Safe Streets Austin is a movement to transform Austin’s streets, bikeways, and trails into safe, vibrant, equitable places for people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, roll, and gather.

We organize city-wide and neighborhood events for activities, volunteering, canvassing, and collaborating. We facilitate and publicize demonstration projects, such as Living Streets installations. We publicly celebrate successful programs and initiatives. Long-time advocacy organizations and champions for safe streets, Bike Austin, Walk Austin and Vision Zero ATX have come together under the Safe Streets Austin umbrella to amplify their shared vision for recreating the transportation structure in Austin.

Initial Deadline Extended to July 8, 2024

About the role

We’re seeking a transformative, visionary Executive Director who can guide Safe Streets Austin to meet the challenges of today and prepare for those of tomorrow. You are a passionate advocate for safe streets and people-prioritized mobility with the ability to build a coalition with organizations and individuals that radically increase the number and diversity of people actively participating in this mobility movement for transportation justice.

You are able to bring your vision to life in a way that is compelling and inspiring, resulting both in increased financial and member engagement. As Executive Director, you will be responsible for the overall strategic and operational leadership of the organization, including financial stewardship and fundraising, advocacy, programs, community engagement, and administration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a vision and strategic plan to advance the organization’s mission, goals, and objectives.

• Work closely with the Board of Directors to refine and execute strategic priorities.

• Lead fundraising efforts.

• Work closely with the Board of Directors to identify, pursue, and get money via grant writing, major gifts, membership drives, and events. Build relationships that result in long-term financial support.

• Guide staff activities.

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team.

• Foster a collaborative, positive, and productive work environment.

• Interact with a diverse, large group of stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, peer organizations, elected officials, and supporters.

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for the organization, while uplifting the voices of other organization leaders, when appropriate, by fostering unified messaging and confident communication skills.

• Ensure effective communication strategies are in place to engage members, stakeholders, and the public.

• Lead advocacy.

• Lead advocacy efforts to influence local and regional policies that promote safe and accessible bicycling, walking, and rolling

• Build and maintain relationships with city officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders.

• Grow membership.

• Engage, inspire and mobilize the diverse communities of the Austin metro to become active members of Safe Streets Austin.

• Foster an inclusive environment that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds in bicycling, walking, and rolling advocacy, especially historically marginalized and disenfranchised groups.

• Ensure good organizational administration and legal compliance.

• Oversee financial management, budgeting, prepare tax returns, and financial reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional leadership and senior management experience in a nonprofit or advocacy organization, with a proven ability to inspire and motivate staff members, volunteers and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated success in fundraising, membership growth, and financial management.

• Experience in identifying grant opportunities, developing proposals, and managing grant-funded projects.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrated success working collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including historically marginalized and disenfranchised groups.

• Knowledge of urban planning, transportation policy, and advocacy strategies, both in general and within the context of the Austin metro area–highly desired.

• Experience with transportation advocacy.

Required Qualifications

• A passion for safe streets, walking, bicycling, rolling, and people-prioritized mobility.

• Leadership experience in a nonprofit, advocacy organization, government agency, or campaign position with a proven ability to work with staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.

• Location: Live in or willing to relocate to the Austin region.

• Experience successfully raising money for a nonprofit organization, or parallel experience.

• Skilled at office and communications technology.

Compensation

• $80,000-110,000 / year

• salary commensurate with experience

• employer-sponsored health coverage subsidy, vacation and sick leave, holidays

Commitment to Equity and Justice

Safe Streets Austin is committed to achieving transportation justice for all, especially those who have historically been underserved by infrastructure and policies, including but not limited to people of color, people with disabilities, people from working-class backgrounds, women, and people with LGBTQ+ identities. All Safe Streets Austin staff are therefore expected to center and amplify these diverse perspectives in our work.

We also strongly encourage applications for this position from people with these identities. There are many paths to being an excellent candidate for this position, including lived experience. Even if you feel that you do not meet all the precise criteria listed in this job description, we nevertheless encourage you to apply.

How to apply

For more information about Safe Streets Austin, please visit: safestreetsaustin.org. Candidates may submit application materials, including a resume and cover letter (in pdf format), via email, to chair@safestreetsaustin.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 8, 2024 or until the position is filled.