Executive Director Position Guide

About T4MA | Restructuring Journey | Meet The Team | Job Description | How To Apply

About Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA)
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Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA), established in 2010, is a statewide coalition focused on improving Massachusetts' transportation systems. T4MA is committed to addressing the decades of inequitable transportation policies adversely impacting low-income, working class and Black, Indigenous and communities of color. We strive to eradicate the long lasting impacts of inequitable transportation policies that have resulted in Massachusetts with some of the highest childhood asthma rates in the nation, transit deserts in rural and urban communities, socially isolated residents who lack transportation options, and a lack of opportunity and access to jobs, healthcare, and education for people.

We envision and work towards a Commonwealth with transportation systems that connect people with their choice of housing, economic opportunities, healthcare, and accessible and reliable public transportation that benefits residents in all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. Our coalition advocates at the state, federal, and local levels for transportation policies that are just, equitable, and sustainable.

Our Restructuring Journey (Back To Top)

In January 2022 T4MA began a restructuring process that was motivated by a desire to better align with the needs of Black, Indigenous, Working-Class, and community members of color. And to ensure that the voices of those most affected by transit injustice are heard by the organization's leadership, staff, and partners. As result of this process T4MA developed 5 restructuring commitments and has begun to implement changes in the following areas:

• Mission
• Leadership
• Resources
• Decision Making
• Policy Making

With the guidance of the five restructuring commitments, T4MA’s current staff, along with a Transition Director, and a Core Leadership Team, are working to implement and operationalize new bylaws and structures at T4MA that will put community voices and needs first and create new paths for resources to be provided to front-line communities working on transportation justice solutions.

To learn more about our restructuring commitments and the process check out T4MA Restructuring.

Ways Of Being (WOB)

Our Ways of Being provides guidance for how we show up and are accountable to ourselves and each other. We see the WOB as an ongoing practice for a just, reflective and equitable work environment. Please note that, as part of the implementation of our 5 restructuring commitments, we are currently finalizing our WOB description that represents all of us.

Meet The Team (Back To Top)

We are a team of three staff and six leadership dedicated to transforming and building the new T4MA. Click here to meet the team!

About The Opportunity (Back To Top)

Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) seeks an innovative leader to take on the role of Executive Director. To achieve and operationalize T4MA's mission, we need a leader who embodies the organization's values, is excited about guiding the organization's current transformation, and can inspire collaboration. You will be in charge of developing and maintaining strategic alliances, organizing coalitions, and ensuring T4MA's financial viability. The ideal candidate will be eager to work with the Core Leadership Team and staff to carry out the five restructuring commitments.

As T4MA's Executive Director, You Will:

1. Operationalize and sustain the 5 Restructuring Commitments
   • Operationalize T4MA’s new mission.
   • Draft and advocate for transportation legislation at the state and local level that centers transportation justice.
   • Center Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in T4MA’s management, policy, engagements and collaborations.
   • Build a strong community engagement process for member organizations and their base.
     
     
2. Implement and build out membership structure, partners and allies
   • Build and sustain a diverse (multiracial, multigenerational, cross sectoral and statewide coalition). Engage coalition members in a manner consistent with T4MA’s goals and values.
   • Develop and maintain relationships and trust with allies and partners: community based organizations, businesses, elected officials and more.
     
     
3. Oversee T4MA operations
   
   • Supervise and support staff’s work plans, well-being, professional growth.
   • Create clear, efficient and sustainable processes to carry out T4MA’s day-to-day operations.
   • Operationalize T4MA’s Ways of Being and mechanisms of accountability.
   • Develop and improve metrics of success (evaluation, reflection, data analysis) that ensure accountability and transparency.
     
     
4. Lead T4MA to Financial Independence
   
   • Build and manage an annual budget of at least $1.5 million.
   • Create and implement a sustainability plan to secure T4MA’s financial independence.
     
