Can you turn enthusiasm into action? Do you love connecting people to their power? Do you have experience working with communities and coalitions to win legislative and budget victories? Do you care about making it safer and easier for everyone to get around?
If so, you could be a great candidate to be WABA’s new Maryland Organizer. This is a full-time permanent position to accelerate our efforts to pursue policy changes and infrastructure projects that make Maryland’s streets safer for all road users and help build out our multi-use trail network.
Position Overview
The Maryland Organizer will advocate for safer roads, more and better trails, and improved policies for people biking, walking, and taking transit in Maryland, with a focus on Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and state roads and policies. This work will focus on supporting community members and community-led campaigns, monitoring and providing input on priority infrastructure projects, and engaging with key decision-makers. WABA’s work in Maryland will prioritize communities in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County where there are currently fewer options for safe and accessible walking, biking, and transit.
The Maryland Organizer will join WABA’s Advocacy Team, and report directly to the Advocacy Director. The WABA Advocacy team also includes a Washington, DC Organizer, Virginia Organizer, Community Outreach and Coalitions Coordinator, and a volunteer organizer.
Maryland Organizer Job Responsibilities:
- (30%) Communicate with and educate municipal, county and state officials to encourage the development of bikeable, walkable streets and trails:
- Educate and communicate with elected and agency decision-makers.
- Serve as a WABA spokesperson at public meetings on transportation projects, legislation, and operating and capital budgets.
- Draft and coordinate compelling testimony, sign-on letters, and actions.
- Research and write updates about current projects and campaigns.
- Communicate with relevant press members to ensure coverage of bike, trail, and transit issues in news media.
- (30%) Engage community members and serve as a conduit to help them speak up for safer streets and improved transportation options.
- Respond to inquiries from community members.
- Attend community programs and events related to bicycling and safe streets.
- Host community socials and engagement events.
- Cultivate new supporters through grassroots outreach, trainings, and coalition building.
- (25%) Collaborate with and support advocates and community coalitions to call for bikeable, walkable streets, multi-use trails, and improved transit:
- Coordinate with and between coalition partners to advance campaigns and projects.
- Support and help develop community-led efforts.
- Attend partner and allied events.
- (10%) Manage the Montgomery County Organizer:
- Meet regularly to provide guidance, track progress, and coordinate work plans.
- Advise on event and outreach planning, and support activities as needed.
- (5%) Support WABA activities, such as staffing other WABA events, responding to general inbox Q&A, stuffing envelopes, loading equipment, and tidying up.
Qualifications
Consider applying if you meet 75% of these requirements. The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience or background in the following:
Core Skills:
- 2-3 years of experience in advocacy, community organizing, and/or political campaigns
- Familiarity with legislative and bureaucratic decision-making processes, particularly in DC
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Virtual and in-person event planning experience
- Ability to develop and manage projects from start to finish
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice
- Experience building and maintaining diverse coalitions or direct experience working with underserved communities
- Technological fluency: The organizer will create and maintain spreadsheets, run reports, and communicate with our members and the public via a myriad of online organizing tools, including WordPress and Salesforce. The Advocacy Team uses Google office tools (G-Suite) and Microsoft Office tools to collaborate on work.
Useful Skills and Experience
- Familiarity with safe streets issues in Washington, DC strongly preferred
- Experience engaging with and navigating DC government agencies
- Creativity in organizing and engaging stakeholders
- Ability to quickly digest and distill complicated information
- Comfort speaking in front of large groups, leading meetings, and working with diverse stakeholders
- Spanish language proficiency or fluency is a plus
The candidate must be located in the Washington, DC area or be willing to relocate — while WABA staff work a hybrid schedule, this position will require attending regular in-person events. Occasional evening and weekend work is required.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, salaried, FLSA overtime-exempt position (salary range: $56,000-$63,000).
- 32 hour workweek!
- 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance premiums.
- Vacation, sick and personal leave, including:
- Accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation starting in your first year, with additional hours after two, five, and ten years of service.
- Accrue up to 160 hours annually of paid sick time starting in your first year.
- WABA supports and promotes the health of its staff. You may use accrued sick time for unscheduled leave when not feeling well (mind or body), as well as for scheduled medical appointments.
- Paid time off for holidays, generally following the federal holiday calendar.
- Twelve weeks paid parental leave through the DC Paid Family Leave act (based on eligibility), and four weeks of additional parental leave from WABA.
- Immediate access to WABA’s 403(b) retirement program, with up to a 5% employer match after one year of service.
- Optional commuter transit benefit (pre-tax deduction).
- Optional voluntary benefits including life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
- Passionate, supportive colleagues who are dedicated to working together for our mission and seeing the impact of our work.
- Discounted Annual Capital Bikeshare membership
About WABA
WABA empowers people to ride bikes, build connections, and transform places. We envision a just and sustainable transportation system where walking, biking, and transit are the best ways to get around.
Visit our about page to read about our values, theory of change, and more.
WABA is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, sex, or age.
How to Apply:
Submit a cover letter and resume in one PDF to Kalli Krumpos at jobs@waba.org with “Maryland Organizer” in the subject line. In your application materials, please help us understand your suitability for the role, how you would contribute to the diversity of WABA’s staff, and let us know where you learned about the position.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Please, no phone calls.
