All Things Urban

Transportation for America is an alliance of elected, business and civic leaders from communities across the country, united to ensure that states and the federal government step up to invest in smart, homegrown, locally-driven transportation solutions — because these are the investments that hold the key to our future economic prosperity.

Transportation for America (T4A) is seeking an innovative leader to assume the role of Director of Smart Cities for our technology based transportation initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity to engage and propel cities forward and help them embrace technology and innovation and develop a strategy for integration of these principles into their policies and programs.

Automated vehicles, shared mobility and other emerging technologies have tremendous power to transform how we get around and even the essence of how our cities are designed. But, these innovations have enormous potential to help or harm residents in both direct and unexpected ways. If we’re not mindful and intentional in driving the outcomes they seek, the benefits and costs of these changes will be unevenly and unfairly distributed. We have a golden opportunity to create more economically equitable, inclusive and competitive, environmentally sustainable cities through innovative transportation and smart land use.

The Director of Smart Cities will manage the organization’s efforts around new mobility and emerging technology at the local, state and federal level as well as lead the Smart Cities Collaborative. The position is responsible for both external and internal aspects of the Smart Cities program including strategic planning, program and policy development, fundraising, and relationship management with key communities, partners and funders . Overall responsibilities include:

Management and fundraising:

• Develop overall strategic direction for Smart Cities and help formulate and implement biannual workplans;
• Create funding structure and develop relationships and proposals that generate revenue in order to fund the Collaborative and overall smart cities work;
• Closely coordinate with SGA’s other transportation initiatives including the National Complete Streets Coalition and SSTI’s state transportation program;
• Develop and oversee the Smart Cities program budget.

Program development and delivery:

• Oversee the recruitment of Smart Cities Collaborative members from a diverse set of communities across the country;
• Design and develop content and curriculum for the Smart Cities Collaborative across topical and programmatic areas;
• Engage the public, private, philanthropic and academic communities to leverage their subject matter expertise to assist in providing direct technical assistance to the Smart Cities Collaborative.

Policy and advocacy:

• Work closely with cities – through our Smart Cities Collaborative and elsewhere – to develop a new policy framework that will help local governments manage disruptive technologies in order to provide more mobility options that are affordable, efficient and equitable;
• Work with T4A’s policy team in their federal transportation policy and advocacy work with both Congress and the federal administration;
• Develop a smart cities research agenda and work with partners to scope and deliver research products including reports and position papers.

Communications and external affairs:

• Represent T4A externally on key topics of expertise, at conferences or meetings, in writing, and with media as necessary.
• Raise awareness among local policymakers of the opportunities and challenges presented by the evolving and emerging smart mobility ecosystem;
• Represent T4A’s approach on smart cities through direct engagement and interaction with cities, local governments, new mobility companies, community and advocacy organizations, and other related groups;
• Oversee and ensure consistency of high-level public-facing content including reports, white papers, policy briefs and general communication materials.

The Director of Smart Cities will be a seasoned senior leader who brings a significant track record:

• An experienced and recognized leader with 10+ years of relevant work experience, including staff management experience;
• Significant experience working within a local government or agency to implement transportation or smart mobility policies, pilots or projects;
• Engaging and unifying diverse stakeholder groups – demonstrated ability to develop relationships, create partnerships and collaborate across the public, nonprofit and business sectors;
• Some experience raising corporate and philanthropic funds to finance programs and events;
• A strong commitment to addressing social equity as well as building economic prosperity through mobility;
• A self-motivated, entrepreneurial approach to create and manage programs and projects;
• Leadership qualities: action- and results-orientation; resourceful and entrepreneurial; inclusive; adaptable and relationship-oriented.

Benefits include health insurance, 401(k), paid vacation and sick time.

We’re not fully sure whether this role is open to international candidates. If you would need visa sponsorship or work authorisation, we recommend checking directly with the employer before applying.