     
5. Create a Communications Plan
   
   • Develop communications strategies in collaboration with staff and core team. All strategies uplifts the values and priorities of T4MA and will introduce the new T4MA statewide. Strategies must include but are not limited to:
     • Redesigned website
     • T4MA's new logo and branding
     • Social media marketing
     • Webinars
     • Press releases
     • Interaction with local media (print, radio, tv)
       
       
6. Collaborate with Core Team
   
   • Report to and collaborate with the Core Leadership Team to set yearly goals and policy priorities that center transportation justice.
   • Implement new policy, equity tools and create a collaborative process for deciding and executing Coalition policy priorities.

The Ideal Candidate

The most qualified candidates will possess the following skills and experiences:

• Experienced movement-builder. Your previous work includes materializing, building and playing a leadership role in transformative organizing and coalition building, systems-change efforts, and/or collaborations with community organizations, grassroots organizers, and elected officials designed to make sustainable interventions towards creating more equitable and just communities.
• Legislation and policy experience. You have deep understanding and experience with public systems. You have organized, designed, advocated for policy change and/or have laid out the groundwork and established frameworks for new programs and legislation at the state or municipal level to create more equitable and just systems.
• Social and economic justice advocate. Experience and expertise working on transportation justice, housing justice, land-use or other fields of work from a public health, social justice, and/or equity perspective.
• Cultural capital & lived experience. Your lived and cultural experiences inform your ways of being in the world and in the work. You have intimate knowledge of what justice and equity mean through your existence. Bilingual or multilingual is preferred.
• Proven success as a culture setter and leader. You have a trauma-informed framework and people-centered approach when you lead. You are compassionate, reflective, an active listener, and empathetic communicator. You are committed to your and other people’s holistic wellbeing and growth. You are comfortable working through conflict and believe that conflict is an opportunity for reflection and transformation.
• Excellent time and project management skills. You empower others to act and hold yourself and others accountable. You are clear and direct and able to delegate. You know what you bring to the table and what you don’t. You seek support for you and your team as needed.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion. You have a clear analysis of identity, power, and privilege and have a demonstrated commitment to anti-racist principles. You can comfortably lead a diverse and inclusive coalition and manage diverse stakeholder relationships.
• Resource Development. You have experience with grant writing and fundraising to ensure the financial health or projects or organizations.
• In it for the long haul. You are not just looking for a one year commitment, but have a long-term vision for transportation justice and looking to stay for at least 3 to 5 years to see the results of your contributions to T4MA and the larger movement.

Compensation And Benefits

The salary range for this position is between $140,000 and $170,000, depending on qualifications and years of relevant work experience. T4MA is fiscally sponsored by the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), which offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) Statement

T4MA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from all backgrounds. People with multiple marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply, including people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. T4MA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition (including pregnancy and/or genetic characteristics), mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, weight, height, linguistic characteristics (such as accent and limited English proficiency, where not substantially job-related), citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

How To Apply (Back To Top) 

**We are no longer accepting applications at this time.**

Please complete this form and submit your resume and cover letter to Mart Consulting, describing your interest in the position and how you meet the qualifications. You may choose to submit your cover letter in 1 min. max video format. Please send your complete application to [email protected] and include “T4MA Executive Director” in the subject line of your email.

The position will be filled by June 2023; this is a high-priority hire that must be filled quickly. Please submit your application as soon as possible. We are accepting applications on a rolling basis, however to make the first round of interviews, please apply no later than April 10th. Internal applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

T4MA complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other employment benefits and privileges, please direct any questions about this position to [email protected].

Timeline

• Round 1 Initial virtual interview (approx 30 minutes)
• Round 2 Virtual interview (approx 1 hour)
• Final Round (2 hours, including a 30-minute presentation in-person)

Please note that we can only consider and respond to those applicants whose skills and experience best match the specific requirements of this position at this time.

Transportation for Massachusetts is fiscally sponsored by the Conservation Law Foundation.
Our primary funder is the Barr Foundation.