Posted: July 19, 2011

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Transport for NOLA
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
Transport for NOLA is the first alternative transportation education and advocacy group of its kind in the State of Louisiana. We seek to promote transit that is connected to New Orleanians’ daily lives and already have the largest online and Twitter followings around City transportation issues. For those who depend on transit—because of age, income, or disability—or those who take it by choice, we advocate for transportation options as a public service and a public good. We know that alternative transportation modes are critical to the creation of vibrant, healthy and sustainable neighborhoods that encourage economic opportunities for all residents, and we aim to educate the public on the importance of transportation choice in their community.

JOB OVERVIEW
The executive director of Transport for NOLA serves as the chief executive officer of the organization. In this capacity the executive director is responsible for financial management, program performance, management of volunteers and interns, as well as additional staff as the organization grows, and the duties and reporting requirements of the Board of Directors. Guidance and direction are provided by the president of the board, board members and advisory committee members.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
Commitment of a minimum of 40 hours per week is required. Salary is commensurate with experience. Health, dental insurance and vacation benefits may be provided, standard employee contributions apply. It is understood that additional hours may be required and that some flexibility in arrival and departure time as well as weekends and evening work will be required.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

1) Governance and Administration

• Serve as the chief executive, overseeing all day-to-day activities and routine work of the organization.
• Participate in strategic and organizational planning with Board and volunteers.
• Participate in organizational and program evaluation.
• Negotiate, coordinate and monitor all business affairs of the organization with Board oversight (i.e. insurance plans, contractual agreements, legal documents).
• Implement strategies and meet objectives of Board-adopted strategic plan.
• Support the work of the Board by attending all regular board and committee meetings, establishing meeting schedules and locations, sending notices of meetings, and creating agendas and meeting materials.
• Inform and advise the Board on matters of policy, programs and strategic direction.
• Oversee the maintenance of files, work products and databases.
• Oversee maintenance of the website, newsletters, Facebook and Twitter.
• Prepare the organization’s annual report and other reports requested by Board or required by funders.
• Maintain office policies as designated in the Organizational Policy Manual.

2) Financial Management

• Develop, with appropriate Board members, annual project and organizational budgets.
• Review, monitor, and maintain records of revenues and expenditures, monthly financial statements and all bank accounts of the organization.
• Present regular financial statements to Board.
• Maintain a complete record of minutes, policies and procedures adopted by the Board.
• Pay all bills in a timely manner and keep Board apprised of cash-flow status.
• Cooperate in the preparation of annual financial audit by serving as chief contact for outside auditor.
• Submit annual 990 tax filing.

3) Program Management
The executive director will be responsible for managing Transport for NOLA’s major programs in coordination with the organization’s four standing volunteer committees, each led by a major volunteer:

• Communications and Events
  o Maintain content and word press
  o Maintain website
  o Perform event outreach
  o Maintain media contacts
• Community Education and Outreach
  o Ensure Transport for NOLA is engaged in the official public processes.
  o Partner with community organizations, stakeholders, and elected officials to achieve better quality of life outcomes.
  o Work strategically but individually with neighborhood groups, business owners, and community institutions to achieve at least two major outcomes.
  o Hold Transit Oriented Happy Hours
  o Hold Annual Transit Week events
• Research, Policy and Advocacy
  o Collect data on transportation capital, operations, travel behavior, rider statistics, funding, and programs and relate data to housing and economic development. Make data and analyses available to everyone and encourage wide-spread technological innovation.
  o Work with other relevant organizations to develop a region, long-term, multi-modal transportation data resources, and analysis, and planning that coordinates all levels of government, involves the community and stakeholders.
  o Work with relevant organizations to develop land use, zoning, and development incentives that link housing, economic opportunity, and transportation to produce better quality of life outcomes.
• Resource and Organizational Development
  o The Board is primarily responsible for fundraising. As needed, the Executive Director may provide limited support to the Board and Resource Development Committee to fundraise.
  o Participate in donor cultivation by meeting personally with funders when possible and educating them about the organization’s work.
  o Direct the design and implementation of long and short-term strategies to promote the organization’s work with local and national leaders, the media and the public

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor degree in a quantitative field such as Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business, Marketing, Economics, or related field required. Master degree preferred.
• Enthusiasm and interest in alternative transportation required, expertise in the field as a concentration preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in leadership role at a non-profit, planning institution, start-up or similar required.
• Extraordinary organizational skills, ability to organize and coordinate volunteers, willingness to list and track tasks and deadlines, and provide attention to detail and follow through.
• Demonstrated experience developing sophisticated analytic approaches to complex business problems. Ability to transform complex data, analyses, and policy in to understandable information and actions.
• Professionalism and enthusiasm when handling requests for analysis and reports.
• Versatile communicator, ability to interact with professionals in business and government as well as community members.
• Experience working with datasets, conducting statistical analyses and predictive modeling.
• Expertise or ability to quickly learn GIS for transportation, housing and economic development analyses, and Photoshop type applications for displays of visual information.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills and attention to reporting accuracy.

LOCATION: NEW ORLEANS, LA
Rented office space in entrepreneurial environment
To apply, send your cover letter, resume, sample Op-Ed for newspaper publication regarding a transit-related issue, and sample 3-5 page transit-related policy memo or planning guide to:
Transport for NOLA Executive Search Committee
info@transportfornola.org