THE OPPORTUNITY

Transportation Alternatives (TA) seeks an Executive Director to build upon its 51-year legacy. The Executive Director should be creative and entrepreneurial, and possess vision, spirit, stamina, and the perseverance of an activist with an equity lens. The Executive Director will be responsible for managing and inspiring staff, fundraising in a creative manner, and working productively with public officials, the organization’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council, and its local constituents. The Executive Director will lead all aspects of TA’s mission, including strategic planning, campaign leadership, fundraising and budget management, communications, and coalition building.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and leads the Senior Leadership Team, which currently includes: Deputy Director, Advocacy; Senior Director of People and Operations, Development; Senior Director of Research; Director of Families for Safe Streets; Director of Advocacy; and Director of Communications. The Executive Director leads the Advisory Council, a volunteer body whose members include activists, major donors, and other leaders in the TA community. The Executive Director also plays a special role managing volunteer advocacy committees and TA’s Families for Safe Streets program.

As a thought leader in the field, the Executive Director will promote human-scale transportation and advocate for the organization’s focus areas to a diverse constituency of community partners, donors, and city and state officials. 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES

●      Leadership and Strategy – Provide leadership and direction to a highly motivated team with a common vision and ensure the continued development and management of a professional, efficient, and diverse organization. Establish decision-making processes that will enable TA to achieve its long- and short-term goals and objectives. Work creatively and strategically with the Senior Leadership Team, Advisory Council, Borough Committees, Families for Safe Streets, and key external allies to ensure TA’s initiatives proceed with purpose, vitality, and relevance.

●      Board Partnership – Work in partnership with the Board of Directors focused on the creation and measurement of financial, fundraising, programmatic, and performance goals. Bring forth the Board’s best ideas and efforts in support of TA’s activities and fundraising initiatives, and continue to strengthen and help build a diverse and inclusive Board. In coordination with the Board and Senior Team, develop, refine, and implement a strategic plan while ensuring that the budget, staff, and priorities are aligned with our mission and values.

●      Resource Development – Oversee, identify, and develop comprehensive strategies with the Development Director that continue to grow revenue from major donors, members, special events, foundations, and corporations. Grow and broaden a sound funding base. As the public face of the organization, be a knowledgeable and inspirational representative of TA’s campaigns and initiatives with funders. Support and oversee the necessary research, sourcing, messaging, cultivation, and stewardship of resources. Ensure funding and grant proposals are aligned with TA’s policy priorities and programmatic needs.

●      Communication – Oversee the development of a detailed, compelling, and effective communications strategy, in partnership with the Communications Director. Serve as an articulate, persuasive, and effective spokesperson. Represent TA in public forums and engagement with the media. Build the organization’s capacity to spread best practices and influence public policy.

●      Management and Operations – Provide leadership of TA’s administrative and management systems, internal policies, and procedures, including our relationship with the union that represents some of our staff. Develop a budget in line with mission and goals. Ensure that sound financial controls are in place and that funds are spent wisely. Communicate clearly and openly to staff about the importance of fiscal health and the responsibilities of every individual staffer regarding their role in this effort.

●      Growth, Quality Improvement, and Evaluation – Build upon TA’s history of success and its strong foundation for best practices in empowerment, advocacy, and community organizing. Continuously assess and evaluate the organizational structure, staff, and functions in light of external and internal developments. Measure efficacy of activities with a clear sense of metrics. 

EXPERIENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS

The Executive Director will be a strategic leader with experience in grass-roots organizing who is passionate about TA’s mission and capable of leading a highly visible citywide organization. The candidate will have demonstrated success in how to develop and articulate an organization’s vision with a wide variety of stakeholders and motivating and inspiring others to help achieve the goals and objectives. The Executive Director will have a demonstrated capacity to develop and maintain personal connections with donors and prospective donors and an exceptional ability to build and maintain working relationships with a variety of stakeholders. Finally, the candidate will be an avid bicyclist, walker, and/or user of public transportation.

The Executive Director will have:

●      Unwavering determination to create streets that put people first. Knowledge of New York City’s diverse communities, transit issues and approaches, and the executive presence to advance TA’s mission consistent with environmental and social justice goals.

●      Experience with management with progressively responsible senior roles in an organization focused on transportation reform, urban design, the environment, public health , or other relevant fields. Experience with NYC and/or NY state government and legislative expertise is desirable.

●      Demonstrated ability to balance long-term strategic vision with daily operational issues. A collaborative manager with the ability to attract and nurture high-performing talent. An astute leader able to set clear priorities, delegate, and guide investment in people and systems.

●      Experience as a talented fundraiser who unequivocally enjoys the opportunity to secure resources from private and public funders and revenue generating programs. A demonstrated ability to capitalize public relations opportunities as they arise.

●      Proven managerial, problem-solving, and strategic-planning skills and commensurate fiscal responsibilities as a senior leader with a nonprofit organization. An intuitive problem-solver and motivator who can analyze complex issues and develop effective solutions that enhance TA’s relationships, goals, and initiatives.

●      Experience working effectively and in partnership with a board of directors.

●      A commitment to promoting and achieving cultural, socio-economic, and racial diversity internally and externally with respect to outreach and the development of new projects. Strong commitment to the professional development of staff, with a successful track record of recruiting and retaining a diverse team.

●      Knowledge of how best to partner with government. Provide strong leadership that unifies a citywide organization with a diverse array of allied constituencies (biking, walking, transit, safety, sustainability, social justice, real estate, corporate partners, public health, public spaces, micro mobility).

●      The community-organizing skills to inspire effective movement building. Excellent coalition- building skills with an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. A seasoned negotiator able to find common ground and achieve consensus among differing opinions.

