Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Job Announcement - Policy Outreach Director
Summary: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a national nonprofit organization working to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. Founded in 1986, RTC is one of the most respected trail, walking and bicycling advocacy organizations in the nation with more than 150,000 members and supporters. After helping create more than 23,000 miles of rail-trail over the last 26 years, RTC has an ambitious goal for the future: By 2020, 90 percent of Americans will live within three miles of a trail system. RTC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in the Northeast, the Midwest, the West and Florida.
Job Location: This position is located in our national office in downtown Washington, D.C., and is easily accessible by the Metro red, orange, and blue lines.
Job Duties: This position plays an integral role in the organization’s efforts to advocate for trail systems and active transportation (human-powered mobility; primarily walking and bicycling) infrastructure and policies at the local, state and federal levels. The successful applicant will demonstrate skill and experience as an organizer, policy analyst, communicator, online content generator and advocate. The primary responsibilities of this position will be to:
· Spearhead a nascent and growing RTC-led coalition to convene organizations from health, economic development and other backgrounds to support the active transportation movement.
- Maintain and expand RTC’s growing partnerships of organizations and agencies to advocate for trail systems and active transportation. This includes extensive networking and coordination among groups, resourceful assistance to partners and field staff, research and material preparation, creating and executing campaign strategies, and event planning.
- Manage a web-based advocacy network of both individual and grasstops trail and active transportation activists. This includes developing and executing strategies to continue growing RTC’s extensive online activist base, authoring and managing delivery of content to educate and activate participants, and creating and executing online campaigns.
- Develop agendas, coordinate logistics and ensure effective outcomes for forums and strategy sessions held around the country.
· Present at conferences, symposiums, meetings and forums.
· With an interdepartmental team, form policy, coordinate messaging, organize partners and media and ensure quality follow-through on numerous discrete and interconnected campaigns.
Supervisory Responsibilities: This individual will supervise one position, and report to the Vice President of Policy and Trail Development.
Job Requirements/Qualifications: Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and at least five to seven years relevant work experience. Excellent written and verbal communications skills are essential. The ideal applicant will be experienced in grassroots and grasstops organizing as well as policy analysis. Knowledge of transportation and/or health policy, as well as local governments, is desired. Master’s degree in public health, urban planning or other related discipline preferred. Familiarity with Convio Luminate software a plus. Some work travel is expected.
