Toronto Cyclists Union Seeks Executive Director

The Toronto Cyclist Union is hiring an executive director. Details are on the Bike Union website, and in the job description below.

Toronto Cyclists Union Seeks Executive Director

The Toronto Cyclists Union is a member-driven community of cyclists from every geographic area in Toronto that represents a cross-section of Toronto's cyclists. We provide a vibrant and amplified voice to achieve the common goals of safety, legitimacy and accessibility of cycling in Toronto. We coordinate city-wide advocacy on behalf of our members and provide resources for cyclists to be effective local advocates themselves. We promote cycling in an inclusive, friendly and inviting manner.

Position Description: The Executive Director, working under the direction of the Board of Directors, is responsible for growing the membership base of the Toronto Cyclists Union. The Executive Director will develop the identity of the organization among members by advancing the mission of the union and ensuring the overall success and operation of its programs.

Building a member-based cycling organization Toronto is an exciting opportunity for candidates.

• Toronto has an estimated 939,000 people over age 15 who describe themselves as cyclists.
• The City has an excellent Bike Plan that is admired by cycling professionals and advocates in other North American cities.
• There are dedicated municipal staff that are receptive to the involvement of the Toronto Cyclists Union.
• Partnerships have been developed with other well-established Toronto organizations to promote cycling.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing processes for and managing the day-to-day operations of the organization
• Developing recruitment strategies for new members and a retention program for existing members
• Developing advocacy campaigns that raise the profile and advance the mission of the organization
• Acting as the external spokesperson for the Toronto Cyclists Union
• Acting as a central point person and resource for each of the volunteer committees in the critical program areas:
  • Advocacy (ward advocacy program, lobbying, campaigns)
  • Membership (recruitment, retention, mailouts, database, benefits)
  • Communications (newsletter, website/facebook content, other informational material, media)
  • Outreach (fundraising and community building events, new Canadians programming)
  • Fundraising (contracts, sponsorships, grants)
  • Information Technology (website, email lists, intranet, social networking)
  • Governance (strategic planning, organizational structure, board development)
  • Finance (developing business plan, overall financial management)
• Working with government agencies, such as the City of Toronto and Metrolinx to develop improved bicycle policies and facilities
• Promoting cycling via public information, education, and advocacy
• Preparing agendas and reports for Board meetings
• Responding to media queries and developing media releases
• Administering grants and contracts
• Hiring and supervising staff when the viability arises

You excel and have demonstrated experience in:

• Managing and developing a non-profit organization
• Building and maintaining relationships with a wide variety of groups and stakeholders
• Advocacy or lobbying governments and other organized groups
• Public outreach and public speaking
• Managing multiple, competing demands

You possess:

• Passion for cycling
• In-depth knowledge of cycling
• Excellent organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to build a membership base
• Demonstrated ability to raise funds from diverse sources
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and develop a network of volunteers devoted to carrying out organizational goals
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Independent, motivational, and inclusive spirit
• Skills and characteristics that reflect the values of the Toronto Cyclists Union
• A belief in the mission, vision and positions of the Toronto Cyclists Union

Terms of contract:

• Compensation - $25,000
• 26 week contract, beginning in Feb 2009, with possible extension subject to successful fundraising
• 37.5hrs/week, distribution of hours to be negotiated
• Including some evening and weekend hours

To Apply: By January 15, 2009, please send by email in PDF or rtf format:

1. a cover letter (two pages max) describing your background and interest in this position
2. your resume, and
3. a sample of your work (e.g. papers, articles, press releases, etc.):

Send to: hiring@bikeunion.to

All applications received will be confirmed through a reply email. We expect to conduct interviews during the last two weeks of January and are seeking a mid-February start date.

More about the Toronto Cyclists Union: Founder David Meslin received a "Vital People" grant in 2006 which allowed him to travel across North America to study successful membership-funded bicycle advocacy groups elsewhere. He visited groups with upwards of 6,500 members achieving great improvements for cyclists. This early work helped prepare our goals and visions, and laid the groundwork for the work to come.

In the fall of 2007 Meslin gathered together over 70 Toronto bicycle advocates and organizers from twenty plus organizations to share what he had found and to present his vision for a bike union. Over the winter, the Toronto Cyclists Union became incorporated, formed a volunteer board and management team and a team of developers used open source software to build a website and membership database. The Toronto Cyclists Union launched on May 20, 2008. Since then it has hosted several successful events, including a fundraising screening of Pee-wee's Big Adventure at the end of May attended by 1,000 people. Without having initiated a major membership drive, the Toronto Cyclists Union already boasts over 400 paid members and over 1300 have signed up to receive its monthly newsletter. The union has revenue streams from membership fees, grants, contracts and donors.

The Toronto Cyclists Union operates out of the Centre for Social Innovation on Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto.

http://bikeunion.to/