Project Manager, DC Region Next Generation of Transit Campaign

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization advocating for livable, walkable communities in the Washington D.C. region and the transit investments they need to thrive. We seek a project manager for our Next Generation of Transit campaign. The project manager will serve as our lead organizing and policy staffer for a targeted education campaign in support of bold new transit investments in the Washington D.C. region.

The campaign:

In the 1960s and 1970s, visionary leaders planned the game-changing Metrorail system. Metro made possible the revitalization of the city and older suburbs and the ability of people to live more sustainably. Fast forward to 2012: transit ridership is at an all-time high; young people, empty nesters, and retirees are flocking to the city and transit-accessible neighborhoods in the suburbs; developer demand for sites with easy access to transit seems unlimited. Yet, funding and planning for new transit investments is falling far short of the demand. We need leadership and a vision for the next generation of transit investments equivalent to the bold vision that created Metrorail. That's why the Coalition for Smarter Growth is launching our Next Generation of Transit campaign - to take on the exciting, challenging task of organizing broad regional support for these important investments.

Position Overview:

The Next Generation of Transit Project Manager will be the Coalition for Smarter Growth's lead staff member assigned to the day-to-day implementation of our education campaign. The Project Manager will spend significant time in the field building up the grassroots and grasstops supporters who can make our vision a reality, and will be charged with researching and translating transit tech-speak to an audience that doesn't intuitively know what "signal priority" or "fixed guideway systems" are.

Responsibilities:

Specific duties will entail:

• Serving as a primary ambassador of the Coalition for Smarter Growth and our Next Generation of Transit campaign to local leaders in targeted jurisdictions.
• Serving as the lead author on engaging informational reports on transit solutions for targeted communities.
• Researching key constituency groups in targeted jurisdictions, reaching out to them with a next generation of transit education message, and effectively utilizing key supportive in each constituency.
• Making next generation of transit educational presentations at multiple community meetings in targeted jurisdictions.
• Recruiting and building a volunteer force to disseminate a pro-next generation of transit message in targeted jurisdictions.
• Working with Coalition for Smarter Growth communications staff to craft an effective next generation of transit message and persuasive digital outreach campaign.
• Devising and implementing strategies to mobilize supporters in targeted jurisdictions during key moments of transit campaigns.
• Participating in other Coalition for Smarter Growth activities like fundraising pushes and membership-building events as needed.

Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of organizing experience with electoral, issue advocacy campaigns or unions or 2 years working with smart growth or transit policy (with some graduate school experience applicable). A combination of both of these will move your resume to the top of the pile. Experience working policy, politics, or organizing campaigns in the DC suburbs is also huge plus.
• Superb writing and editing skills along with the ability to take a complicated issue and boil it down into a few readable, easy-to-digest paragraphs.
• An outgoing personality when needed and comfort speaking with new and various people. We are a small, tight-knit team in a moderately-sized space and a sizable portion of the job will be speaking to small groups, so a good personality is essential.
• A strong commitment to walkable, livable communities and the transit investments needed to support them.

Compensation: This is a full time, salaried position, with benefits. We are looking to hire immediately. At this point we have guaranteed funding for this position for only 1 year. However, with a combination of campaign and fundraising success, we anticipate making this a long term position with the Coalition for Smarter Growth. But initially we will only be able to offer the position for one year.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume, a cover letter, and 1 writing sample of 500 words or less showcasing your persuasive writing ability on a transit-related issue. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.