Active Transportation Director, New Jersey

Overview:

Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) is seeking a proactive, experienced professional to lead our Active Transportation Program, which includes campaigns supporting safer and more equitable access to mobility for vulnerable road users, such as people on foot or bicycle. This role will contribute to – and lead – coalitions focused on advancing policies and projects for trails and greenways, and support our Vision Zero efforts to end traffic violence on New Jersey’s roadways. This role will work to guide TSTC’s policy efforts, harnessing the voices of the public and fellow advocates to improve local, state, and federal transportation policies, the pipeline for grant-eligible safety projects, large-scale transportation safety efforts, and available active transportation funding. This is the moment to build out regional active transportation networks and make our streets safer for all users, and it will take stakeholders from all over the state to seize the opportunity.

The person in this role will ensure that TSTC stays abreast of key policy issues at federal, state and local levels and can respond in a timely, impactful, and effective manner. They will track and analyze local, state, and federal policy actions affecting projects and funding. Working closely and collaboratively with other TSTC staff and with key external partners, they will create and support efforts to amplify local and regional needs by acting as the bridge between grassroots groups and key agency and elected decision-makers throughout the region. This role reports to the Executive Director.

About Tri-State Transportation Campaign:

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is a 501(c)(3) non-profit policy advocacy organization dedicated to mobility, accessibility, and livability in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. TSTC uses data and policy analysis, along with strategic media outreach, to influence decision-making throughout the metropolitan region. Since it was founded in 1993, TSTC has become a leading voice in the region for transportation and land use policy reform. More information about TSTC can be found at www.tstc.org.

About the Position:

The development of safe, green, and accessible transportation options is essential to meeting our most ambitious climate and equity goals. The Active Transportation Director will primarily operate in New Jersey (with a focus on working with communities in Camden, Trenton, and Newark) to advance TSTC’s transportation equity goals with a focus on building out active transportation networks through policy, planning, and grassroots organizing. The Active Transportation Director will also be responsible for working with partners to advance vision zero goals throughout the state. The Director will be responsible for working with and, in some cases, leading a variety of stakeholders in coalitions including: the Circuit Trails Coalition, Vision Zero New Jersey Alliance, and New Jersey Trails Action Network.

As part of their role on the Circuit Trails Steering Committee, the Active Transportation Director will also participate in the Circuit Trails Coalition’s Mercer County Action Team (MCAT). One of their key responsibilities will include managing part-time staff in expanding MCAT’s “Trenton Walks!” program into a public engagement and advocacy platform in Trenton to advance approximately 10 miles of new trail segments, producing storytelling media products highlighting trails as an asset to the public and local governments, and promoting the 30-mile Delaware River Heritage Trail as a high-priority state trail corridor within the NJ government. This grant-funded work will positively impact up to 1.7 million residents in Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, especially those in Federal Justice40 and NJDEP Overburdened communities, such as Trenton (pop. 90k) and Camden (pop. 71k), both of which have roughly 30% zero-vehicle households.

Responsibilities:

• Engage with and support communities interested in advancing active transportation and safety programs. Identify community leaders, build bridges, develop and maintain networks and partnerships for effective collaboration, advocacy, and engagement strategies.
• Strong facilitation skills are needed to manage key coalitions of stakeholders to advance policy goals and serve as TSTC’s representative on additional coalitions throughout the region
• Design, coordinate, and lead peer exchanges, roundtables, webinars, and meetings with groups ranging from local community based organizations to statewide coalitions
• Develop and maintain strategic communication to stakeholders including elected officials, department/agency staff, community-based organizations, etc.
• Assist in TSTC’s communications efforts on active transportation as clean transportation essential to our climate goals by conducting strategic media outreach: TV and radio interviews, op-eds, print media and more.
• Public speaking/advocating: Prepare and deliver presentations and public testimony on active transportation policy on panels, at conferences, in public hearings, rallies and on webinars
• Stay abreast of current events, policies, and research related to program content areas.
• Inform legislative action through coalition building, research, and campaigning.
• Assist in grant proposals and grant management tasks as needed.
• Work collaboratively with the entire TSTC team.
• Travel required throughout New Jersey and occasionally to NY, PA, & Washington D.C.

Qualifications:

TSTC does not have minimum requirements for education or professional experience. Generally, we expect qualified candidates would have the following experience for a Director level position:

• Strong communication and coordination skills
• Significant policy, government, organizing, and/or advocacy experience;
• A proven track record of successful outcomes in creating policy change;
• Experience with transit and transportation issues, and/or relevant urban planning/social justice issues;
• Experience in a managerial and supervisory role.
• Strong data analysis skills
• Graphic design and GIS/Mapping capability desirable.

TSTC is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Benefits Include:

Paid sick leave, vacation time and family leave, a generous holiday schedule; Summer Fridays; family leave; full health coverage; dental and vision, a 401k retirement savings plan with a 4% match, and pre-tax commuter benefits.