Global Program Manager

Organization

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) promotes sustainable and equitable urban transport worldwide. ITDP is a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City with offices in Africa, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Washington, DC. ITDP’s programs focus on public transit, cycling and walking, travel demand management, transport electrification, transport policy and urban development.

Position

The Global Program Manager is a full-time position in the Washington, D.C. office working within ITDP’s Global team. The Manager will gather and synthesize information about trends and key topics in the field of sustainable transport, document and disseminate best practices, and evaluate the strategic impact of that work. Research will focus on the three pillars of ITDP’s Strategic Plan: boosting public transport ridership (via bus, walking, cycling, and travel demand management), bus and 2-wheeler electrification, and the funding and financing needed to support them. The Manager will also meet with regional counterparts and partners, draft reports and graphics, and help to disseminate completed work through internal and external presentations.

The Manager will also be responsible for leading the Public Transport Strategic Initiative, coordinating strategy related to public transport among senior leadership at ITDP. This will include identifying a path to achieving organizational goals, understanding key barriers, addressing capacity needs, and developing shared messaging across the organization. The Manager will report to the Senior Director of the Global Program.

Responsibilities

• Lead the public transport strategic initiative at ITDP
• Work with senior leaders in public transport to:
  • identify a path to achieving organizational goals
  • understand key barriers
  • addressing shared capacity needs
  • and develop shared messaging alongside the Communications Team
• Develop original research on sustainable transport and urban development topics, including white papers, reports, guides, articles and other written materials
• Support the review, production, and dissemination of final reports, infographics, and other technical materials
• Synthesize technical research and data to draw clear, actionable recommendations and conclusions
• Contribute to proposals for funding with ideas for new research work in line with ITDP’s strategic priorities
• Collaborate and support other members of the Global team on projects related to public transport
• Support requests from ITDP offices
• Represent ITDP at conferences and other events, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in urban planning, urban studies, economics, geography, engineering or other relevant field,
• Working understanding of public transport, cycling, and walking conditions in cities in low- and middle-income countries
• Minimum 7 years of work experience in a related field
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects in a fast-paced team environment and producing high-quality results
• Ability to meet short-term and long-term deadlines and prioritize work accordingly, including managing timelines and coordinating with staff, consultants and partners.
• Strong critical thinking skills to synthesize complex information and make connections across subject areas
• Strong communicator with excellent written and oral communication skills, and experience translating technical information to general audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
• Must live in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia (or be willing to relocate prior to start date) and be able to come into the office on a hybrid work schedule
• Available to travel nationally and internationally

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in urban planning, urban studies, economics, geography, or other related field
• Experience with public transport research, planning, or policy development
• Experience with organizational strategic planning
• Experience presenting work at workshops, conferences, or similar events
• Nonprofit, government, or development bank experience
• Proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, or Bahasa Indonesia