Manager, Trail Development Western Region

~ Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), a nonprofit organization with more than 160,000 members and supporters, is the nation's largest trails organization dedicated to connecting people and communities by creating a nationwide network of public trails, many from former rail lines and connecting corridors. ~

Founded in 1986, RTC’s national office is located in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in California, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Our Western Region office is the lead for our work in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona, but with a primary focus on California.

Position Overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic team player to join our Western Region team as a Trail Development Manager, to implement our trail development vision to create trail networks that connect people to where they live, work and play. This position plays a pivotal role in our Bay Area Trails Collaborative (BATC), a coalition effort to create a 2,700-mile trail network for the Bay Area, as part of RTC’s TrailNation program. The Trail Development Manager (TD Manager) also supports our Active Transportation Resource Team, providing technical assistance and training to local partners to create more bikeable, walkable communities. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives on juggling a variety of tasks, is resourceful in crafting successful strategies to advance trail projects, and works cooperatively with diverse partners.

Job Location: This position is located in our Western Regional Office in the Historic Central Building in the heart of downtown Oakland, Calif., close to restaurants, cafes, and the thriving Oakland City Center. The office is easily accessible by bicycle, BART and bus, and our building provides indoor secure bicycle parking.

Responsibilities

The TD Manager works closely with the Western Region Director, as well as the Trail Development team across all of RTC’s offices. The primary responsibilities of this position are:

• Supporting BATC and our trail network building efforts, which may include:
• Managing and refining our GIS database, work with external partners to interpret and explain spatial data to non-users, and working with our GIS team to create maps and conduct GIS analyses to advance trail building;
• Coordinating with BATC partners to advance priority trail projects through a variety of strategies including technical assistance to overcome challenges, and building community support;
• Participating in preparation of trail plans or feasibility studies;
• Planning and implementing community engagement strategies, workshops and community meetings;
• Identifying and cultivating a diverse array of partners and stakeholders from various sectors who can help advance trail networks and priority projects;
• Supporting our Active Transportation Resource Team program by helping to conduct outreach and needs assessments, develop content and then plan and conduct workshops and webinars, and provide ongoing technical assistance to communities to implement their active transportation plans and projects;
• Coordinating with the Western Region Director to integrate trail development efforts with our policy and advocacy work, including making local agencies aware of funding opportunities;
• Coordinating with the Western Region Director and our development team to prepare contract and foundation proposals and budgets to fund our work, and then managing grants and contracts to deliver work products on time and on budget;
• Creating and maintaining a network of contacts throughout the Western Region to stay abreast of trail and rail-trail development, and share RTC resources;
• Coordinating with our communications team to supply content for RTC’s website and email newsletter, blog and social media; 
• Working with the Trail Development team throughout RTC’s national and regional offices on development of informational resources such as trail-related reports, fact sheets and studies; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• This position requires someone with a minimum of 4-5 years experience in some combination of the following backgrounds: recreation and/or non-motorized transportation planning/advocacy; urban and regional planning; land use planning/advocacy; and non-profit management and resource development.
• Because we are a small office, we require a self-starter who has the skills and experience to hit the ground running and work with a modest amount of supervision.
• The duties of this position demand an energetic, outgoing person with excellent skills in building and maintaining collaborative and strategic relationships with stakeholders in various sectors, including transportation, recreation, conservation, public health, equity, and economic development. 
• The position also requires someone able to work effectively in a wide range of contexts, especially disadvantaged communities and communities of color. 
• The successful candidate will have excellent communication and people skills; be a self-starter who is able to work well independently and in teams; be resourceful and creative, organized and efficient, and able to consistently deliver professional quality work on time and on budget. 
• We particularly value enthusiasm, flexibility, passion for the mission, a pitch-in attitude and a good sense of humor.

Additional qualifications include:

• A solid understanding of the process of moving a trail project from concept through planning, funding, design and construction, and familiarity with the fundamentals of active transportation project funding programs, planning and design guidance in California;
• Ability to work on complex assignments independently using a high level of judgment, tact, and initiative in resolving problems and developing recommendations;
• Ability to develop partnerships with common goals and secure funding for collaborative projects;
• Excellent research, writing, public speaking and time management skills; and
• Proficiency in GIS: familiarity with AGOL or other Arc products; detailed understanding of spatial data and comfort with large datasets; and experience conducting basic spatial queries such as buffer analyses.
• Proficiency in Excel and standard MS Office programs;
• Experience and demonstrated success in non-profit fundraising and contract proposals.

Note: This position will involve occasional travel (mostly within CA). Candidates must be willing and able to drive and travel by airplane, and must hold a valid, current California drivers license.  

Additional Information

• Supervisory Responsibilities: None, this position reports to the Western Regional Director. The position regularly supervises interns and volunteers who help support our program work. 
• Work Environment: Normal office setting with low to moderate noise level; occasional nights/weekends required.
• Employer’s Rights: RTC reserves the right to revise, change or reclassify this job description at any time in accordance with our business needs. This job description is by no means an implied contract.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience; excellent benefits. RTC offers the opportunity to work in a great downtown Oakland location for a respected, national non-profit and interact with a staff of talented, collaborative professionals. 

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below (or mail or fax: 202.223.9257) cover letter and résumé:

Human Resources Manager
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
The Duke Ellington Building
2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20037

~ RTC, an equal opportunity employer, seeks qualified candidates regardless of race, color, gender or national origin. Women and diverse candidates encouraged to apply. ~