Executive Director, Tri-State Transportation Campaign

Executive Director, Tri-State Transportation Campaign

New York, NY

Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) is seeking a highly qualified, dynamic and strategic leader to serve as its Executive Director. This individual will manage all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, advocacy campaign design and implementation, finances, staff supervision and development, and administration. The office is located in midtown Manhattan. The position requires frequent travel to other boroughs, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut and occasionally Washington, D.C. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, which sets TSTC’s direction.

About Tri-State Transportation Campaign

Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving people’s lives by expanding mobility options, reducing car and truck dependency, and ensuring a more equitable and sustainable transportation network throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region. TSTC was founded in 1993 by leading environmental, transportation, and planning organizations as a response to the mounting environmental and economic costs of automobile and truck dependence and promising reforms after Congress’s enactment in 1991 of a federal transportation bill, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.

TSTC advances its mission by researching and analyzing public and private data, state agency and authority budgets, and legislation to ensure that transportation spending reflects policy priorities, and by advocating for reforms in spending to achieve a balanced transportation network accessible to all. Our advocacy is focused on elected and appointed officials, agency staff, the media, commuters and the public, and is carried out through various types of organizing campaigns, including traditional and social media. Our ten-person staff has deep legal, environmental, technical, policy and communications expertise. Through their work for TSTC, they have earned important seats on commissions, task forces and boards, as well as a reputation in the media and amongst colleagues as experts in the transportation sector. Our advocacy positions are widely disseminated, leading to frequent citations in local and national outlets, e.g., the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Star-Ledger, Hartford Courant, New York Daily News and WNYC.

Job Description: Executive Director

The Executive Director has bottom-line responsibility for all aspects of TSTC’s fundraising, campaigns, research, public presence, and budget and administrative operations. The Executive Director manages senior staff, oversees planning and strategy implementation, and leads fundraising initiatives. This highly visible role requires a candidate with demonstrated experience in advocacy campaigns, working with partners and funders, and with local and national media.

Specific duties of the Executive Director include:

• Set goals for success with Board of Directors and staff
• Oversee all executive functions, including fundraising, organizational and campaign strategy, hiring and staff development, finance, and management and administration
• Maintain, expand, and diversify the organization’s financial base, including philanthropic, private sector and individual sources of support, including regular communications with existing funders and other organizational supporters, including report writing
• Implement strategy to accomplish goals for mission-aligned advocacy campaigns in NY, NJ, and CT
• Manage, develop and motivate the Campaign’s highly qualified ten-person staff
• Build and maintain relationships with partner groups, other non-governmental organizations, and private sector firms and labor organizations
• Represent the Campaign before diverse audiences, including the media, elected and agency officials, organizations, foundations and the public
• Serve as organizational spokesperson at meetings, hearings, press events, and broadcast interviews
• Organize agendas for regular Board of Directors meetings and with staff present reports to Board including budget, fiscal outlook and program progress; regular follow up with individual Board members
• Build support for TSTC’s advocacy campaigns within government, civic and private sectors, and in the media
• Continue and build upon TSTC’s reputation as a thought leader in the transportation space
• Work with external accounting firm to create and adhere to annual budget, and prepare balance sheets, Board meeting reports, and the annual audit including transferring those work products to reports to funders

Qualifications and Experience

Successful candidates will possess several of the following skills, qualifications, and experience:

• Graduate degree in planning, non-profit management, environmental policy, law, technical or related field
• Experience running and winning comprehensive advocacy campaigns including passing legislative bills
• A demonstrated track record of management and financial experience, including budget drafting and forecasting
• Experience working with major foundations and private entities, including persuasive grant-writing, hosting fundraising events, and interfacing with foundation staff and senior executives about our programs
• A background in organizing, especially in BIPOC communities and low-income communities
• High level strategic acumen; able to engage a range of stakeholders’ interests to achieve TSTC goals
• Familiarity with transportation capital and operating budget process and agency structures in NY, NJ, CT
• Excellent writing, interpersonal and communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with a diverse audience, including foundations, the media, government officials, and elected officials
• Experience working with traditional and social media
• Must be assertive, pragmatic, creative, politically savvy; helps to have a good sense of humor
• Other language skills a plus

Commitment to Diversity

TSTC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to equity, transparency, diversity and inclusion in our work and workplace. Candidates should have a commitment to and experience working in BIPOC communities, identifying and lifting up leaders from marginalized backgrounds, and serving communities with diverse needs. Women, people of color, and LGBTQI individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. See more information at www.tstc.org.