Maryland Organizer

Title: Maryland Organizer

Reports to: Advocacy Director

FLSA Status: Salaried, Overtime Exempt

Status: Full-time (32 hour standard workweek)

Salary Range: $56,000-$63,000

Position Level: 2 (Manager)

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 DC Organizer, Virginia Organizer,

Community Outreach and Coalitions Coordinator, and a volunteer 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.
• Event planning including social gatherings, campaign-specific meetings, and larger, facilitated panels and summits.
• Manage projects from start to finish.
• Experience building and maintaining diverse coalitions or direct experience working with underserved communities.
• Commitment to equity and social justice.
• Familiarity with the legislative process, particularly at the county and state levels in Maryland
• Strong communications skills, both written and verbal.
• 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 Montgomery County and Prince George’s County strongly preferred
• Experience engaging and navigating government agencies
• Applying creative thinking to organizing
• 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

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