JOB OPPORTUNITY

ADVOCACY DIRECTOR

Organization: Propel ATL

Job title: Advocacy Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Job type: Full-time, salary, exempt

Compensation: $65,000-$75,000 + benefits, including a remote work stipend

Location: Remote workplace with some in-person meetings and engagements. Candidates must reside in the MARTA service area of metro Atlanta by the start date of employment.

Do you want to lead advocacy efforts to make Atlanta’s transportation systems work better for people? Are you committed to building a city with streets that are safe, inclusive, and thriving spaces for people to walk, bike, roll, and ride transit? Are you an experienced advocate, leader, and coalition-builder?

Propel ATL, formerly the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, seeks an experienced transportation professional to join our team as Advocacy Director. Guided by our strategic plan, the Advocacy Director will lead our efforts to transform Atlanta mobility through campaigns for infrastructure and policy change.

We are committed to building a transportation system that ensures access to opportunity through investments that repair the harmful effects of institutional racism and foster an inclusive community. We’re looking for a team member who supports transportation equity, with a demonstrated enthusiasm for our mission and vision, and a commitment to our guiding principles, particularly those related to social and racial justice.

Position Summary

The Advocacy Director, a new role at Propel ATL, will advance our mission by developing and executing strategic policy initiatives and advocacy campaigns to affect transportation projects and policies.

The Advocacy Director will collaborate closely with coalition partners to develop impactful strategies and campaigns that guide advocacy to public officials, shape agency decision-making, and mobilize Atlantans. They will prioritize sustainable mobility initiatives that intersect with land use, environmental, climate, and social justice issues. The Advocacy Director will work closely with other Propel ATL staff to identify and prioritize opportunities for external and internal engagement, resulting in well-executed advocacy campaigns. They will stay abreast of current transportation issues in Atlanta, offer transportation policy expertise to our team, recommend policy positions, and ensure advocacy is ingrained in all of Propel ATL’s activities.

Primary Responsibilities

Develop and disseminate the organization’s policy and infrastructure agenda based on current organizational priorities, stakeholder input, and the external policy landscape.
Create and implement advocacy campaign plans to advance the agenda: Work collaboratively with the staff Advocacy Team and Governing Board’s Advocacy Committee to develop strategies and implement tactics. Coordinate campaigns with other Propel ATL programmatic areas and activities.
Build advocacy coalitions: Develop and maintain relationships with partners, especially in neighborhoods near the High-Injury Network. Lead coalition work, including collective strategy development.
Write compelling advocacy content including fact sheets, policy briefs, statements, petitions, and action alerts.
Monitor current transportation policy and projects: Stay abreast of the transportation and policy landscapes, recommend opportunities to advance Propel ATL’s goals, and track legislative progress. Provide feedback on transportation projects and plans to Propel ATL staff, agencies, and community stakeholders. Share well-informed recommendations with Propel ATL leadership, staff, and partners that can lead to direct actions.
Represent Propel ATL in meetings with elected officials, on transportation-related committees, and at seminars and conferences. In collaboration with the Executive Director, develop relationships with key elected officials, policymakers, and transportation system leaders and amplify our agenda.
Develop reports in collaboration with volunteers and staff: Work with volunteers, staff, and contractors to use data analysis, GIS, mapping, storytelling, and transportation planning methods to develop reports that support advocacy campaigns and programs.
Measure effectiveness and continually improve: Evaluate campaigns, actions, and policies in order to revise and increase effectiveness.
Manage and support advocacy interns: Provide meaningful responsibilities, experiences, and opportunities to develop the skills and experience of advocacy interns.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates for this position must be practiced at grounding their work in data-driven, people-centered policies, and have a track record of ensuring historically marginalized communities have a voice in systems change. Successful candidates thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment, work well both independently and in teams, prioritize building relationships, and seek out opportunities to work closely with staff and stakeholders.

Furthermore, ideal candidates have exemplary critical thinking skills and a strong record of inclusive leadership, exercise accountability, and understand the dynamics of working in a small organization setting. Candidates for this role should be skilled in receiving and delivering feedback, adaptable and resourceful, have high emotional intelligence, and approach their work with a learning mindset.

Successful candidates will exhibit the following qualifications:

EXPERIENCE

Five or more years:

in the field of transportation or city planning, public policy, or similar field (graduate-level education may count towards this experience)
in a leadership position, managing staff
evaluating results using data

Two or more years:

leading advocacy campaigns to inform policy change
building coalitions and developing relationships with elected officials and government agencies
creating advocacy content and strategic communications

KNOWLEDGE

Current transportation projects and policy issues in Atlanta, the U.S., and beyond
Local transportation policy processes, players, decision-makers, and budgets, particularly in the City of Atlanta and counties in the MARTA service area
How transportation intersects with related issues including social justice, racism, housing policy, and climate change
The need to repair and realign policies and practices that cause racial disparities and injustices and Atlanta’s history — especially its racial disparities and record of intentional harm perpetrated by white supremacist policies and actions
Research techniques and mapping tools, and how these can be applied to support advocacy efforts

STRENGTHS

Exemplary organizational skills and ability to effectively manage and deliver on multiple priorities at once in a dynamic environment
Demonstrated commitment to elevating community voices in advocacy tactics and strategies
Proven ability to analyze state and local transportation policy and projects
Politically savvy, strategic thinker
Clear and concise written and verbal communications; ability to distill complex ideas and issues into inspiring, actionable language for broad audiences
Aptitude for using digital tools to organize work and manage relationships
Successfully navigates challenging conversations, manages conflicts, builds consensus, convenes partners, and has ability to work across diverse perspectives and groups
Commitment to social, racial, and mobility justice

Additional desired attributes

Experience with community organizing and/or transportation advocacy
Knowledge of 501(c)3 lobbying constraints
Fluency in a second language prevalent in metro Atlanta, such as Spanish or Vietnamese

Workplace and Benefits

WORKPLACE FORMAT

Remote; requires some evenings and weekends, as well as occasional in-person engagements at various locations across Atlanta.

REMOTE WORK STIPEND

Staff receive a work from home reimbursement as a fixed amount each pay period.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Employer pays 50% of each employee’s medical insurance premium, in addition to partial dental and vision, and fully covered basic life and long-term disability insurance.

PAID LEAVE

Annual paid holidays include two weeks (one in summer, one in winter), 10 recognized holidays, and four floating days
Vacation accrues at the rate of eight hours per 160 hours worked for new employees
72 hours of annual wellness leave
Family and bereavement leave

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Propel ATL fosters an environment that recognizes, respects, and values different backgrounds and talents. We do not discriminate in our staff, board, volunteers, volunteer committees, or recipients of services, and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected category. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Apply for This Opportunity

Propel ATL acknowledges the role transportation planning has played in creating and exacerbating racial and socioeconomic inequities and recognizes the need for centering and elevating voices that are traditionally underrepresented in transportation planning and decision-making spaces. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, people with disabilities, people from working class backgrounds, women, and LGBTQ+ people.

If you need accommodations to our hiring process more accessible to you, please contact us at [email protected].

Email a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with “Advocacy Director” in the subject line. Applications are reviewed as received, and the position will remain open until filled.

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