Next City seeks an experienced and dynamic Executive Director & Editor in Chief to lead the organization.

About Next City

Next City is a nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire social, economic and environmental change in cities through media and events. Founded in 2003 and based in Philadelphia, Next City is renowned for its smart reporting on urban affairs and impactful events.

Its website, NextCity.org, reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month who look to Next City for new ideas in economic development, infrastructure, civic technology,  policy and culture. Next City events, including the signature annual conference, Vanguard, help to network this audience of urban planners, government officials, and others who are professionally dedicated to advancing the cities where they live.

Next City is supported by its readers, corporate sponsors and many of the country’s largest foundations, including the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Surdna Foundation, among others.

Job Description

Next City seeks an Executive Director & Editor in Chief at an exciting time: the organization has a rapidly growing online presence and audience, as well as strong philanthropic support. At this juncture, Next City seeks a hands-on executive who will lead its next phase of growth by overseeing the organization’s editorial strategy and programs, developing the organization’s business plan and providing thought-leadership. The right candidate will be comfortable talking about urban policy trends at public events and on television, expressing Next City’s vision to funders and readers, and leading staff to achieve their best.

The Executive Director & Editor in Chief will accomplish the following:

Editorial Leadership & Programming

–       Set editorial strategy and ensure high standards of editorial content

–       Develop ideas for innovative programming for high-impact events

–       Serve as the face of the organization in media, at events and with donors

–       Leverage and build upon the success of the Vanguard Conference, an annual 40 under 40 urban leadership conference

Fundraising / Business Development

–       Develop an overall strategy to build sustainable revenue opportunities

–       Maintain and grow Next City’s foundation and corporate support

–       Build relationships to develop major corporate sponsorships for events and sponsored content

–       Develop an individual donor base for Next City, from subscribers to major donors

–       Plan and execute an annual fundraiser

Budget / Administration

–       Develop annual budget for board approval and submit quarterly financial reports

–       Hire, lead and manage all editorial and administrative staff

–       Work with COO and bookkeeper to oversee accounts receivable and payable and the annual audit process

Board

–       Serve as primary organizational liaison to board of directors

–       Increase the size, diversity, engagement and impact of Next City’s board

–       Meet with board quarterly and report Next City business

–       Establish board committees

Qualifications

–       At least 5 years of experience in senior management roles

–       Experience in and understanding of online media

–       Excellent public speaking and written communications skills

–       Passion for social, economic and environmental concerns

–       Demonstrated fundraising and/ or business development ability

–       Self-driven personality, start-up mentality, relationship-oriented work ethic

–       Experience in at least one of the following: media, urban policy, nonprofit development. (Those with experience in all three areas will be preferred.)

–       Ability to travel domestically and internationally 20% of time

–       Occasional nights and weekend work

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed immediately. Please submit a resume, a cover letter with salary requirements and three references to jobs@nextcity.org. In addition, please send a link to a video demonstrating your public speaking ability and a link to a published writing sample, if available. No phone inquiries please. Click here to Apply.

Photo by cogdogblog

The Federal Highway Administration plans to produce deployment guidance in 2015 on connected vehicles to transportation infrastructure owner/operators.  Tell us what would best support decision making and deployments at the state and local level.

National Associations including AASHTO, ITE and ITS America are working together to form a Vehicle to Infrastructure(V2I) Coalition.  What type of organization will best meet your needs?

Please provide comments based on the materials distributed on these topics at the September 12, 2014 public meeting including the initial draft guidance, a handout on the proposed coalition, and the list of supporting V2I products/tools under development. The V2I Deployment Guidance Draft is an initial draft document. USDOT is seeking feedback from State and local Departments of Transportation, transit operators, other operating agencies, and infrastructure owners who are starting to plan for the deployment and use of connected vehicle technologies in their area. Any interested parties may provide comments on the initial draft guidance through Friday, November 14, 2014.

Questions to Consider on the Proposed CV Guidance

• Will the topics covered in the proposed guidance and the companion products being developed provide you with enough support to successfully deploy connected vehicle technologies in your area?
• Are there additional tools, training, or resources that you would like to see developed?
• Any other concerns/comments?

Questions to Consider on the V2I Deployment Coalition

• What are your thoughts about the structure of the proposed coalition?
• How should associated organizations’ and agencies’ leadership be involved?
• What challenges are likely to arise and need to be addressed?
• Any other concerns/comments?

Review source materials and provide comments at: http://www.its.dot.gov/meetings/v2i_feedback.htm by Friday, November 14, 2014.

The FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty is pleased to announce the opening of a “Senior Transportation Specialist” position that will serve as the Planning Capacity Building Team Leader in the Office of Planning.  The Office of Planning is responsible for the development and implementation of national policies, regulations, guidelines, standards, procedures, techniques, and initiatives to comply with the transportation planning and programming provisions.  The position will:
·         Serve as an authoritative advisor on a national basis within a wide area of transportation planning and capacity building issues and, as such, plays a major role in FHWA in developing and promoting national policies, programs, and procedures on numerous transportation and community planning and policy issues, and for providing authoritative advice, counsel, and interpretation of FHWA policies, procedures, and regulations.
·         Provide leadership, coordination, and support for existing program activities and assessment of program direction in response to changes in internal and external needs.
·         Possess a mastery of advanced concepts, principles and practices and serves as the national expert in the application of a variety of program focus areas within the Office of Planning.
·         Coordinate and communicate with others on work activities within the Office’s area of responsibility.

The ideal candidate is a mid to senior level professional who functions independently and demonstrates leadership in team environments and managing people.  You should also have strong analytical, strategic planning, and communication skills.  Experience should also include analytical expertise and/or project/program oversight in capacity building and administering transportation planning projects, programs and processes.  Experience in the analysis and/or improvement of transportation policy and an ability to meet organizational goals is also desirable.

·         Open Period:  Tuesday, October 28, 2014 to Monday, November 10, 2014
·         Series and Grade:  GS-2101-15
·         Duty Location:  One vacancy in Washington, DC

For those interested in knowing more about the position or applying, please see job announcement numbers FHWA.HEP-2015-0001 or FHWA.HEP-2015-0002:
·         Open to all U.S. Citizens – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/384978000
·         Merit Promotion Vacancy (Open to all current Federal employees, those prior Feds with re-instatement eligibility rights & VEOA applicants) – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/384977600

Should you have any questions regarding this position, please send an email to transjobs@dot.gov or contact the Automated Staffing Office at 202-366-1298.

Below is a tweet that got me wondering.  Despite knowing the bad status of the Highway Trust Fund, why is congress so hesitant to raise the gas tax? I’m sure many of you are left asking the same question. Several years have gone by and many transportation reauthorizations bills have been enacted since the last time we raised the gas tax (in the early 1990s). But there is still no appetite to raise the gas tax, even by a few cents (and there seems to be any sense of urgency as well).  Hopefully this trend is reversed in the upcoming re-authorization in 2015.  BTW, am I alone in thinking that this picture below also subtly answers why we love our cars so much and like to build houses far from the urban core? What would happen to our current development model/real estate practices if gasoline was taxed like how it is done in Europe?

#roadfinancing #advocacy RT @ARTBA: Funding = road quality, just ask the EU #TMAW #FixtheHTF http://t.co/POeb0cEyq3 pic.twitter.com/HSHKuEFsbT

— CarolineVisserGRL (@GlobalRoadLinks) June 24, 2014

If you get a chance, visit this brilliant website (by ARTBA), Transportation Makes America Work, to see the impact of how this current gas tax situation is affecting the nation’s progress (you can even check out the impact on your particular state’s infrastructure). Also if you are interested, you can take action by contacting your local representative right on the website (and if you are a transportation nerd like me, you can always download the app on your phone and be ready to spill the facts in any discussion).

Image courtesy: tmaw.com –

Related articles

• Looming Highway Trust Fund Crisis: Impact on State Transportation Programs
• Do Low Oil Prices Justify Raising the Gas Tax?

Position Description

The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Center for Transportation Safety is seeking an individual to lead and serve as Program Manager for the Traffic Crash Analysis Program.  The incumbent will lead efforts to identify new sources of funding, ensure timely submittal and quality of work products, oversee proposal development, and develop and mentor staff.  Responsibilities include managing traffic safety projects which may include literature review, data collection, analysis, and technical report development in areas such as crash analysis, impaired driving, and other traffic related topics.

Continued employment in this position is dependent upon availability of funding and satisfactory level of performance.

Essential Duties:

Serve as principal investigator of research studies involving transportation safety, performance evaluations and program evaluation 25%
Conduct literature review 15%
Prepare technical reports 15%
Collect data and conduct analysis 10%
Outreach – Community & Stakeholder 10%
Report/presentation preparation and delivery 10%
Proposal and project development 10%

Required Qualifications:

• Masters degree in engineering, planning, public health, health education or related field
• 8 years of experience in traffic safety analysis using crash data and statistical methods
• Strong project management experience
• Proposal and project development experience
• Strong oral and written communication skills specifically related to technical reports in related field
• Proficient with MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and statistical analysis software (e.g., SAS)
• Ability to travel overnight
• Ability to work effectively with others to identify and accomplish project tasks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer Ph.D. in related discipline
• Record of successful proposal submittals in traffic safety.
• Prior experience in managing a program of traffic safety analysis.
• Record of successful relationships with local, state or Federal transportation or safety agency officials and project managers.
• Extensive experience with traffic records and/or crash analysis and data-linking techniques
• Experience in developing traffic safety related training and educational materials.
• Experience with MS Project and/or MS Access as well as SPSS or SAS statistical software.
• Experience with crash analysis software related to problem identification in geographical areas or according to demographics.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://cw.halogensoftware.com/texas_transport/loadJobPostingDetails.do?jobPostingID=101384&source=jobList

Do you have a new, creative, or innovative idea for addressing a significant transportation challenge? Are you a student, a group of students or a young professional? The George Mason University’s School of Policy, Government and International Affairs wants to hear from you!

In the world of transportation and transportation challenges, it is imperative that we foster the development and implementation of new ideas. Instead of offering the same old solutions–turning the proverbial wheel, but not moving forward– we challenge you to think creatively and offer “outside the box” solutions to complicated transportation policy challenges. So how can you push that wheel forward? How can you affect change?

•  First Prize: $10,000
• Second Prize: $5,000
• Third Prize: $2,500

Examples of significant transportation challenges include:

• Funding for transportation facility and services
• Fostering public/private sector collaboration
• Developing creative new transportation modalities
• Encouraging multimodal solutions
• Reducing community and environmental impacts of transportation facilities and services.
• Enhancing quality of life through access to jobs, medical care, housing, recreation, etc.
• Expanding opportunities for disadvantaged populations.
• Tackling challenges arising from demographic changes and generational shifts.

The award will be announced in the Spring of 2015. Please visit the competition website for details on submission requirements and procedures. http://outsidethebox.gmu.edu/

The Eno Center for Transportation is seeking a Policy Analyst in to join Eno’s Center for Transportation Policy (CTP). The Policy Analyst will report to the Director of Finance and Policy, and will provide support to all activities within CTP. These activities will include, but are not limited to:

– Write and research for Eno policy projects
– Manage specific research and policy projects
– Assist with writing proposals for future projects
– Contribute to the monthly newsletter, Eno Brief, and other publications
– Publicly presenting research results
– Participating in professional development activities

As Eno’s work spans the industry, the Policy Analyst will need to be able to contribute to policy work across all modes of transportation. In addition to working with CTP, the Analyst will occasionally be expected to contribute to work within the other areas of Eno, including CTL, finance, and communications.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
– A working knowledge of transportation policy, economics, and existing issues in the industry
– Masters degree in public policy, engineering, urban planning, political science or related field preferred
– Two to five years of work experience
– Demonstrated strengths in both researching and writing
– Ability to multi-task

Compensation
Eno offers a competitive benefits package. Salary will commensurate with experience.

To Apply
This position will remain open until filled. Submit cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample to Ann Henebery at ahenebery@enotrans.org.

Find the full listing here: https://www.enotrans.org/about-us/employment

(H/T YPTransportation.org)

via YPTransportation.org

SAFE is looking to hire someone to lead their transportation initiatives. This position will cover all of their work on advanced transportation technologies and alternative fuels, automotive efficiency, and emerging innovations like autonomous vehicles. The job consists of research and analysis on industry trends, public policy development, some outreach, and support of their deployment community projects in Orlando and Northern Colorado. The job description is here: SAFE – Policy Lead Transportation.

SAFE is looking for a proactive person with strong writing and analytical skills. They are thinking young and hungry, but are open to all types. It really is a critical hire for the organization.

via PTV

Did you know that for every 1km/h reduction in average speed, there is a 2% reduction in the number of crashes? With the growing population of humans and vehicles globally, the safety of road users is becoming more and more important.  The 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) report indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths is ~1.24 million per year. Only 28 countries, covering 7% of the world’s population, have comprehensive road safety laws on five key risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints.  What’s more scary is the fact that this number is going to rise sharply – 1.9 million fatalities /year by 2020 if we don’t take any action.

So,  how do we achieve a better safety record for the rest of the 93% global population?  How do we build communities where every one can access the transportation infrastructure safely? One of the easiest ways to reduce the number of crashes is by reducing the speed of vehicles, which can have immediate and direct impact on the number of crashes according to this infograph from PTV.  If you want to learn more about road safety, download PTV’s free white paper and register to participate in webinars on this topic in early September. 

Image Courtesy: PTV Group Traffic Inside