Manager of Trail Resources

~ Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a national nonprofit building healthy place for healthy people by advancing trails, bicycling and walking. ~ 

With more than 160,000 members and supporters, RTC 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. 

Position Overview

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), an environmental nonprofit advocacy organization is actively recruiting for a Manager of Trail Resources. Want to transform America? Join our multidisciplinary team of smart and passionate trail advocates, planners and policy wonks. The Manager of Trail Resources will work in close partnership with RTC’s Program and Communications teams to produce, manage and disseminate technical data and resources to the trails community at large while also supporting cross-departmental teams in elevating and achieving RTC’s organizational goals.

This position is responsible for the robust management of: RTC’s extensive rail-trail and rail corridor database; federal active transportation funding performance, particularly the Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange; RTC’s Trail Expert Network; and engagement with RTC’s policy partners online and directly.

Responsibilities include the following:

Rail-Trail Data Management

RTC hosts the largest rail-trail database in the country and utilizes trail data as a powerful tool to support all aspects of our work (trail development, trail advocacy, trail promotion). In addition to being responsible for the oversight and management of RTC’s robust trail and corridor database, this position will identify creative ways to improve and apply the data in support of RTC’s project and organizational goals. Tasks include:

• Directing and supervising staff to manage RTC’s Early Warning System to track railroad abandonments and notify communities of trail opportunities
• Directing data collection and quality assurance/control process for trail and contact records, with support by the Coordinator of Trail Development and TrailLink

Federal Active Transportation Funding Performance

This position will be responsible for tracking federal spending related to the country’s largest programs that support trails. Tasks include:

• Writing annual report on state spending of federal Transportation Alternatives Program funds in collaboration with Director of Research and a consultant, and manage Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange website
• Tracking how funds have been used, correlating that information to political geography and identifying best management practices by states
• Developing and sharing expertise in the mechanics and implementation of federal programs that fund trails (e.g., Transportation Alternatives, the Recreational Trails Program and BUILD)
• Advising staff, partners and agencies on how to utilize federal trail-funding programs to build trail networks
• Identifying needed policy and program improvements, and implementing educational outreach with the public, partners, agencies and policymakers (e.g., webinars, fact sheets)

Engaging Trail Professionals and Partner Organizations

The position will manage all programmatic functions of RTC’s Trail Expert Network (TEN), a professional resource network of 6,000+ individuals, as well as RTC’s policy partner list of 1,000+ organizations, including:

• Developing, coordinating and evaluating RTC’s annual professional trail-development webinar series and policy webinar series
• Developing and delivering bi-monthly TEN e-newsletter
• Working closely with other RTC staff to create and coordinate messages for TEN list and policy partner list

Online Technical Assistance Services 

As RTC continues to develop its online services, this position will help shape the content and format of the technical assistance and informational sections of RTC’s website. The responsibilities for overseeing our web-based services include:

• Developing cutting-edge technical assistance resources and materials
• In coordination with Communications staff, managing multiple components of RTC’s trail development and policy web presence (websites, resource library, blog, social media and listservs)

Legal Program 

The Manager of Trail Resources will provide support for RTC’s legal efforts to protect rail-trails, including:

• Monitoring the Surface Transportation Board for administrative threats to railbanking
• Providing research, data analysis and writing support as-needed for briefs, petitions and other legal documents prepared by RTC’s General Counsel

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• The Manager of Trail Resources shares supervisory and management responsibilities with the Senior Director of TrailLink for one staff position whose time is split equally between the Trail Development and TrailLink departments.
• This position will also manage Program Intern(s).

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have the following:

• A strong understanding and passion for databases and database management
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for both professional and lay audiences, including speaking on the telephone
• Excellent research skills
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills
• Trail and/or non-motorized transportation planning or policy experience
• Experience developing rich content for professional learning, recruiting volunteer speakers and hosting webinars
• Experience training staff
• Flexibility and comfortability working closely with staff located remotely

Strongly preferred but not required:

• Two years of project/program management experience (nonprofit background a plus)
• A bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree from a college or university in government, urban and regional planning, environmental studies or a related field

Work Environment

• Normal office setting with low-to-moderate noise level.

Employer's Rights

• RTC reserves the right to revise, change or reclassify this job description at any time in accordance with RTC’s business needs.
• This job description is by no means an implied contract.

To Apply

Please choose one form of transmitting your application materials. Mail, fax or email cover letter, résumé and three professional references to:

• Click "Apply" below to email your application materials. 
• No phone calls please, unless contacted for an in-person interview. 
• Recruiters, please do not contact our offices.

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

Email: elton@railstotrails.org
Fax: 202.223.9257

Commitment to Diversity: RTC is an equal opportunity employer and seeks qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or national origin. Women and diverse applicants are encouraged to apply. EOE