About You
You are an experienced urban/transportation planner and advocate who believes in the transformational power of active transportation – namely walking, biking and public transit. You believe that transportation access is fundamental to human and civil rights and that a car-centric society is inequitable, discriminatory and unjust. You know definitively that places that are abundant with walking, biking and public transportation options are more equitable, more healthy, more sustainable and more livable, and that all people in Chicagoland deserve this reality. And you value working at an organization committed to pursuing anti-racism; where working in vibrant, supportive teams is the norm; and leadership is a shared practice.
Job Summary
Under the general direction of the Deputy Executive Director, the Director of Planning and Technical Assistance’s key responsibilities are to manage Active Transportation Alliance’s planning and planning-related services in the greater Chicagoland region. The director provides and manages in-house planning and design projects for staff and stakeholders in support of pedestrian, bicycle and transit advocacy and program initiatives; conducts policy and design research and analysis for projects and legislative campaigns; provides technical assistance to local communities; and maintains a high degree of expertise on current best practices in active transportation policy, design and process. The director also manages staff, active contracts and technical assistance projects.
Responsibilities
Management and Supervision
- Supervise planning team staff and interns
- Train and provide technical support to junior planning staff
- Act as an organizational strategic and thought leader
- Ensure strategic integration of our planning expertise in our advocacy priorities
Planning and Policy Technical Assistance
- Provide technical assistance to ATA advocacy efforts, programs and outside communities in Chicagoland and around the state of Illinois
- Offer design review and recommendations for ATA advocacy efforts and to community partners
- Lead in development and promotion of Complete Streets, zoning and development, and other polices
- Develop and deploy approaches and systems that ensure equitable outcomes in all projects and undertakings
- Lead development of responses to requests for proposals and contribute to other funding proposals
- Provide technical oversight and review for Active Trans’ state, regional and local legislative efforts
- Develop pedestrian, bicycle and trail plans at the local and regional level
- Hire and manage sub-contractors and/or freelance consultants as needed
- Maintain and share state-of-the-art technical knowledge in pedestrian, bicycle, and transit planning and design
Community Engagement and Policy Promotion
- Conduct public input activities to build support for planning and policy initiatives
- Educate local officials and stakeholders on best practices in pedestrian and bicycle planning, policy and design
- Represent and promote Active Trans’ planning and design work at conferences and other venues
Data Analysis and Visualization
- Map and analyze state and local data using ArcGIS Pro
- Assist in development of in-house and external grant proposals
Equity Commitments
- Foster a commitment to and application of equity, inclusion and diversity throughout our work
- Provide direction and analysis on potential impacts of planning and policy decisions on transportation disenfranchised communities
- Consistently prioritize transportation disenfranchised communities in planning and technical assistance services
Other Duties and Responsibilities
- Participate in Active Trans organizational events and activities
- Participate in Active Trans’ Racial Equity Action Plan work
- Travel within region
- Occasional evening and weekend meeting participation
- Other duties as assigned
Preferred Experience
We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. If you believe you have the skills to succeed in this role, regardless of your professional or educational background, we encourage you to apply.
- 5-7 years’ experience working in urban and/or transportation planning and policy environments
- Professional training in public policy, urban planning or other relevant areas
- Direct experience developing pedestrian, bicycle and/or transit plan documents
- Project management experience, especially in crafting scopes of work, budgets, schedules, and managing deliverables and outcomes
- Ability to find, clean, analyze and interpret large transportation datasets including crashes, Illinois Roadway Inventory System the US Census.
- ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online experience
- Fluency in Adobe Creative Suites software
- 1-2 years’ experience managing a team, staff or volunteers
- Authentic interest in developing anti-racist perspectives and actions, both personally and professionally
- A commitment to Active Transportation Alliance’s mission, vision and goals
- A passion for the transformational nature of walking, bicycling and transit on social and racial equity, community livability and sustainability; or willingness to learn and embrace same
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift and carry items up to 25 pounds
- Ability to operate a computer
- Ability to sit at a desk for extended periods
- Ability to stand, walk and be on your feet outdoors for extended periods
- Ability to communicate and exchange information
- Ability to travel throughout the Chicagoland area (predominantly) and the state of Illinois (occasionally)
Start Date
The desired start date is January 4th, 2022. The position will remain open and available until filled.
Term
This is a permanent, full-time position based at Active Transportation Alliance’s office in Chicago’s North Loop area. We support a hybrid work environment of both in-office and remote workplace settings with flexible scheduling.
Salary and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $75,000 annually. Benefits include:
- 15 days paid vacation
- 10 days paid personal/sick time
- 15 paid holidays
- Employer-supported HMO and PPO health insurance plan options
- Dental reimbursement plan
- Life and long-term disability insurance
- Pre-tax transit benefit
- 401k retirement plan
- Flexible work environment with hybrid in-office and remote workplace options
To Apply
Please email a current resume and cover letter to Melody Geraci at melody@activetrans.org. You must include the words “Director of Planning and Technical Assistance” in the subject line of your email to ensure receipt. No phone calls, please.
This position is open until filled. For priority consideration, please submit application no later than December 23rd, 2021.
If you have questions about applying, please get in touch with our Deputy Executive Director, Melody Geraci at melody@activetrans.org.
About Active Transportation Alliance
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Active Transportation Alliance (ATA) is a nonprofit advocacy organization that advocates for walking, bicycling and public transit to create safe, healthy and equitable communities across the Chicago metro region. We believe that mobility equity is fundamental to human and civil rights and envision a future where all people have access to a safe, seamless, convenient and connected transportation environment that is abundant with walking, bicycling and transit options. Together with over 20,000 members, supporters, partner organizations, staff, board and volunteers, ATA works at multiple levels to build a movement, advance public policy, provide technical assistance and organize communities around active transportation. We are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable organizational environment that advances its racial equity plan and actively increases and sustains diversity as a collective effort among all stakeholders.