Community Organizer

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is Seattle’s leading grassroots advocacy organization working to make every neighborhood a great place to walk, bike and live.

We envision a future where Seattle's streets unite neighborhoods and connect people to where they need to go. Walking and biking are convenient, safe, comfortable, and even joyful. Children are able to walk and bike to school and to parks. Seniors are able to stay active and connected by walking and biking. Seattle's streets — one third of our publicly-owned space — incorporate neighborhood priorities for play, relaxation, recreation, greenery, and community-building. The streets and transportation systems are truly accessible and welcoming, and reflect the needs of people of every age, language, ethnicity, gender, race, ability, and income. We’ll have more choices for how to get around, be safer, save money, and reduce climate pollution. 

Since 2011, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways (SNG) has been an organization built around our citywide network of neighborhood chapters. These chapters organize and mobilize communities to advocate for their own needs with support, guidance, and resources from SNG staff. Our work involves building strong community ties, finding common ground, and building a broad movement. Therefore, we strive to hire candidates who are able to communicate and collaborate effectively with the populations we serve — people of color and others who have been historically underrepresented in walking and biking advocacy, the transportation sector, and nonprofit work, are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Project:  In Seattle and nationwide, roadway injuries and death disproportionately harm Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities. In 2022, more than 50 percent of Seattle fatalities occurred in South Seattle District Two, the most racially and ethnically diverse area of the city. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), 80 percent of Seattle pedestrian fatalities (2017-2022) occur on multilane arterials and 80 percent of people killed while biking are riding where there is no bike lane. We are hiring a Community Organizer for a project focused on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South. The purpose of this project is to improve safety by organizing community to push for safe street infrastructure for  Martin Luther King Jr. South in Southeast Seattle.

Job Title: Community Organizer

Key Responsibilities:

Organizing - 90%

• Facilitate monthly organizing meetings, quarterly stakeholder meetings, and plan and facilitate community listening sessions. 
• Process sign-up sheets, maintain database records. 
• Coordinate scheduling and calendar of events and meetings
• Coordinate outreach and attendance of meetings.
• Develop and manage ongoing new cohort of volunteer leaders connected to this process
• Lead, develop and implement of the work plan for the MLK Jr Way South
• Conduct tabling and outreach at community events
• Support with tracking coalition/stakeholders members attendance for stipend program
• Build relationships with coalition members, elected officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders
• Engage and educate community members and organizations about best practice street design to increase safety for all roadway users, with a focus on people walking, biking, and taking transit. 
• Connect community member-driven traffic safety proposals to appropriate public sector agencies to seek funding to implement proven safety infrastructure.
• Meet with relevant agency stakeholders to understand their perspectives and interest in engaging  with project goals and community members.
• Track and report progress quarterly toward project goals, objectives and measures to project funders.

Communications - 10% of time

• Coordinate with communications point person on press releases, flyers 
• Support with updates to social media
• Serve as contact person for press, availability for presentations as needed
• Contribute articles to the newsletter

Ideal Qualifications

• 4 + years of community organizing experience. A track record as a highly organized collaborative organizer who can also thrive independently.
• A well-developed interpersonal skill set – especially active listening, empathy, patience, personal accountability and relationship building.
• Commitment to anti-racism and centering BIPOC communities impacted by traffic violence in SE Seattle, and an understanding of experiences and community issues affecting BIPOC communities in SE Seattle
• Experience in creating anti-racist welcoming spaces for group collaboration
• Strong writing skills
• Organized and reliable 

Desired Qualifications:

• Connections with community leaders in SE Seattle 
• Analysis and commitment to Anti-Racism analysis and Undoing Racism principles
• Conversational in Somali, Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese, or another language spoken in Seattle
• A strong interest in transportation safety

If you have other talents or skills that you think would be valuable in a small nonprofit setting, please share.

Hours

Salaried exempt, but we strive for forty hour work weeks by utilizing a flex-time policy. Due to the nature of community organizing, there are frequent evening meetings. Occasional weekend work is required as well. Many evening meetings are scheduled in advance but some meetings require a flexible schedule.

Location

All work is within Seattle city limits. This job entails frequent organizing meetings in SE Seattle.

You have the option of working from home and going into a coworking space (located at 1424 11th Ave Ste 400).

Transportation

Applicants who walk, roll, bike, or ride transit for transportation will be better suited to understand the challenges we currently work on. A driver's license or car is not required.

Pay and Benefits

• Full-time Hourly: 24-29$/hour up to 40 hours/week
• Generous vacation policy (PTO)
• Health and dental insurance (SNG pays 100% of premiums)
• Flexible work hours
• The chance to make a real difference in the future shape of the city

Job Type: 

This is a temporary grant-funded position through 9/30/2024. With the potential of extending the campaign for another year after assessment of deliverables and outcomes of the campaign.

To apply

Email a resume, cover letter, two professional references to: jobs@seattlegreenways.org. Open until filled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. 

Keywords: Volunteer coordinator, engagement, advocacy, campaign coordinator, walking, biking, pedestrian, transportation, community organizing 

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is an at-will employer.