Launched in 1999 as Bikes Belong, PeopleForBikes includes both an industry coalition of bicycling suppliers and retailers, as well as a charitable foundation. Our foundation is where we house our major programs and engage individual members, affiliate organizations, and corporate sponsors.Over the years, we have spent more than $30 million to make bicycling better. Weâve invested $2.1 million in community bicycling projects and leveraged more than $654 million in federal, state, and private funding. We have contributed millions to national groups and programs like the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, the League of American Bicyclists, and the International Mountain Bicycling Association, ensuring safer places to ride for both children and adults.By connecting the bicycle industry and millions of individual riders, we generated political clout that secures a seat at the congressional table for people who benefit from bikes. (And that's just about everyone.) Through these efforts, federal investment in bicycling has quadrupled since we've been on the scene.We provide a unified front for advocating for bicycling on a national level, a strategic center to ensure collaboration between each piece in the bicycling movement, and the ability to support local efforts through our financial, community and communication resources.
PeopleForBikes (PFB) seeks a part-time writer to create, organize, and manage content related to building better biking quickly. This includes writing stories, blogs, taking or acquiring images/video of the progress toward building new facilities/networks to use alongside written content, and managing interactions on social media. Stories can include celebrations of new projects, works-in-progress, technical details about implementation, interviews with key supporters, people who use the new facilities, and others.
In addition to delving into the details of what cities are facing and accomplishing, the PlacesForBikes writer will cover national trends and overarching themes across cities. We expect coverage to be fair and factual, but not directly critical of local efforts. In addition to creating the content for the blog, the PlacesForBikes writer will be tasked with finding other key contributors to the blog, increasing cross-posting of content on other relevant blogs and news sources, and growing readership to the blog.
The content is target at city builders who influence elected officials and other decision-makers to build better places for bikes including business owners, key city staff, nonprofit directors, church officials, political donors, political operatives, locally respected policy wonks, local-foundation grant officers, and the most politically savvy tier of biking advocates.
Other writing projects could include editorials for news sources, feature stories for magazines, case studies for in- house publication, etc.
Responsibilities include:
Produces, organizes, and manages all content related to PlacesForBikes programs and other writing projects as assigned
Acts as the official writer for PlacesForBikes content, including editorials, feature stories, case studies, and project reporting
Develops an editorial plan annually
Collaborates in the ongoing development of the PeopleForBikes and PlacesForBikes brands
Works closely with the PlacesForBikes staff to adhere to budget guidelines and deliver on editorial
objectives
Manages relationships with other blog contributors
Assists in the ongoing development of the PlacesForBikes website, particularly as it relates to the blog
Monitors and analyzes readership on the blog and strives to increase it
Pitches blog content to other relevant blogs and news sources
Monitors and records placement of blog content
Manages content and interactions on PlacesForBike social media accounts including Facebook & Twitter
Attend and participate in (via phone or skype) weekly PlacesForBikes staff meetings
Travel occasionally as needed to write about the progress toward building better biking quickly
Other duties as assigned
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, or related field
At least five years prior experience writing for a news outlet or blog
Familiarity with bicycling-related efforts of city government
Superior connections and contacts in the blogging world
Understanding of city planning jargon and the ability to write technically as well as translate for a broader
audience
Experience managing and creating content for the web
PeopleForBikes is a dynamic, evolving organization where responsibilities are likely to change and grow, particularly
based on the specific talents the successful candidate brings to the role. All members of our team take on new duties
as needed.
Skills in photography and simple videography
Working knowledge of HTML
Ability to cooperate and communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisor and outside contacts
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent organizational skills
Team-oriented and able to accept ideas and strategy from other individuals
Work well under pressure
Attentive to detail
Self-directed and able to carry out assignments without supervision
Willing to travel occasionally
Enthusiasm for bicycling in all its forms
Compensation and benefits:
This “at will” position offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is offered, which includes health insurance, generous paid time off and optional participation in a deferred compensation plan.
To apply:
Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and two writing sample via email with “PlacesForBikes Blogger” in the subject line to [email protected].
The position will remain open until filled. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. PeopleForBikes is an equal opportunity employer.