President & CEO

President & CEO
Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety, Inc.

PEDS

POSITION PURPOSE

The President & CEO (CEO) of PEDS reports to the Board of Directors, primarily through the Board Chair, and provides overall leadership, strategy and direction for the organization. The CEO oversees advocacy, programs, operations, and fundraising. This executive articulates both internally and externally the vision of PEDS for a walkable future in the metropolitan Atlanta area and throughout Georgia.

PEDS is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to making streets and communities in Georgia safe, inviting, and accessible to all pedestrians. PEDS is a small advocacy group with a strong 23-year track record, a variety of funding sources, and well-developed partnerships with government agencies, civic organizations, and others. PEDS seeks an experienced, enthusiastic and persistent leader with a passion for pedestrian safety and equitable access to walkable communities to serve as the next President & CEO. The CEO will serve as the primary external face of the organization and its lead strategist, ambassador, and fundraiser.

Together with the Board of Directors, the CEO develops a strategic plan that works toward the vision of a walkable future, translates it into annual plans, and spurs internal and external partners to action. The CEO creates the sense of urgency in efforts to assure Georgia’s pedestrians are seen and their voices heard.

The CEO will use the combination of his or her credibility and PEDS’ reputation to accomplish outcomes that educate the public and those who serve the public, leading to systemic policy change. He or she will make it a priority to preserve and build upon the non-partisan, collegial and collaborative spirit that exists with the larger nonprofit community, government officials and other stakeholders.

THE ORGANIZATION

When PEDS was founded in 1996, pedestrians were nearly invisible and their safety was not a priority. Evolving from a lone, sometimes caustic voice for change, PEDS has become a strong voice for walkers throughout the region and state. PEDS has played a vital role in moving walking from the margins to the mainstream.

At the core of its work, PEDS provides information and engagement that empowers and motivates people, companies, and governments to improve the walkability of their communities. Walking is essential to our health, and is the primary mode of transportation for many residents who rely on public transportation or walking itself to secure access to employment. Walkability is a catalyst for economic development. It also connects people and is the cornerstone of a thriving, livable city. By engaging with a variety of regional and state-wide partners, PEDS helps leaders and others recognize that they can and must leverage their resources to connect pedestrians to one another and to economic opportunity. PEDS has inspired critical policy, funding, and behavioral changes that are helping overcome barriers to walking. Please see Fast Facts and visit the website www.peds.org for additional information about programs.

Fast Facts

• Location: 233 Peachtree St. NE Suite 1220 Atlanta, Georgia 30303
• 2018 Budget: $240,000
• Programs:

1. Safe & Accessible Sidewalks
2. Safer People, Safer Streets
3. Community Walking Champions

• Notable achievements:

1. Increasing driver compliance with crosswalk laws
2. Providing conferences and workshops that have helped hundreds of transportation professionals learn how to design for pedestrian safety
3. Making innovative and effective crosswalk treatments mainstream
4. Increasing funding for pedestrian safety improvements by over $20 million per year

• Employees: 7 including the CEO (2 FT & 5 PT); Community Engagement Manager, Project Manager, Operations Manager, and 3 Advocacy Champions
• Board members: 12 (up to 23 authorized in the bylaws)

COMPETENCIES OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES

To reach the vision of PEDS, achieve the goals of the current strategic plan, and to fulfill its mission, the successful candidate should have the competencies listed below.

Strategic Thinking

The successful candidate will demonstrate a history of

• Developing and conveying a vision internally and externally to energize communities of people, agencies, partners, and donors, as well as policy-makers and influencers.
• Working with a board and staff in a leadership role to develop a strategic plan that was, or is currently, being successfully implemented.
• Monitoring progress against the strategic plan and measuring outcomes, making recommendations to capitalize on successes, make course corrections, and mitigate unforeseen issues.
• Assessing options and actions based on costs, impact, risks, and the vision and values of the organization.

Advocacy

Candidates will have a proven track record of

• Demonstrating insight into the operations of state and local governments and the agencies that influence, impact, and regulate a relevant field or issue, particularly where racial or ethnic gaps need to be closed.
• Positively influencing others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the public or a particular population.
• Successful advocacy or lobbying experience on behalf of a cause.
• Influencing the shifting paradigm of public and/or private-sector funding around a complex issue.
• Communicating persuasively, speaking, and frequently engaging board members, organizations, elected officials, potential and existing partners, donors, and others about the needs of a cause.
• Recruiting and activating volunteers and partners.

Relationship Building & Communications

The successful candidate must have a verifiable history of

• Identifying and developing relationships with government systems, statewide associations, state and local chambers of commerce or similar organizations with wide influence to achieve the vision of an organization.
• Identifying the strategies and activities with the greatest impact on outcomes then allocating resources accordingly.
• Valuing collaboration at all levels – with staff, board, partners, officials, and other contributors to success.
• Communicating effectively internally with employees and the board, and externally with other stakeholders.
• Transparency and follow-through in difficult relationships or resolving difficult issues.

Resource Development

Candidates will have demonstrated success

• Developing and documenting a diverse, sufficient, and sustainable funding strategy in order to meet resource needs.
• Developing, documenting, and implementing a marketing and public relations strategy in order to support advocacy, programming, and resource development.
• Leveraging relationships to raise significant funding from a variety of donor types.
• Diversifying the funding of an organization by adding new and expanding existing types of giving to reduce dependence on any one donor or funding type.
• Collaborating with a board to facilitate their success with fundraising, governance, and other activities critical to meeting the goals of the strategic plan.

Operations & Staff Management

Candidates will have demonstrated success with

• Setting and meeting goals for long-term financial health, with evidence of planning for internal capacity, cash flow needs, and investment in growth.
• Establishing and monitoring a budget tied to the strategic and annual plans, notifying the board of potential issues, establishing contingency plans, and ensuring costs are in line with expected outcomes.
• Establishing measures of success for annual and strategic goals and ensuring programming and/or advocacy meets expected outcomes.
• Attracting, developing and retaining the highest level of continuously‐improving staff.
• Establishing short and long‐term strategy for developing future talent and establishing a plan for new hiring as the organization changes and grows.
• Managing contract negotiations and significant agreements with agencies, community partners or vendors.

Passion for the Work

All the capabilities described above will fall short if the successful candidate does not possess a passion for pedestrian rights, accessibility, and safety.

CREDENTIALS

Education

Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, Regional Planning, or Communications will be an advantage. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

Experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate progress with systemic issues through programs and influence. Knowledge of Atlanta and State of Georgia politics with strong local relationships are a plus.

OTHER

Equal Employment Opportunities

PEDS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Identity and Employment Eligibility Verification

In compliance with federal law, the candidate hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form (E-verify) upon hire.

Evenings and Weekends

PEDS holds special events that require the CEO to work occasional evening and weekend hours.

TO EXPRESS INTEREST

PEDS and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), which has been engaged to conduct this search, invite your participation in this outstanding opportunity. To express interest or seek further information, please send your resume or questions via email only to peds-ceo@gcn.org.

GCN’s Process

We are honored by your interest and hope to be in touch with you. We regret that we are unable to speak with each individual. We will acknowledge receipt of your credentials by email and review each submission carefully. If we determine there is a potential match for the position, we will reach out to you by a subsequent email in order to schedule a phone call.

We pledge to keep candidates whom we contact by phone apprised of their status in the search. Once a candidate is selected we inform all who expressed interest of the close of the search.

By submitting your resume for this opportunity, you give GCN permission to share your name and credentials with the members of our client’s search committee.