Executive Director

Overview

Join a non-profit that has grown from a six-vehicle carshare service to include a 30-vehicle carshare, 200 bike bikeshare and an active transportation advocacy and education program. The Center for  Community Transportation is looking for a new executive director. In short, they are looking for a good communicator and leader who knows how to run a $1 million non-profit with great potential for growth.

The Center for Community Transportation (CCT) in Ithaca, New York, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to enhance community access to transportation while reducing its negative environmental and economic impacts. The CCT includes three major programs: Ithaca Carshare, Ithaca Bikeshare, and Bike Walk Tompkins (BWT).

We’re hiring a full-time Executive Director to start in May 2024.

We have a hybrid work environment, with regular staff duties in and around Ithaca, New York. This is an exempt, full-time position with flexible hours, and occasional evening and weekend work required.

If you’re an excellent communicator and a strong leader, have experience in nonprofit business management and fundraising, and have an interest in transportation equity or micromobility advocacy, we’d love to talk with you!

The Center for Community Transportation is a certified Living Wage employer. We’re committed to values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We seek a reflection of our community’s diversity in our staff and membership.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall strategy and visioning of a multi-faceted nonprofit organization with three distinct programs and various sources of funding. With support from the program directors, this person will prepare and implement an annual budget, help ensure funding for the organization, and lead future sustainable growth to more fully implement the CCT’s mission.

We’re looking for someone with excellent leadership and administrative skills, who can take the helm of a dedicated team, with three program directors as direct reports. You can see an organizational chart here. The Executive Director will work with and report to the CCT Board of Directors.

Excellent communication skills are a priority, as the person in this role will not only lead a growing organization with diverse staff needs, but will also be primarily responsible for cultivating ongoing positive relationships with the CCT board, local and regional elected officials, funders and donors, sponsoring businesses, government officials, and transportation agencies. This person will serve as the face of the CCT and represent the organization in public as needed.

PRIMARY ROLES

Organizational Leadership & Program Support (60%):

• Work closely with program directors on overall organizational planning, finances & fundraising, and advocacy.
• Provide support to program directors who oversee daily transportation operations that include two 24/7 services, a community bike shop, and various events throughout the year.
• Provide mediation and conflict resolution in the event of conflict or mismanagement between program directors and staff.
• Build and maintain strong supportive relationships with program directors and other reports, through regular check-ins (in-person or virtual).
• Ensure strong communication throughout the organization’s staff team, (e.g., lead monthly all-staff meetings).
• Assist with board member recruitment, and support the board in running board meetings (in person and/or remote).
• Ensure strong positive mission-supportive relationships are developed and maintained with external stakeholders, including funders, elected and other governmental officials, community members, other local leaders, and individuals as appropriate.
• Keep accurate and up-to-date records in a shared digital file system.

Financial Management (15%):

• Work with program directors to develop and implement an annual fundraising strategy that includes grants, individual contributions, sponsorships, and fundraising events.
• Apply for and manage multi-year grants, and maintain relationships with funders.
• Develop financial policies and procedures for the overall budget, including PTO and payroll policies for staff.
• Oversee management of daily cash flow, budget development and billing in conjunction with an accounting firm.
• Lead organization-wide financial planning and reporting.
• Prepare quarterly financial reports for program directors and the board.
• Stay on top of each program’s financial needs, offer technical assistance and advice, and ensure positive cash flow for the programs.

Human Resources  (25%):

• Oversee and manage Human Resources functions to ensure effective and mission-supportive operations. Some responsibilities include hiring and firing decisions, processes for onboarding new employees, making updates to the Employee Handbook, creating and implementing policies (compensation policies, staffing plan), setting salary structures, making decisions about paid time off (PTO) and employee benefits, and understanding labor laws.

• Handle annual performance reviews of program directors; support directors in managing program staff (including program-specific policies, hiring, firing, and performance reviews).

Required Qualities and Skills 

• A minimum of 3 years experience in nonprofit program management and administration, including direct supervision of staff and budgets.
• Able to work remotely and in person in our Ithaca office.
• Able to communicate and empathize effectively with people of all ages, abilities, races, cultures, genders, and economic status.
• A knowledge of, and interest in, micromobility issues, active transportation, bicycle and pedestrian issues, and advocacy.
• Able to think strategically and able to plan for and manage sustainable growth furthering CCT’s mission.
• Efficient and detail-oriented, with solid time and task management skills.
• Reliable and able to work autonomously, as well as collaborate effectively with others.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Proficient with a computer and smartphone.
• Proficient with, or willing to learn, Google Drive, MS Office, Quickbooks, Slack, and other common office software.
• Can spend prolonged periods of time working on a computer, and is able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.
• A strong leader, able to clearly articulate the vision of a multi-faceted transportation organization.

Desired Qualities:

• Experience writing grant applications from the public and private sectors.
• Excited about working for a dynamic organization that serves a cross-section of the Ithaca community.
• Personable, with strong interpersonal communication skills, willing to step out of their comfort zone in respect of co-workers and community members.
• Confident, able to problem solve quickly, and able to balance multiple priorities.
• Familiar with Ithaca and excited about active and shared transportation modes.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, and willing to learn and grow in the position.
• Skilled and strong with management, and firm but fair with staff, volunteers, and users of our services.
• Familiar with, and/or has lived experience with, a broad range of transportation options.
• Familiar with shared mobility and committed to efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses from transportation personally and professionally.
• Experienced in bringing a diversity of voices into a conversation, especially Black, brown, and other people of color, women, youth, seniors, the LGBTQ2IA+ community, and people with disabilities, and committed to anti-racism efforts personally and professionally.
• Comfortable with the flexible duties and schedule that come with being part of a small but strong team.
• A valid driver’s license with a clean driving record, eligible for Ithaca Carshare membership (see guidelines here).

Job and Application Details

This is an exempt position with a salary range of $90,000-95,000/year depending on the combination of education, skills, and experience. Benefits include paid time off, employer-paid individual health insurance, a mobility package including Ithaca Carshare membership, Ithaca Bikeshare use, and TCAT bus pass, and a SIMPLE IRA with 2% employer contribution.

How to Apply:

• Please submit a 1-page cover letter outlining what makes you a great fit for this role, and 1-2 page resume as a PDF attachment to: executivedirectorsearch@the-cct.org
• Use the subject line: CCT Executive Director Application
• Address your cover letter to: CCT Executive Director Search Committee

Questions about the position and application process will be fielded by the hiring committee at the email address above. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with an ideal start date in May 2024.