●      Experience as a public speaker and adept at addressing a variety of diverse audiences. Outstanding presentation and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to be an outgoing spokesperson, relationship-builder and fundraiser.

●       Knowledge and great love of New York City

●      A Master’s degree in a relevant field or JD is highly desirable. 

Transportation Alternatives seeks a diverse pool of candidates. The salary range is between $180,000 and $250,000 commensurate with experience. Applications, including cover letters and résumés, and nominations should be sent to search@transalt.org.

Transportation Alternatives is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, political orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law. We value having diverse staff in gender, ethnicity, background and modal preference. BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Location: NYC metropolitan area

Reports to: Interim Co-Executive Director

Compensation: $100,000 - $140,000

Full-time

Transportation Alternatives (TA), New York City's advocate for walking, bicycling, and public transportation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a 50-year history of fighting for safer streets and better transportation in New York City. TA uses a combination of neighborhood-level grassroots organizing and city-wide advocacy to push for changes in public policy, street design, and resource allocation that transform our city’s streets for the better.

TA is a hybrid office and this role requires in office work 2-3 days per week as well as occasional nights and weekends.

Role Overview

The Director of Development will work closely with the management team to plan and execute a robust fundraising operation inclusive of individual giving, major events, and corporate and foundation partnerships. This role will oversee a team of five and have direct management over general development operations, budgets, and strategy. The right candidate is interested in building new relationships that enhance TA’s visibility, impact, and financial resources, is dedicated to mentoring a team, and has a passion for TA’s mission.

Reporting to the Director of Development is a team that currently includes the Part-time Development Manager, Events & Partnerships Manager, Development Coordinator, Development Marketing Associate, Part-time Graphic Designer and will be supported by a part-time Senior Advisor.

Major responsibilities

Individual Giving

• Plan and implement TA’s major gifts program (donors $1K+) with the goal of expanding and diversifying the organization’s major donor base and pipeline.

• Oversee all aspects of major fundraising campaigns, including urgent campaigns and the end-of-year appeal.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to the Development Coordinator who tracks major gifts, supports major donor cultivation and stewardship activities, and maintains donor data and files.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to the Development Manager and Development Marketing Associate who oversee the operation, growth, and refinement of TA’s Membership Program (donors under $1K).

Events

• Develop and implement an annual fundraising event strategy and calendar, setting well-defined deadlines and measurable goals.

• Play a lead role in designing and implementing major donor events and engagements, including the annual spring benefit, summer member party, and select stewardship and cultivation events ranging from receptions and talks to walking tours and social bike rides.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to the Events and Partnerships Manager who plays a lead role in tracking and analyzing event performance, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, managing vendors, contracts, and permits, fulfilling sponsor deliverables, and managing major event logistics and budgets.

• Work with the Communications Team to ensure cohesive production, coordination, and implementation of print, electronic, and social media outlet materials for events and other development activities.

• Continuously seek new, creative event ideas and opportunities in collaboration with TA’s Advocacy and Organizing team as well as external partners.

Corporate & Foundation Partnerships

• Manage relationships with corporate and foundation partners with the goal of strengthening, expanding, and diversifying the organization’s corporate and foundation giving base and pipeline.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to the Development Coordinator who plays a key role in managing the corporate foundation and foundation pipeline, drafting grant proposals and reports, tracking deadlines and deliverables, and general funder prospecting.

• In collaboration with the Events & Partnerships Manager, grow the Corporate Membership Program 

• Work with other teams and the Development Coordinator to identify funding priorities and craft compelling proposals.

• Review and edit grant applications and reports as needed.

Board Relations

• Work to engage the Board’s Development Committee and support their efforts to contribute, identify additional prospective major donors, and expand TA’s donor base.

• Support the ED and DD with reporting to, stewarding, and maintaining good governance for the Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and the Board’s Finance Committee.

Management & Administration

• Create an annual fundraising plan and work with direct reports to create strategies and pipelines that support the annual plan.

• Serve as a member of the senior management team, working to ensure the fiscal and long-term viability of the organization.

• Prepare and monitor the departmental budget, establish forecasts, and prepare evaluations of fundraising activities for the ED, DD, and the Board of Directors.

• Maintain department policies and procedures and provide day-to-day management and leadership for the Development Team. This includes: overseeing hiring and mentoring of the team; establishing clear, accountable team priorities designed to achieve successful results; and leading regular departmental meetings.

Qualified candidates will bring:

• Minimum 7 years of fundraising experience

• Breadth and depth of experience to serve as the head of a comprehensive fundraising program that includes major gifts, an individual membership program, corporate and foundation partnerships, digital marketing and direct mail campaigns, and special events.

• Strong team management skills with demonstrated experience and commitment to being a mentor and motivator for staff

• Experienced collaborator with the ability to nurture a culture of philanthropy across teams

• Entrepreneurial disposition with a commitment to creativity and innovative problem-solving

• Superior ability to keep multiple projects in play and moving forward effectively

• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and grammar knowledge and skills

• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills

• High degree of professionalism, empathy, tact, sensitivity, and level of confidentiality

• Enthusiasm for and demonstrated commitment to TA’s mission

Exceptional candidates will also bring with them:

• Familiarity with EveryAction or comparable CRM database

• Proficiency with Google suite and Microsoft Office suite

• Experience in fundraising event planning and execution

To apply:

Please send a resume and a cover letter to job_applications@transalt.org with “Director of Development” in the subject line.

Transportation Alternatives is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, political orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law. We value having diverse staff in gender, ethnicity, background and modal preference. BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.