Transportation for America (T4America)—a program of Smart Growth America—is seeking a highly skilled individual with deep knowledge, experience, and interest in federal transportation policy development and state/local implementation to help lead the organization’s policy work—with an immediate focus on the ongoing federal reauthorization process.
The ideal candidate will be: intimately familiar with T4America’s three priorities and a credible public voice for them, experienced on Capitol Hill and with transportation reauthorization, a strategic thinker who can create and execute a policy strategy, well connected to transportation policy and practice, able to build productive relationships (with Hill offices of any party, allies, and other stakeholders), confident in leading and developing a team of policy staff, full of creative ideas for research and other content to advance our mission.
Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@smartgrowthamerica.org with “T4America Policy Lead” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please indicate how you’ve learned of this opportunity.
Responsibilities and requirements
Advocate for T4America’s priorities:
- Understand, support, and craft a strategy to advance the organization’s three priorities: repairing existing infrastructure, prioritizing safety over speed, and investing in the rest of our transportation system.
- Develop proposals for legislative, regulatory, and other executive actions at all levels of government to implement these priorities.
- Track legislation and craft the strategy and tactics for effective advocacy.
Lead on reauthorization
- Build on existing legislative strategy for surface reauthorization and develop and execute on new potential strategies.
- Build relationships with policymakers and partners at all levels of government to create champions for our priorities.
- Convene our members, allies, and informal partners to build a base of support for our policy agenda.
Communicate externally
- Follow, analyze, and communicate about transportation trends and how they impact T4America’s priorities.
- Write and produce engaging content for all channels in collaboration with the T4America communications team.
- Identify research opportunities to further our mission and advance our three priorities and broader set of policy strategies.
- Oversee the development and drafting of reports and contribute to them at times.
- Speak on behalf of T4America and its coalition, including workshops, conferences, and other events (some travel included).
Manage people, projects, and provide technical assistance
- Direct and supervise the policy work of the organization, including the management and development of our policy team;
- Help T4America produce and develop unique content;
- Manage a range of complicated projects with competing deadlines; and
- Support occasional technical assistance, serving as an instructor on policy-related issues and best practices in the field.
- Apply Smart Growth America’s approach to development across projects and collaborate with team members to advance organizational priorities.
Knowledge and skills
Required:
- A commitment to the organization’s priorities and the ability to describe a vision for achieving them.
- Minimum of five years experience working in the transportation arena or a closely related policy field.
- Ability to analyze and spot emerging trends in transportation.
- Strong familiarity with Capitol Hill offices, including relevant committees for reauthorization.
- Knowledge of the legislative process at multiple levels of government and the ability to think strategically and work across party lines.
- Project management skills and experience.
- The ability to strategically prioritize workload and complete multiple tasks and high volume of work, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Excellent written/verbal skills, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Comfort working in a collaborative team environment, good interpersonal skills, a willingness to manage and develop our policy team, and experience working with a diverse range of people.
Preferred:
- An advanced degree in public policy, political science, planning, or other related field.
- Experience in a Capitol Hill office or committee.
- Experience working within a state or local transportation agency at the local, MPO, or state level.
- Experience in the development or implementation of a previous federal reauthorization.
- Experience advancing the broader vision of smart growth: integrated transportation, land use, and housing policy solutions.
- Staff management skills and experience.
- Experience in fundraising and in managing grants.
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with experience, ranging from $95,000-$120,000. A candidate for the top of this range would need to have more than five years of experience, specific legislative or transportation agency experience, and more of the preferred knowledge and skills listed above. Benefits include fully paid medical insurance, optional dental and vision coverage, 401k contributions, life and disability insurance, three weeks of vacation in the first year, and 12 paid holidays.
Office Schedule
This position reports to the AVP of Transportation and is based in Washington, DC. SGA staff work in the office at 1350 Eye St. NW, Tuesdays-Thursdays. No relocation assistance is offered at this time.
How to apply
Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@smartgrowthamerica.org with “T4America Policy Lead” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please indicate how you’ve learned of this opportunity. Please include at least two writing samples of any length that demonstrate your transportation policy experience, communicate complex ideas clearly to a broad audience, and/or make a persuasive argument.
Commitment to building a diverse team
Smart Growth America and Transportation for America are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, including candidates of color. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.
About Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America envisions a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize this vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity.
About Transportation for America
Transportation for America is a national nonprofit made up of local, regional, and state leaders who seek a transportation system that safely, affordably, and conveniently connects people of all means and ability to jobs, services, and opportunity through multiple modes of travel.
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