Fall 2022
Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots nonprofit organization of public transit riders, workers, and residents who defend and expand public transit.
We are seeking a full-time community organizer to start in Winter 2022. The community organizer will work out of our Garfield office, but may work part-time remotely. The primary responsibilities will be to mobilize grassroots action for more equitable, affordable and sustainable transit service. The organizer will directly engage riders, bus operators and residents in community campaigns for expanded transit funding at the state and federal level, for fair fares, and for affordable housing and equitable development that puts people first. Relationship-building, leadership development and community engagement will happen through in-person, phone and digital means. The Organizer will report to the Director.
PPT has a very small paid staff team, and close collaboration is required between all four staff positions. This is not an entry-level position; we strongly prefer applicants with experience in community or labor organizing. Primary duties and responsibilities of the community organizer include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lead PPT base-building and leadership development
- Bottom-line the member-driven organizing committee, and recruit, train and support new members
- Develop and conduct member outreach plan
- Build strong relationships and develop a leadership pipeline for PPT member engagement
- Mobilize members to take action and track participation
- Facilitate and lead canvassing days, phone banks, community meetings, events, and demonstrations
- Create and distribute fliers and other outreach material
- Manage and update the database of contacts and action history for each campaign
- Assist in management of PPT interns, members and volunteers.
- Assist with campaign planning and implementation, informed by transit riders and workers
- Assist with strategic planning
- Research transit needs, land use projects and policies that affect public transit riders and workers along with the community
- Assist with coalition building, by identifying and collaborating with allied partners
- Support fundraising efforts and events
- Participate in digital content creation and use social media and online organizing tools to support virtual-to in-person engagement and leadership development.
- Assist in setting up digital infrastructure for meeting registration, online petitions, and contact management. Assist in preparing call lists and online access for volunteer phone banking and email outreach.
- Develop social media posts to drive engagement to PPT’s website, PPT meetings, and volunteer opportunities.
- Assist with writing of PPT blogs on campaign position
- Represent PPT in coalitions, meetings and events, and in communication with members of the media
Qualifications:
- Organized, responsible, and independent self-starter with the ability to identify new opportunities, while effectively using existing resources
- A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in grassroots community organizing or labor organizing
- Proven ability to work as part of a team and to handle fast paced situations
- Strong and effective communication skills (public speaking, writing, etc.)
- Values self-improvement, open to giving and receiving feedback
- Passionate about public transit, labor, environmental justice, and equity.
- Believes in the power of collective action to bring about systemic change.
- Experience working in an environment where commitment to justice based on race, ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation and physical ability is an important institutional value.
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends.
- Willingness to travel throughout Allegheny County, and occasionally throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Drive, and a willingness to develop additional skills as needed. Familiarity with EveryAction, Callhub, Not Another Mail Merge, social media platforms, and graphic design skills are a plus.
Although PPT is a public transit advocacy organization, we often work in neighborhoods and with residents who have limited or no access to public transit, and so we prefer for applicants to have access to a reliable means of transportation.
Please send a resume and cover letter to Laura Chu Wiens, Executive Director, PPT via email at laura@pittsburghforpublictransit.org. To ensure prompt attention make sure to put “PPT Community Organizer” in the subject line.
Pittsburghers for Public Transit is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, and members of other under-represented groups are highly encouraged to apply.
Salary is $50,000 a year, and includes high quality, fully-paid family health care, bus pass, 401k retirement contributions, and generous paid leave time. PPT is committed to an access-focused culture centered around disability justice principles, and believes in a workplace culture with a healthy work-life balance.
