POSITION TITLE
Program Director, Communications and Policy
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
Executive Director
STATUS
Full time, Exempt
Commute Seattle is a 501c(3) nonprofit Transportation Management Association founded in 2004 with a mission to foster mobility partnerships and services to keep Seattle moving and thriving for all. We are supported by local governments and transit agencies and are part of a larger organization consisting of the Downtown Seattle Association and Metropolitan Improvement District. Commute Seattle partners with employers and institutions to implement sustainable transportation options and trip reduction strategies that positively change commute behavior, improve quality of life, and support economic and environmental goals. The Program Director is a vital part of a team supporting a nationally recognized Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program in a city with cutting edge multi-modal transportation and new mobility programs.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The person in this position is responsible for developing and leading strategic communications, partnerships, and identifying policy opportunities to realize Commute Seattle’s strategic plan and mission.
This role will supervise the communication and engagement tactics of multiple teams, which includes both creating and reviewing Commute Seattle marketing and communications. In addition, this involves leading budgeting, developing organization-wide campaigns, and stewarding the Commute Seattle brand. This role provides related oversight and training for staff across the organization.
This role is responsible for stewarding strategic relationships with external organizations including business associations and community groups. This involves co-leading the organization’s policy advocacy plan, coordinating media relations, leading events, collaborating with internal and external partners on communications, and delivering high-quality business-to-business and public facing materials and campaigns.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the implementation of Commute Seattle’s 2023-2026 strategic plan through communications, partnerships and policy advising strategies.
- Partner with the Executive Director to lead a transformative 3-year effort that includes audience and funding diversification, grant expansion and strategic communications.
- Represent Commute Seattle’s priorities in strategic meetings, groups and venues including roundtables, policy forums, and meetings with partner organizations.
- Provide professional development, support and supervision to staff of all levels across the organization.
- Lead the development of major Commute Seattle events and cultivate relationship with event sponsors.
- Oversee and coordinate Commute Seattle digital and earned media efforts including policy one-pagers website development, e-blast content, blog posts, social media strategy, press releases, earned media, and other external communication efforts.
- Work collaboratively with partners and staff to develop innovative new programming to expand our reach to small and medium sized employers and community partners.
- Oversee and maintain quality and consistency of the Commute Seattle brand and proper use of partner branding and logos.
- Oversee the design and development of new marketing and communications collateral in both digital and print forms, including serving as an internal marketing and communications resource to other team members.
- Monitor and compile quarterly web and social media analytic reports; compile press coverage; evaluate and course correct organizational communications as needed.
- Work collaboratively and creatively with partner organizations including King County Metro, City of Seattle, and the Downtown Seattle Association
- Provide copy editing, design and messaging feedback for external communications.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- A minimum of 5+ years of related employment which includes strategically advancing organizational policy objectives through communications and programming.
- Demonstrated strategic use of data and storytelling to advance organizational goals.
- Engagement on local, state, or national policy
- Proven ability to effectively manage multiple simultaneous projects, communicate with multiple teams, and prioritize deadlines
- Excellent written communication skills and demonstrable experience in developing and editing written copy according to a style or brand guide
- Experience managing a budget; identifying, collecting, and evaluating data and making appropriate course corrections
- Excellent copywriting skills, and the ability to, analyze, evaluate, and communicate data in writing and/or to a broad range of audiences
- Strong oral communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver presentations to groups of all sizes
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Outlook, MailChimp, WordPress and Zoom
- Proficiency in social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Analytics, and other social media monitoring tools
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- Passion for multi-modal transportation, sustainability, and/or affordability
- Experience communicating with multi-cultural audiences, particularly BIPOC, immigrant, and ESL communities
- Competency in a foreign language spoken by Seattle transit riders and business owners, including Amharic, traditional Chinese, Korean, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, Tagalog, and/or Vietnamese
- Proficiency working with Adobe Creative Suite, including a strong sense of design and layout principles
- Knowledge of marketing and market research best practices
CHARACTERISTICS
- Reflect the Downtown Seattle Association’s core values of Collaboration, Perseverance, Innovation, Excellence, and Integrity
- Deep commitment to equity and social justice with an understanding of the role that racism, ableism, sexism and other forms of bias and oppression play in perpetuating inequity. We value candidates who come to us from a diverse array of backgrounds and lived experiences
- Demonstrates empathy and active listening when working with customers, coworkers and funders; responsive communication and desires resolve issues completely and promptly
- Humility, sense of humor, comfort with ambiguity, and servant leadership
- Respect that communities have the front-line expertise and experience essential in pursuing a just society and sustainable environment. We seek to support solutions that are self-determined by those impacted, respecting they are experts and balancing lived experience with data-informed practices
- Commitment to growth mindset, collaborative leadership, and a learning-based philosophy
- Ability to weave and work within all DSA mission areas associated with creating a healthy, vibrant downtown while pursuing Commute Seattle’s citywide mission
COMPENSATION
Starting salary of $82,000-$104,000 depending on qualifications, plus competitive compensation package that includes $75 cell phone stipend per month, plus full medical, dental vision benefits, paid time off, short and long-term disability, 401K retirement plan, and an annual ORCA transit pass.
ACCESSIBILITY
We are committed to creating conditions where all candidates can fully express their talents and potential and invite you to let us know if there are accommodations that we can provide to support you in your pursuit of this role. Commute Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
TO APPLY
Please send ONE (1) document combining your resume and cover letter to Kirk Hovenkotter at KirkH@commuteseattle.com with the position title and your last name (e.g. Program Director LASTNAME) in the subject line to ensure consideration. Applications will be reviewed beginning on December 19th, 2022.
Commute Seattle is proud to step up for safety by requiring COVID-19 vaccination of all team members. We’re prioritizing safety for our team members and their families and our communities by requiring the COVID-19 vaccination. To be considered for employment, applicants must supply verification of vaccination during the initial interview process.
We recognize the value of the Downtown Seattle Association and our affiliate organizations and programs reflecting the diversity of the community we serve and are intentionally and actively seeking out applications from a variety of backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
Commute Seattle is an equal opportunity employer. All employees and potential employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, and, if necessary, disciplined without regard to sex, race, religion, creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political ideology or activity, disability, honorably-discharged veteran or military status. All applicants are carefully screened, and full consideration is given to their training, education, skills, aptitudes, experience, and previous work record. In addition, Commute Seattle does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information in its employment related policies and practices, including coverage under its health benefits program.
NO TELEPHONE CALLS PLEASE