district, and community college administrators to understand transportation needs, communicate agency updates, and support timely resolution of service-related questions or concerns.
• Create, review, edit, and present external communications including presentations, newsletters, parent communications, talking points, and emails to school and stakeholder group leadership including School Board meetings and other events.

• Assist with the planning and execution of robust, inclusive, and broad-based outreach and engagement efforts for strategic planning, capital, and policy initiatives for SamTrans and SMCTA as needed.

Examples of Duties:

• Coordinate with school administration to collect accurate information on school bell times; work with internal teams to support route timing and service coordination.
• Identify, track and assist in resolving issues that may impact student riders including those raised by external parties and internal operational needs.
• Plan and execute annual countywide school leadership meeting with SamTrans, coordinate with the County Office of Education, agenda development, presentation materials and follow-up items. Help deliver presentation and answer questions.
• Coordinate school communications and engagement schedules, including outreach calendars, deliverables, contact lists, stakeholder follow-up, and coordination with marketing, social media, website, and media relations staff as appropriate.
• Serve as a liaison between Bus Operations, Safety and Security, Customer Service, and schools/school districts in school-oriented route and student rider related matters.
• Draft, write, review, and edit public-facing materials, including webpages, presentations, fact sheets, FAQs, project updates, newsletters, and correspondence, ensuring accuracy, clarity, consistency, accessibility, and alignment with agency messaging.
• Represent Government and Community Affairs on cross-functional teams; track action items, deliverables, schedules, and follow-up items.
• Give public presentations on agency projects to agency committees and outside stakeholder groups, such as parent teacher organizations, advocacy groups, and other school or student focused boards and committees.
• Maintain Government and Community Affairs distribution lists, school contact databases, stakeholder records, and related engagement documentation.
• Coordinate and staff outreach activities and events at schools and other locations to promote SamTrans services, products and programs.

• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect oneself, fellow employees, and the public from injury or harm. Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Political Science, Journalism, Planning, Public Policy, or relevant field.
• Three (3) years of full-time experience in government and community affairs, community engagement, public outreach, communications, public relations, education, nonprofit, advocacy, political campaigns, community organizing, student/youth groups, or related work supporting stakeholder engagement, public information, events, or policy and program initiatives.
• Able to work a flexible schedule (occasional nights and weekends as required).
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs. with the use of assisted technology

Preferred Qualifications:

• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and follow-up tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Experience supporting public outreach, stakeholder engagement, or communications for public agencies, transportation, infrastructure, planning, or construction projects.
• Experience writing and editing public-facing materials such as fact sheets, FAQs, presentations, website content, notices, and stakeholder correspondence.
• Experience interacting professionally with community members, elected officials, advocacy organizations, local jurisdictions, and partner agencies.
• Experience speaking in public and responding professionally to questions in community or stakeholder settings.
• Experience with Mailchimp, or similar software.
• High level of comfort with using digital tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, database programs, website updates, slide deck creation, and email blast programs.

Below is a summary of the comprehensive benefits provided to District full-time employees:

Health and Welfare Benefits:

• Healthcare Benefits -District employees are offered a choice of healthcare providers under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program.The District will contribute ninety (90) percent towards monthly premiums for full-time employees. Fifty (50) percent for part-time employees.
  
• Free Dental and Vision Benefits provided - Employer Covers Premiums
  
• Free Employee Assistance Benefit - Employees are entitled to 5 face-to-face sessions or telephonic or web-video consultations for problem-solving support per incident, per calendar year.
  

• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified Health or Dependent Care expenses.
  

Retirement Medical Benefits:

• Long Term Disability Insurance - After 90 days of total disability, Administrative full-time employees are eligible for 60% of monthly income covered by the District.
  
• Health and Wellness - Gyms located at most work locations and discounted Weight Watcher Membership Option.
  

Holidays and Paid Time Off:

• Paid Time Off - Newly hired employees accrue 6.5 hours bi-weekly when hired (if Exempt 8.25 hours).As you move up in years of service credit, the rate of the amount of PTO accrued will also increase.
  
• Paid Holidays - The District provides seven paid holidays throughout the year - New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
  
• Floating Holidays - District employees can earn up to five (5) floating holidays.
  

Financial Planning Benefits:

• Pension Benefits through CalPERS -You must have a minimum of 5 years of service to be eligible for this pension.
  

• CalPERS PEPRA vs. Classic - All employees hired on, or after January 1, 2013, are considered PEPRA members and will contribute 8% of their salary up to the maximum IRS cut-off. All Classic members will contribute 6%
  
• Deferred Compensation Options - Select to contribute to one or both of our Tax Deferred Compensation Options
  
• Reliance Standard Life Insurance with 100% premium paid by the District - 1 times annual salary of employee - max $200,000
  
• Optional Life Insurance - Employees may purchase additional life insurance for themselves and their eligible family members.
  

Growth and Education Benefits:

• Professional Development - Access to LinkedIn Learning and San Mateo County’s professional training. District Tuition Reimbursement Program - A maximum of $5,250 per year for courses related to your job or career goals with the District.
  
• Computer Loan Program - Interest-free two-year loan with a maximum amount of $2,000.
  

Other Amazing Benefits:

• Credit Union - Employees and family members are eligible to join the San Mateo Credit Union and Patelco Credit Union.
  
• Employee Clean Commute (ECC) - Car/Van poolers and Public Transit riders receive a monthly reimbursement.
  
• Commuter Benefits - Free Employee Parking; Free Bus Pass for employee as well as children/spouse; Clipper Card/Go Pass Program for Central employees.
  

For union employees, all of the above benefits are subject to the employee’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Benefits listed are also subject to change with or without notice and are subject to contract/provider terms and conditions.

Closing Date/Time: 9/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific