The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is hiring in Mississippi!

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is hiring a full-time state advocacy organizer in Mississippi. This position would continue to work very closely with Bike Walk Mississippi and MDOT’s Safe Routes to Schools coordinator in our efforts to advance active transportation and more livable communities in Mississippi.

Summary: The state advocacy organizer builds, strengthens and maintains a state network of diverse organizations, public agencies and partners to achieve the following three main policy objectives:

1) Leverage funding for bicycle and pedestrian construction projects, including the award and obligation of federal Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements funds.
2) Facilitate additional street-scale improvements through the adoption of Complete Streets policies, design guidelines that support active transportation, and other mechanisms at state, regional and local levels.
3) Advance joint-use agreements through state level policies and agreements between cities and school districts.

All policies must benefit lower-income communities and are intended to improve the built environment and increase physical activity to help reverse childhood obesity. The organizer will possess strong skills in recruiting and organizing network partners and building action teams to achieve the three main policy objectives. He or she will also be responsible for ensuring sustainability of the project and position by securing on-going funding for 2014 and beyond.

Required qualifications for these positions include: a bachelor’s degree; knowledge of Safe Routes to School, transportation and/or health issues; a minimum of two years proven success in an advocacy/communications position; ability to be an effective fundraiser; experience in public speaking; and strong communication and writing skills. A full description of job responsibilities and qualifications is available. Applicati ons are due on Thursday, February 2nd, at 5:00 p.m. PT. and will begin on March 1, 2012. Successful candidates will work from their home office within proximity to the capital region of the identified state. The salary for this position is in the range of $48,000 to $52,000, depending on experience, plus benefits. Please refer to the job announcement for specific details on applying. Telephone inquiries are not accepted.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership was founded in 2005 and is a network of more than 550 organizations. The National Partnership is hosted by the non-profit Bikes Belong Foundation, and its mission is to advocate for safe walking and bicycling to and from schools, and in daily life, to improve the health and well-being of America’s children and to foster the creation of livable, sustainable communities. Bikes Belong Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

**Note from Bike Walk Mississippi: This position will report directly to the National Partnership but will work directly with Bike Walk Mississippi and MDOT in Jackson, therefore it is important to us that the candidate be motivated, have currently established or willing to obtain local connections and the ability to grown and build networks at all levels. If you have a background in grass-roots advocacy, public policy, fundraising, can communicate well, can facilitate/direct meetings and have the ability to develop strategies and concepts, we’d love to have you on our team! And, if you have a passion for children, for health (especially fighting obesity!) and incorporating bicycle and pedestrian issues as a tool to allow children to more safely walk and bike to school, apply today! Again, the National Partnership is the organization in charge of hiring, but if you’d like to talk through the SRTS Position, ideas and ways we work in tandem with the National Office, please call Bike Walk’s Jackson office at: 601.212.3162