Queens Organizer

Reports to: Director of Advocacy

Salary: $70k/year

Transportation Alternatives (TA), New York City's advocate for walking, bicycling, and public transportation, seeks a Queens Organizer to lead our campaigns and work in the borough. The right candidate is a self-starter who can create and implement campaign strategy, build consensus within a group, and is interested in New York City – especially Queens – politics, grassroots organizing, and active transportation.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Director of Advocacy, the Queens Organizer will work closely with others in the organization to advance our work to reclaim street space from the automobile for pedestrians, cyclists, micro-mobility, and mass transit riders. You will manage a group of local activists, which requires thinking about “big picture” strategy and managing the day-to-day needs of each campaign. The right candidate will approach the work in both a qualitative and quantitative way, elevating local volunteers and partners as needed while also identifying new opportunities through data metrics.

Areas of responsibility will include:

Campaign Management

• Lead and manage significant campaigns and grants, as well as new campaigns as opportunities arise, in collaboration with the Director of Advocacy
• Support members in developing comprehensive organizing strategy, power mapping, and executing tactics to put pressure on decision-makers
• Organize and implement tactics per campaign strategy, including hosting rallies, lobbying elected officials, conducting stakeholder outreach in the community, press outreach and more.
• Track qualitative and quantitative goals for campaigns, as well as provide monthly reports

Activist Development

• Facilitate monthly volunteer committee meetings, identify and recruit new members, and build and maintain strong relationships with our volunteer base
• Develop leadership among volunteer activists, including establishing leadership structures within advocacy campaign committees and engaging in one-on-one meetings with key activists
• Design and facilitate dynamic and energizing organizing programming and skill building with members
• Manage volunteer committee’s Google Group, Slack, Social Media, and other online accounts for digital engagement

Community Support and Recruitment

• Conduct outreach to recruit volunteers through attending and hosting public meetings, canvassing, phone/text banking, social media, and other methods
• Create clear monthly recruitment goals and an outreach system to increase membership
• Cultivate deep relationships with community members, community partners, and other community groups.
• Represent TA in coalitions, meetings, and event
• Regularly assess the political landscape to explore new relationships to build our power and organizing skills with elected officials and others in the community.
• Conduct media interviews and press responses

Build the Organization and Movement

• Engage in collective visioning with staff and members to co-create our organizing strategy
• Participate in assessments regarding the overall health of our organization and member participation
• Regularly assess the political landscape to explore new relationships to build our power and organizing skills
• Build trust and solidarity with other organizations doing similar organizing work locally and nationally

This position is located in New York City. TA’s office is a fast-paced and collaborative work environment. Occasional evening and weekend engagements are expected. Additionally, given the 24-hour news cycle, late nights and early mornings will be part of this position.

Qualified candidates will bring with them:

• At least two years experience in organizing or campaigning, with a strong background in advocacy and/or grassroots organizing
• Knowledge of Queens communities and political landscape
• Able to develop and execute campaign strategy and build consensus within different stakeholders
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet goals and deadlines while working independently
• Lived experience or demonstrated professional skills working with racially and economically diverse individuals and communities, including working class, immigrant/refugees, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ populations
• Strong communication skills, including writing and public speaking
• Ability to manage competing priorities and self-direct to meet strict deadlines
• Passion for TA’s mission and commitment to social justice, antiracism and a nuanced understanding of the ways in which TA’s work intersects with race and equity.

Exceptional candidates will also bring with them:

• Bilingual, with a strong preference for Spanish speakers
• Experience with using social media platforms for organizing, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
• Familiarity with online platforms such as EveryAction, CallHub, Mobilize, and Canva, or similar
• Experience with event planning and logistics
• Experience working G Suite tools

This position is included in the bargaining unit of TA employees represented by the Technical, Office and Professional Union, T.O.P. Local 2110 UAW.

To apply:

Please send a resume and a cover letter to job_applications@transalt.org with “Queens Organizer” 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.