Now Hiring: Transportation Program Director

Make a difference for the environment and Oregon’s future by joining the dynamic team at Oregon Environmental Council (OEC)!

Who We’re Seeking
The ideal candidate for the OEC’s Transportation Program Director is a policy-smart, people person who is excited about systems change. You like to dig into best practices. You are a creative campaigner who understands coalitions and how to build bridges to get things done. You don’t shy away from technical conversations and you are ready to be creative about transportation funding that can sustain equitable, climate-smart transportation options. You are a good communicator, excited to testify and to write comments to positively influence state and local transportation decisions. You understand how transportation interacts with climate, health, housing, and economic opportunity. You want to reinvent transportation choices to help communities thrive while eliminating pollution.

Position Summary:
The Transportation Program Director leads our work to equitably transition Oregon’s transportation system into one that reduces climate pollution, is truly multi-model, and supports thriving and resilient communities. This position focuses on accelerating transportation electrification and supporting investments in making transit and active transportation (e.g., bike, walk, roll) more accessible. This role will help Oregon reimagine transportation solutions, including how we manage transportation demand. This position will advance transportation policy at the state, regional, and occasionally local, levels including the next Transportation Package in the Oregon Legislature. To be successful, this position will work collaboratively with public interest, local government, community-based, business sector, labor, health, and other stakeholders. This position will analyze proposals and advocate for solutions for sustainable transportation funding and investments. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Policy/Project Development and Implementation; Advocacy (~40%)

• Develops policy proposals to advance program goals; crafts and implements campaign plans to achieve these policies
• Formulates projects (e.g. pilot projects, educational initiatives) to advance program goals; develops and carries out project implementation plans
• Ensures that policies and projects are evaluated for equity implications
• Investigates and analyzes issues germane to program; reviews relevant professional materials and communications on a continuing basis
• Prepares and presents public comments and testimony; lobbies Oregon Legislature and other elected officials; coordinates with legislative director
• Monitors and weighs in on administrative and regulatory processes that relate to program goals; sits on statewide advisory councils, including agency rule-making committees 
• Defends past progress, which may include intervening in lawsuits
• Determines and communicates the organization’s position on external policy proposals that relate to our goals 

Relationship and Coalition Building (~30%)

• Cultivates and maintains collaborative relationships with key interest groups and individuals, including policymakers and agency staff 
• Engages authentically with culturally specific and community-of-color led organizations, organizations representing rural interests, and other organizations that bring a social and environmental justice perspective
• Fosters alliances; develops, manages, and participates in diverse and influential stakeholder coalitions and networks in support of program goals
• Maintains and expands relationships with regional (i.e., West Coast) and national organizations

Outreach and Education (~20%)

• Builds broad public support for program goals and project objectives
• Produces reports, fact sheets, opinion pieces, and other communication tools to support program objectives, with support from our marketing/communications team
• Engages in public speaking to diverse audiences
• Interacts with reporters, with support from our communications director
• Serves as an ambassador for OEC, building OEC’s public presence
• Educates and engages OEC members and supporters through website communications, electronic and written communications, and personal interactions
• Occasionally develops and implements public education and “things you can do” campaigns
• Occasionally develops on-the-ground projects that promote clean and just transportation

Fundraising and Organizational Health (~10%)

• In collaboration with our development team, writes/reviews program-related grant proposals and writes progress reports 
• Occasionally participates in fundraising meetings and events with donors and foundations
• Participates in organizational budget setting, staff meetings and retreats, supports co-workers

Qualifications:
Required Experience or Education

• Bachelor’s degree; relevant advanced degree preferred
• Minimum five years of professional experience in public policy development and advocacy related to transportation; experience promoting transportation decarbonization, transportation electrification and/or multi-modal benefits

Required Skills, Abilities and Qualities

• Proven ability to bring stakeholders together and work strategically to secure policy changes and other program objectives
• A commitment to expanding cultural awareness and advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and as part of the position;  A commitment to continued learning and working against institutional and structural racism
• Excellent interpersonal skills; an eagerness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment; flexible attitude
• A strategic mindset with the ability to conduct long-term visioning and planning
• Ability to write and speak in a clear and compelling fashion
• Entrepreneurial approach, problem-solving skills; demonstrated self-motivation and initiative
• Strong organizational skills; ability to work under pressure; ability to manage multiple projects without losing sight of the “big picture” 
• Performance-oriented mindset with a strong work ethic and commitment to achieving goals
• A passion for OEC’s mission
• Energized to support Oregon Environmental Council’s Values and Beliefs and workplace culture as described in our Team Charter
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information
• Ability to travel statewide

Preferred experience

• Existing relationships with Oregon decision-makers, businesses, state agencies, and advocacy organizations
• Experience working in a nonprofit setting with a mission-driven staff and board
• Relevant advanced degree or equivalent work experience

Other Requirements:
Travel: This position requires some travel around the state. OEC encourages travel by sustainable modes, e.g., walking, bicycling, taking transit, and carpooling.

Work Schedule: Our office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM, however this role requires the ability to be flexible about one’s schedule and work hours. This role may occasionally require excess hours in order to achieve deliverables.   

Physical: This job operates in a professional open-floor office environment with a moderate level of noise associated with personal conversations and office machinery. The employee must be able to see, hear and talk and have the physical ability to move around, lift light objects, and use standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets.

Benefits and Amenities:
OEC offers a collaborative, team-oriented, flexible, family-friendly workplace. Excellent benefits include:

• Four weeks of paid vacation annually (three the first year)
• Fixed holidays 
• Paid personal days
• Paid staff in-service days
• 401k contribution (after the first year)
• Generous and sector-competitive health benefits

OEC endeavors to increase all staff wages annually to account for cost of living as well as to recognize and honor experience gained over time. We review and adjust the organizational pay scale every 2-3 years. Employees can expect to move up in the range for their position’s pay grade as they gain more experience in their roles.

You will learn a lot, laugh a lot, and feel great about helping Oregon communities become better, healthier places to live.

To Apply:
You will be asked for a cover letter & resume, our simple intake form usually takes less than two minutes to complete. Applications are reviewed on a two week rolling basis, and this position will remain open until filled. 

ADA Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please email info@oeconline.org or call 503-222-1963 x100 for assistance. 

Equal Employment Opportunity: Oregon Environmental Council provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender assignment, gender identity or expression, national origin, (dis)ability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.