Community Affairs Business Partner

The Port of Portland is hiring a Community Affairs Business Partner to support our Trade and Economic Development (TED) work!

As the TED Community Affairs Business Partner, you will serve as a trusted advisor and connector between the Port, businesses, public agencies, community partners, and the communities impacted by our work. You will partner closely with Port leaders and project teams to shape and implement engagement strategies, strengthen relationships with key partners, anticipate emerging issues, and identify opportunities that support economic development and community priorities.

This role will work across a diverse portfolio of Trade and Economic Development projects, helping the Port navigate the intersection of business, government, and community. The position will also collaborate closely with our Outreach and Education staff to deliver meaningful programs, partnerships, and engagement efforts that connect communities to the Port's work and opportunities.

Business Line Support

• Support the implementation of public-private and/or multi-sector initiatives for project teams across assigned division(s), ensuring business, community, and local government perspectives and engagement are integrated early and meaningfully into project planning and decision-making.
• Develops a deep understanding of business-line stakeholders including traded-sector industries.
• Leads the development of strategic engagement plans and approaches for key projects and initiatives.
• Monitors and provides insight on policy and regulatory developments that may affect assigned business-line priorities.
• Leads and supports public-facing engagements such as events, hearings, open houses, and community meetings, including those involving complex or sensitive issues.
• Translates insights into actionable counsel for business-line partners.
• Manages consultants supporting facilitation, outreach, research, translation, and other project-related needs.

• Supports public understanding of the role and impact of the Port of Portland in the region.
• Builds, owns and stewards relationships with community, business, industry, government, and other external partners relevant to Port and business-line priorities.
• Works with community-based organizations, external partners and Port leaders to understand community priorities and identify opportunities to incorporate them into Port initiatives.
• Represents the Port in public venues, on committees, and at other highly visible public events.
• Identifies opportunities for partnerships and multi-sector collaboration that advance Port, community, and shared prosperity objectives.
• Gathers and synthesizes stakeholder feedback, including from communities historically excluded from or disproportionately impacted by Port operations, and brings relevant insights back into organizational planning and decision-making.
• Serves on and actively participates in external councils, coalitions, committees and other regional groups. Serves as a primary point of contact and relationship lead for assigned partners and organizations.

• Supports development, evaluation and continuous improvement of Community Impact programs, practices and tools, including strategic sponsorships, memberships and outreach initiatives..
• Leads and supports trainings, workshops and professional development opportunities for staff and community partners.
• Represents Community Impact on internal councils, committees, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Leads or supports special initiatives that advance shared prosperity goals and objectives.
• Coaches, reviews work, and mentors junior-level staff and interns, as assigned.

• Collaborates with Communications, Government Affairs, Legal & Shared Prosperity to assess emerging community, political and reputational issues, impacts, risks and opportunities, and develop appropriate strategies and responses.
• Ensures engagement strategies and activities appropriately incorporate applicable regulatory, accessibility, civil rights and language-access requirements.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, Economic Development, Urban or Regional Planning, Community Development, Public Affairs, Communications, Political Science, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum six (6) years' experience of progressively responsible experience in community affairs, business or industry engagement, economic development, public affairs, public-private partnerships, or other multi-sector initiatives. Or, any combination of relevant education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high-quality service through a consultative approach, build and maintain strong relationships with community partners, and represent organizational priorities clearly and credibly in public settings.
• Effective in navigating diverse stakeholder perspectives and advancing inclusive, community-centered outcomes.

• Traded sector economic development understanding, familiarity with industry-based organizations, and grasp of state-wide industry clusters.
• Strong knowledge of the Portland Metro region's government, community, and industrial landscape.
• Ability to build analytical tools and approaches to examine impacts tied to project outcomes, specifically for major initiatives.
• Demonstrate commitment to valuing differences among individuals and a passion for being inclusive.
• Focus on safety improvements and comply with safety and health policies and procedures.
• Show the utmost respect for others and act as a team player.
• Work in politically charged settings, adapt to ambiguous and changing environments.
• Title VI (Civil Rights) and Title II (ADA) applied in public involvement, including language access.
• Facilitation, training and/or coaching.
• Qualitative and quantitative research strategies and reporting (surveys, focus groups, etc.).
• Conflict resolution and de-escalation.
• Senior in:
  • Demonstrated strong written and oral communication, including public speaking and presentation.
  • Provide input on questions of strategy, engagement, and communication methods.
  • Develop and implement inclusive engagement and project plans.
  • Build, coordinate and participate in committees and coalitions.
  • Key community stakeholders as well as best and emerging practices in community relations and policy development.
  • Working knowledge of local public involvement regulations (e.g., comprehensive planning, public noticing, Oregon public meetings law).

Selection Process: (tentative schedule):

1. Applications will be accepted through October 6, 2026. A minimum qualification evaluation of education, training, and experience for submitted application packets will be conducted by Human Resources the following week.

2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials.

3. Our goal is to schedule virtual first round of interviews with candidates who successfully passed the SME evaluation by late October to mid-November; followed by a second round of in-person panel interviews.

About us:

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have - our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them - to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone's life better. And we'll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region's success. With YOUR help - together with our partners, customers, and community - we'll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Safety: The Port promotes safety as a Core value and we seek to eliminate harm through a culture of active prevention, curiosity, evaluation, and action. We comply with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently look for improvements that support operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination.

Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran's preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.

ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal