BACKGROUND & SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY
Forth is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) trade association with a closely related 501(c)(3) charity, the Forth Mobility Fund. Forth’s mission is to electrify transportation by bringing diverse stakeholders together to eliminate barriers to access, so that communities prosper and the planet thrives. We advance our mission through industry development, innovative demonstration projects, policy advocacy, and public engagement. Learn more on our website, forthmobility.org.
Forth’s continued growth has created a new opportunity on our Programs team for a Program Associate who will help to build our new Electric School Bus program.
We seek candidates who are enthusiastic about electric mobility, electric school bus adoption, comfortable working with diverse organizational partners, and who share our commitment to racial diversity, equity and inclusion. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate closely with colleagues, manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines, take initiative, and play an active role in the organization’s development
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Program implementation support (~50%). Working closely with the Program Manager (PM) and Senior Program Manager (SPM), the Program Associate will support the development of projects and will work to execute key project tasks that advance access to electric school bus (ESB) mobility.
● Learn rapidly about ESB’s and their charging infrastructure, and be able to communicate this information to others
● Work with PM and SPM to support the design of projects that advance ESB adoption and deployments
● Under the direction of the PM and SPM, execute key tasks that advance and ensure the success of Forth’s ESB projects. An example is organizing ESB Ride and Drive events.
● Manage and coordinate with project partners (such as ESB manufacturers) and relevant stakeholders (such as school districts) to ensure timely and effective communication
● Support the collection and interpretation of data from Forth’s ESB programs
Community Outreach and Engagement (~45%). The Program Associate will support the development and execution of community outreach and engagement activities that elevate Forth’s ESB work, advance the adoption of ESBs and grow support for Forth and its work.
● Build relationships with Transportation Directors at school districts with an eye to helping them start to electrify their fleets
● Support the development and lead the execution of awareness and engagement campaigns related to ESBs and Forth’s work in the space
● Work closely with under-resourced communities, including but not limited to rural, low income and BIPOC.
● Travel to and network at conferences and meetings as requested (may involve traveling outside of Oregon)
Business Development (~5%). The Program Associate will support the business development team to develop new project ideas and identify opportunities for new sources of funding from governments, foundations, companies, and other partners.
● Maintain knowledge of current industry trends and best practices to identify emerging opportunities, threats, and needs
● Communicate any updates or feedback from clients or partners to the SPM and PM as needed
● Other responsibilities as required
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
● A passion for Forth’s mission and values
● Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and understanding of key concepts
● 1-2 years of experience in transportation, energy, or related field
● 1-2 years experience working in a fast-paced organizational environment working with diverse stakeholders from different community backgrounds
● Strong prioritization and organizational skills
● Ability to manage multiple conflicting tasks and meet deadlines while maintaining work-life balance
● Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communications skills, both written and verbal
● Willingness and ability to travel nationally 3-5% of the time occasionally overnight
● Valid driver’s license
Helpful:
● Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or comparable work experience
● Located in/near Portland, Oregon (where Forth’s office is)
● Conversational understanding of electric vehicles and charging, car sharing and other shared mobility programs, electric school buses, or electrifying farm equipment
● Demonstrated experience collaborating with matrixed organizations; ability to use systems thinking and interpret complex stakeholder needs
● Experience working for a non-profit organization with a mission-driven staff and board
TO APPLY
To ensure full consideration, please apply by May 13, 2022 by submitting your resume and cover letter through our HiringThing site. We will continue accepting applications after this date, but cannot ensure all will be reviewed. All candidates will be notified once we have made a hiring decision.