Program Specialist

WHO WE ARE

Transform is California’s leading advocate for healthy, connected communities with affordable transportation and housing choices. For over two decades, we’ve worked to ensure that people of all incomes thrive in a world safe from climate chaos.

We envision vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods transformed by sustainable mobility options and affordable housing, where communities historically impacted by racist disinvestment have power and voice. Our approach is to empower communities of color, innovate solutions, and advocate for policies and funding - all with the aim of helping people thrive and averting climate disaster.

Our Work Includes:

• Winning transformative investments in climate and equity: by pushing for much greater investment in sustainable transportation and affordable housing, Transform is creating a future that enables people to live closer to jobs that makes transit, biking, and walking/rolling the easy choice.
• Normalize transit, biking, walking, and rolling: Transform builds people’s knowledge and resources, and shifts how they feel about mobility options, so that they begin to see transit, biking, walking, and rolling as viable choices, and, eventually, as completely normal and expected.
• Housing as a climate strategy: Transform creates innovative housing and parking solutions that encourage sustainable transportation and healthy, active communities so that suburban and urban residents alike can rely less on driving.

Transform is a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive organization. Our team works closely with partners at the local, regional, and state levels to create healthier, more connected, and equitable communities. We value work-life balance, personal well-being, and a supportive team culture.

We are a team of 13 staff committed to diversity, equity, and justice, both within our organization and through our work. Our values include: collaboration/listening, creativity, transparency, equity, trust, excellence, and shared leadership. Learn more about us in our strategic plan.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you passionate about motivating communities to create positive environmental and social change? Do you thrive in community engagement, volunteer coordination, and event planning? Are you highly organized and skilled in building relationships with caregivers, city officials, school staff, high school students, and community stakeholders?

Transform seeks a collaborative and detail-oriented individual who has experience engaging across diverse communities to join our Programs Team. Our team is dedicated to developing creative solutions that help communities reduce car dependence, elevate local voices, and drive a sustainable shift toward walking, rolling, and taking transit. The Programs Team leads several community engagement initiatives including our award winning Safe Routes to Schools Program and our West Alameda Mobility for All Needs Assessment.

Community Engagement Programs

Transform has led implementation of the Alameda County Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program for nearly 20 years. The SR2S Program coordinates with over 300 K–12 public schools to encourage and support safe, active, and sustainable transportation for students and families.

This role will primarily focus on implementing the Safe Routes to Schools program in high schools and leading the Youth Task Force: they will develop and implement high school-centric programs in partnership with students, school staff, and community stakeholders. We use a youth leadership development model, where students are supported in designing and planning events at their high schools. This position will also support the broader goals of Transform and the Programs Team to empower communities to reshaping housing and transportation decision making. This work includes collaborating with community stakeholders such as partners at affordable housing sites, attending neighborhood events, and participating in other community-driven initiatives that help to normalize walking, biking, and transit.

Work Environment & Location

• Transform has a hybrid, virtual first work environment with no central office. This role will require a combination of working from home, regular in-person field work at sites across the bay area, and in person staff work days at least twice a month. This schedule may change occasionally.
• Field Work: This role involves working in schools across Alameda County, and at community events and housing sites around the Bay Area. It will require occasionally working early mornings, evenings and/or weekends.
• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to a healthy balance that’s responsive to the needs of our staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead community engagement efforts by organizing stakeholder meetings, developing outreach plans, and finding creative solutions to encourage walking, biking, and transit use.
• Recruit, train, and meet with community leaders with a focus on high school student engagement.
• Facilitate age appropriate educational presentations on active and shared transportation from K-12 students to senior citizens, up to multiple times a month.
• Collaborate with team members to plan education and encouragement activities and events, including but not limited to: mobility fairs, Walk and Roll to School Days, and Bike to School Day, etc.
• Lead the implementation of program activities by planning projects, assigning tasks through program management software, and tracking team progress to ensure goals are met.
• Involve stakeholders including city agencies, school districts, and community-based organizations to facilitate program implementation.
• Support Program Manager and Director with project management to ensure programming is delivered within a reasonable time frame and within budget and scope.
• Support Transform-wide priorities such as leadership development, policy advocacy and narrative shift.
• Support the implementation of organizational fundraising strategies.
• Uphold Transform values through our external and internal work.
• Represent Transform at meetings with consultants, funders, and clients.
• Attend occasional early morning, evening, and weekend events as necessary.
• Maintain up-to-date administrative records using database and spreadsheet software.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated sensitivity and understanding of issues facing low-income communities of color; ability to work comfortably in diverse communities and settings; high level of cultural competency.
• 2+ years experience implementing a program that engages and empowers high school students and/or high school staff as valuable contributors and decision-makers.
• 2+ years experience engaging volunteers in organizing events and campaigns, conducting outreach, and building support for an ongoing program.
• 2+ years experience with planning events, including project planning, setting goals and conducting outreach and publicity.
• Demonstrated experience with middle or high school curriculum or student-based project development
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A deep commitment to the mission and philosophy of Transform, and a strong desire to advance racial and economic justice through transportation, housing, and climate justice.
• Entrepreneurial, can-do attitude focused on problem-solving.

Great to also have:

• Proficiency in Google Suite (i.e., Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Slides and Documents).
• 4+ years experience implementing a program that engages and empowers high school students and/or staff as valuable contributors and decision-makers.
• 4+ years experience engaging volunteers in organizing events and campaigns, conducting outreach, and building support for an ongoing program.
• 4+ years experience with planning events, including project planning, setting goals and conducting outreach and publicity.
• You have a deep commitment to equity and social justice issues.
• Work or lived experience within underserved or marginalized communities.
• You have a strong working knowledge of the diverse populations and communities within Alameda County.
• You are bilingual in English and another language commonly spoken in Alameda County.
• You have a strong spirit of collaboration and willingness to help others.

Our staff is focused on making a positive change in the world and supports and values diversity. Transform is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, LGBTQ persons, women, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

• *All Transform employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19**

Transform provides competitive benefits, including health insurance (medical, dental, vision), and paid time off. Transform is committed to ongoing growth through professional development opportunities.