Seeking a visionary leader to help guide BEST into its next chapter.

For the past 14 years, BEST has been a strong advocate for better transportation for everyone in the Eugene-Springfield community. Now, BEST is preparing for an important transition: after 14 years as our Executive Director, Rob Zako is stepping into retirement to spend more time with his family.

Since 2012, BEST has worked to give community members a voice in shaping a better transportation system. Born from the effort to build public support for extending EmX bus rapid transit to west Eugene, BEST and its founding Executive Director, Rob Zako, played an important role in the successful effort to make the West Eugene EmX project a reality.

Since then, BEST has grown from a one-person nonprofit focused primarily on transportation advocacy into a three-person organization with multiple areas of focus. Today, our work ranges from hosting events that increase community knowledge and engagement around transportation issues to gathering community input on street designs and providing meaningful feedback to municipal planners.

I will miss working with Rob dearly, and I have immense appreciation for all he has done to improve transportation options for our community. His leadership has helped build BEST into the organization it is today, and we are grateful for his many years of service.

At the same time, I am honored to chair the Search Committee as we begin the process of selecting BEST’s next Executive Director. Rob has positioned the organization for a strong transition. BEST is in a solid financial position, has a strong and committed Board of Directors, and is supported by two highly qualified staff members, Claire Roth and Peter Simmeth.

We are now seeking a visionary leader to help guide BEST into its next chapter.

The new Executive Director will work with the Board, staff, and community to develop and implement a strategic vision that expands and improves transportation options throughout Eugene and Springfield. We are looking for someone who can bring people together around that vision and help turn it into meaningful, lasting improvements in our local transportation system.

If you are interested in helping shape the future of transportation in our community, we encourage you to apply. For best consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume by October 11, 2026, to [email protected].

We look forward to finding the right leader to build on BEST’s strong foundation and lead the organization into its next chapter.

Executive Director Job Description

To Apply:  For best consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume by October 11, 2026, to [email protected].

Position Title:	Executive Director	FLSA Status:	Exempt/Salaried
Reports to:	Board of Directors
Salary Range:	$75,000 to $85,000

BEST’s Board is seeking a visionary leader to help guide the Board of Directors in developing a strategic plan that expands and improves transportation options throughout Eugene and Springfield. This leader will also help bring our community together to turn that vision into action and create meaningful, lasting improvements in local transportation. 

BEST’s Mission

To build a successful community by bringing people together to promote transportation options, safe streets, and walkable neighborhoods.

Essential Job Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities

The Executive Director (ED), along with the Board of Directors, leads Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation, BEST, a non-profit organization. The ED

• oversees operations and programs; develops and manages resources, represents the organization publicly and collaborates with partner agencies. 
• sets the standard of excellence internally for the organization and externally with our stakeholders and users, consistent with the organization’s strategic plan, policies and resolutions.
• advances BEST’s mission by leading the development and implementation of a strategic plan.
• identifies, frames, plans, and oversees implementation of projects and opportunities for BEST to make a significant impact.
• researches issues to better understand challenges and opportunities.
• delegates tasks to staff and Board members as appropriate.

Board of Directors: The ED

• serves as the interface between Board and staff. 
• provides information and guidance to the Board and Board committees to help make informed fiduciary and governance decisions; consults with the Board regarding development of policies, and implements procedures.

Resource Development: The ED

• ensures an adequate and sustainable funding base to meet strategic priorities and ongoing operational needs. This includes researching and identifying new sources of funding and developing other long-term funding resources. 
• establishes and develops close working relationships with funding agencies, business and individual donors in order to ensure appropriate, efficient investment of community resources. 
• ensures preparation and submission of grant proposals or other funding requests to public/private/contract agencies and foundations, and supports and leads the Board in its fund development role.
• Works with staff to ensure the development of the Board of Directors and volunteers to support the Board and volunteers in working toward the goals of the organization.

Organizational Management: The ED 

• manages staff including hiring, training, coaching, and evaluating competent, qualified and representative, diverse staff and ensures employee compliance with all internal organizational policies and state and federal workplace regulations.
• empowers team members to meet key performance indicators by providing continuous mentorship, clear expectations, and regular constructive feedback, also holds team members accountable through open dialogue, objective metrics, and structured accountability meetings.
• cultivates a safe, inclusive, equitable workplace that fosters quality performance and success for staff. 
• cultivates a deepening understanding of organizational diversity, equity and inclusion goals. 

Program Delivery: In partnership with the Board, the ED

• establishes and ensures implementation of annual priorities and measurable goals consistent with the strategic plan; provides the Board with sufficient metrics to evaluate the success of implementation efforts.

Fiscal Management: The ED 

• works with the Treasurer to ensure fiscal integrity and cost-effective management of the organization and maintains strong oversight, internal controls and division of duties to safeguard organizational assets. 
• ensures proper handling and tracking of funds and provides the Board with clear, timely, comprehensible and accurate fiscal reports.  

Outreach and Public Relations: The ED 

• serves as the principal spokesperson, visibly and actively representing BEST in the community, to the media, and to our government, non-profit, business, and community partners.
• ensures communication on key issues in writing and in person to educate, recruit, and persuade.

Inter-Organization Partnerships and Collaboration: The ED

• serves on the Steering Committee of Move Oregon Forward, a statewide campaign for safe, clean, fair and accountable transportation, which BEST co-founded.
• administers Salem Bike Vision, a fiscally-sponsored project of BEST.
• maintains an understanding of the general mission and vision of important partner organizations, aiming to build up trust and collaboration.

Education: A Bachelor’s degree. 

Experience

• A minimum of three years’ senior management experience preferably in a non-profit organization; 
• Track record of successful fundraising from agencies, foundations, individuals and businesses.

Equivalency Statement

We want to find the best candidate for the job and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply even if it seems like you may not meet all  of the qualifications described. You are also encouraged to address how your professional and lived experience, scholarship, teaching, mentorship, and/or service will contribute to BEST’s mission.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to develop, maintain and support an effective Board of Directors and Board committees;
• Ability to manage and communicate budgets and finances;
• Ability to bring together diverse groups within the transportation and transportation-adjacent communities and to foster consensus recommendations.
• Ability to coach staff, manage and develop high-performance teams, and set and achieve strategic objectives;
• Ability to track relevant transportation policies.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator;
• Ability to implement organizational Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion goals and policies;
• Proficiency in basic computer software (such as Google suite, databases, etc.);
• Ability to support a culture that welcomes and nurtures volunteers and donors.
• Ability to follow through on long term projects and outcomes and manage time, resources, partner relationships, and staff to this effect.
• Excellent collaboration, facilitation, and listening skills.
• Knowledge of transportation systems as well as the transportation funding environment.
• Knowledge of transportation policy and Eugene/Springfield/Lane County transportation landscape.
• Knowledge of methods for effecting transportation-related change.

Requirements

Pass a criminal background check and have access to reliable transportation to get to job sites. 

Job Location, Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Work can generally be performed at the BEST office in Eugene or remotely but the ED frequently needs to attend in-person events at various locations in the greater Eugene-Springfield-Lane County area.