Community Mobility Specialist & Travel Trainer

RideWise Inc., a Somerville nonprofit dedicated to promoting safe and sustainable travel, is excited to announce an opening for a full-time Community Mobility Specialist. This grant-funded role is responsible for addressing the transportation needs of older adults and youth/adults with a disability. The individual hired will learn about public transit and provide personalized travel training and trip planning to individuals/small groups on how to ride/use public transit, ride-hailing services, and, in some cases, safe cycling for employment, education, and essential services.

Responsibilities:

• Develop self-taught expertise of all transportation options (bus, rail, ride-hailing) in Somerset County.
• Conduct assessments to determine an individual's readiness for independent travel and develop personalized lesson plans and goals to meet their needs.
• Teach individuals how to use public transit and ride hailing by providing one-on-one or group travel training instruction on board the bus/train or in a ride-hail trip.
• Help individuals plan safe and efficient routes (trip planning) to and from destinations (work, school, essential appointments, support services) in person or over the phone.
• Educate the community about transportation options by conducting “how to get around Somerset County workshops.

Work schedule:

This full-time, hourly role is based at the Somerville office, Monday to Friday. Overtime is not required. Scheduling is flexible, but early morning and evening hours are necessary to provide on-board training to clients when the buses/trains are in service.

Skills and Expertise Required

The ideal candidate has strong communication, patience and empathy to effectively teach and work with diverse populations, especially individuals with disabilities and their families. Other essential skills include:

• Completing a background check and fingerprinting
• Bachelor’s degree in special education, social work or human services
• Experience working with older adults and people with disabilities is preferred.
• Familiarity with the travel needs of seniors and people with disabilities.
• Familiarity with the local public transportation system or the ability to learn it independently.
• Ability to work in the early mornings and in the evenings to provide field training when the buses/trains are in service
• Having a reliable vehicle, a valid driver’s license, valid vehicle insurance, and a good driving record to get to/from the office and for travel/fieldwork throughout Somerset County.
• Expertise in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS Teams)
• Organizational skills to manage schedules, maintain records, and develop training plans.
• Ability to set and achieve specific and measurable performance outcomes
• Being able to lift 25 pounds (to transport equipment, program materials)
• Nonprofit experience is a plus.
• Familiarity with Somerset County a plus

Applicants must be a United States citizen or permanently authorized to work in the United States full-time without needing an employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

We look forward to welcoming a new team member who shares our dedication to promoting safe and sustainable transportation for all. Apply today by sending a resume and cover letter telling us about you.