Project Manager, Baltimore Greeenway Trail Network

~ 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 seeks an enthusiastic trail and active transportation advocate and organizer to serve as the Project Manager for the Baltimore Greenway Trails Network (BGTN). The BGTN is working to create a 35-mile world-class network of urban trails that link together the diverse neighborhoods, cultural amenities and outdoor resources of Baltimore City. This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic-thinking, advocacy-minded and creative candidate who enjoys collaborating with a variety of stakeholders at all levels.

The Project Manager will be engaged in all aspects of project planning and implementation to support the completion of the BGTN—with a focus on gathering diverse perspectives and promoting trails as tools to improve the quality of life for residents, while supporting already adopted public plans and strategies related to Baltimore’s built environment.

Location:

This position is located in Baltimore, Maryland, at RTC’s Baltimore Field Office, centrally located in the Station North neighborhood, with regular travel to the Washington, D.C., headquarters office. Regular local travel required to site locations in the project footprint throughout Baltimore City.

Responsibilities

Coalition/Relationship Building

Strong relationships are key to the success of the BGTN. This position will be responsible regular coalition-building activities, including:

• Maintaining and building upon existing relationships with a broad range of residents and local leaders from within Baltimore’s diverse neighborhoods, as well as professionals representing local and state government entities, nonprofits, the environmental/conservation sector, transportation organizations, local businesses, anchor institutions and land developers, community development organizations, and the local planning and design community
• Identifying new potential partners and implementing relationship-cultivation activities to ensure a robust coalition moving forward

Project Management, Planning and Advocacy

To ensure project sustainability, a significant portion of this position is dedicated to managing multiple, but related, projects, grants and advocacy initiatives. Typical duties include:

• Implementing regular coalition meetings to ensure healthy engagement with the BGTN by both coalition partners and the public
• Managing subcontractors and volunteer designers working on conceptual designs and project implementation strategies
• Supporting the Director and Development team in the preparation of fundraising and grant materials related to the BGTN
• Working closely with city agencies and community organizations to implement interrelated strategies and tactics associated with the BGTN and the city’s Green Network Plan; may include programs, public events and other activities related to community mobilization and engagement
• Working closely with RTC staff to utilize communications, mapping, research and support resources to support work related to the BGTN

Community Engagement

Keeping residents informed and engaged with accurate information about the BGTN is essential to growing and maintaining a grassroots base of supporters to demonstrate public support for trail and active transportation projects. Some examples of this aspect of the work include:

• Hosting community events and charrette-style meetings individually or with RTC staff and external partners in key trail-corridor gaps
• Maintaining a schedule of, and attending, existing community events, festivals and gatherings to promote the BGTN, build community support and grow RTC’s list of grass roots and community activists
• Engaging with our growing list of contacts through social media, blog posts email, newsletters, etc. with support from the RTC communications team

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None. This position will report to the Director of TrailNation Projects and will work closely with the RTC Trail Development Department and other internal departments as needed (e.g., Communications, Fundraising/Development, Public Policy). 

Qualifications

Qualified candidates will have a proven track record with four to six years of experience within one or more of the following areas of work: trail/bike-ped/transportation advocacy, organizing and planning; community development; public administration; natural resource planning; and economic development.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with the ability to manage multiple tasks and a widely varied workload. Specific skills and attributes include:

• Excellent skills in building and maintaining collaborative and strategic relationships with a variety of stakeholders, such as local and state government officials and agencies; transportation, planning, economic development, conservation and health organizations; residents; and community-based nonprofits
• Demonstrated advocacy experience related to public planning, transportation or the built environment
• Strong people and group-facilitation skills and experience with coalition building
• Deep understanding of Baltimore’s neighborhoods, and thorough familiarity with the historical and political landscape of economic, housing and community development histories
• A solid understanding of the process of moving a trail plan from concept through to the design-build phase
• Advanced project management skills and experience, including: setting short- and long-term planning goals in line with program priorities and available resources; taking multifaceted projects plans from conception through to completion, and the ability to develop/manage complex budgets
• A deep understanding of the relationship between advancing policy decisions and building community support
• Outstanding oral and written communication and strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop strategic approaches for stakeholder involvement and meeting facilitation
• Consensus-building skills, with the ability to read an audience and be decisive
• Ability and willingness to participate in outdoor park and trail programming either with project partners or as the lead
• Experience supporting grant writing
• Valid driver’s license

The following qualifications are preferred but not required:

• A bachelor’s degree in urban/transportation planning, conservation planning, economic development, public health or a related field. A master’s degree in related fields may be substituted for the required years of experience.
• Proficiency in GIS
• Proficiency in Excel
• Familiarity using design software for presentations and materials preparation
• Experience working with or for local government

To Apply

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

• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Attention: Human Resources, 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor, Duke Ellington Building, Washington, DC 20037
• Please click "Apply" below to email your application materials. 

Women and diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. EOE