JOB DESCRIPTION
Position: Director of Planning and Community Engagement
Hours: Full time, Salaried (some evening and weekend work required)
Supervisor: Executive Director
Salary: $90,000 to $105,000
Start Date: March 2023
Position Summary
This is a unique opportunity for a medium to senior level planning and/or community engagement professional to join a high-profile organization and a team of collaborative and dynamic planners and outreach specialists. This position is perfect for a lateral jump into a nonprofit, or for an up-and-comer looking to take the next step in their career to develop leadership, management, and business skills.
Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Director of Planning and Community Engagement is responsible for managing all activities and functions of Circulate’s value-oriented fee-for-service planning and outreach team. Duties include project management, planning community engagement work, business development, and proposal writing. Our planning team delivers high quality active transportation planning and community engagement services.
As a nonprofit think tank, Circulate uses advocacy, research, planning, and community outreach to advance our mission of creating excellent mobility choices, and vibrant healthy neighborhoods. Our office culture is both collaborative and kind. Everyone is motivated by our mission, and a shared sense of purpose.
In addition to the competitive salary, the organization also offers generous benefits, a friendly work environment, hybrid options, 401(k), parental leave, sick time, and vacation. Please visit: http://www.circulatesd.org to learn more about our organization.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides excellent planning service for our active transportation and community outreach clients and partners.
- Cultivates relationships with current and potential private, government, and non-government clients, funders, and project partners to maintain and expand a current book of fee-for-service business and grant-funded planning worth about $700,000 annually.
- Leads the selection, management, training, mentoring, and professional development of planning and community engagement staff.
- Writing proposals and grants to fund projects, prepares budgets and project scopes.
- Represents the organization in meetings and acts as representative to a variety of public agencies, businesses, community groups and other nonprofit organizations; fosters collaborative working relationships to accomplish mutual goals and objectives.
- Prioritizes and allocates available project resources; reviews and evaluates service delivery, makes recommendations for and executes changes in operations where necessary; assists in developing new projects, including researching, compiling and analyzing support data.
- Partners with Executive Director and policy staff to identify where planning, community engagement, and policy advocacy can collaborate to advance the overall organizational mission to create excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods.
- Develops systems and maintains records that provide for the evaluation, control and documentation of assigned projects; assists with invoicing processes, prepares a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, directives and other materials, as required.
- Develops recommendations and reports to address community concerns and aspirations.
- Identifies and pursues business development opportunities to team with local planning and outreach firms and to work directly with local jurisdictions on contract projects.
- Utilizes software tools such as, GIS, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office to meet organizational needs.
- Performs related work as required dependent on the necessary skills, experience and aptitudes, and subject to such additional responsibilities falling within the general duties of the position.
General Duties
As a member of the Circulate San Diego leadership team, the Director of Planning and Community Engagement is expected to contribute to its overall mission, and:
- Contribute to the friendly and collaborative work environment
- Approach all of our work through the lens of advancing our value-oriented mission
- Assume responsibility for following all policies and procedures
- Attend Board, committee and other internal meetings, as required
- Provide a high level of client service at all times
- Project and maintain a positive image on behalf of Circulate San Diego.
Desired Qualifications
- Graduate Degree (or comparable experience) in Planning, Community Outreach, Engineering, or other relevant field,
- 5+ years of experience in active transportation planning, community engagement, and/or relevant field
- Familiarity with preparing proposals for fee-for-service planning and community engagement work
- Ability to prospect and write grants to philanthropic funders
- Strong oral and written communications skills
- Experience working with MS Office, GIS, and the Adobe Creative Suite.
- Spanish fluency a plus
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary, $90,000 - 105,000, depending on experience
- Health and dental coverage
- 401(k) match of up to 4% employer contribution
- 10 annual vacation days
- 10 paid holidays
- 10 annual sick days
- Paid parental leave
- Professional development fund
How to Apply
Circulate San Diego values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are encouraged to apply.
Interested applicants should e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and any relevant work product examples to jobs@circulatesd.org, and with the subject line “Director of Planning and Community Engagement Application.” No phone calls please.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position. This job description is subject to review and amendment in light of experience and in the annual employee review process.
