July 25, 2025

Position: Program Director, Gearin’ Up

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $76,000 – $90,000

Reports to: Executive Director

Full-Time (32 hours per work)

Position Overview:

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is hiring a Program Director to oversee Gearin’ Up Bicycles. Gearin’ Up’s purpose is to create career development opportunities and teach essential workplace skills to youth from under-served communities, while encouraging cycling as a practical, healthy means of transportation. Gearin’ Up provides access to quality, affordable, used bicycles for those in need and hosts various community outreach programs throughout the year. Our community-focused organization focuses on four pillars to achieve our mission: job training, refurbished bicycles, experimental education, and community engagement.

The program funds itself through a community bicycle shop and engagement with an exceptional group of donors. The ways Gearin’ Up entices D.C. youth to engage with the program is by offering them a bicycle with a certain number of hours spent repairing bikes, and job training. Many decide to stay on at Gearin’ Up and are hired as part time mechanics, learning valuable skills and building community. 

Job Responsibilities:

The program has been around since 2013, and in a new partnership with WABA, the focus is on: 

  • Building relationships with leaders who can connect to youth, particularly in Wards 7 and 8. 
  • Reestablish Gearin’ Up’s Earn-A-Bike program, that focuses on developing the skills needed to be successful in the workplace (this program will be taught by an education coordinator)
  • Schedule and staff monthly events where donors and volunteers repair bikes
  • Recruit, manage, and inspire a strong team that includes volunteers, donors, and WABA staff that connect communities to WABA’s work in the region, as well as provide bicycle repair services. 
  • Mentoring bike mechanics, as well as Earn A Bike participants
  • Being a leader, who will mentor and manage staff at Gearin’ Up; the current Gearin Up staff includes a Shop Manager and 2 Part Time Mechanics. 
  • Financial responsibility for hitting budget numbers for grants, fundraising, and sales; and
    • Financial responsibility of projecting budget, fundraising and sales goals; and tracking progress of set metrics throughout the year.  
  • Creating, building support, and managing a robust youth outreach program, funded at least in part by Washington, D.C. 
  • Being a member of WABA’s senior leadership team, contributing ideas and leadership across the org.
  • Continuing to schedule, staff and oversee volunteer/bike donation days. 
  • Building relationships with WABA’s teams, other bike nonprofits, and leaders in DC. 

Additional Responsibilities:

Oversee and manage the operational schedule for Gearin’ Up’s open days, ensuring adequate staffing and resources are available to support program activities.

Develop and implement a dynamic operating schedule that maximizes fiscal growth and community engagement, incorporating holidays, special events, and other opportunities.

Lead the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new staff members, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.

Exhibit flexibility in work hours, including evenings and weekends, to effectively meet programming objectives and community engagement goals.

Core Skills & Experience: 

The ideal candidate will have the skills to provide innovative ideas for how to re-launch Gearin’ Up, experience running a program, and a focus on youth outreach and experiential education. 

Consider applying if you meet at least 75% of these requirements: 

  • 3+ years of experience building a company, particularly through fundraising with individuals and grants (winning and reporting on); 
  • 2+ years of experience with youth outreach, particularly around mentoring;
  • Management experience of full and/or part-time staff- mentoring, motivating and evaluating.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritize, keeping multiple projects moving forward simultaneously.
  • Demonstrated leadership and understanding of how race, gender and other marginalized identifications shape experiences and the way in which people relate to one another.
  • Initiative to build upon the 10+ years of Gearin’ Up’s work and expand it as a WABA program 
  • Experience with job training and experiential education, particularly bike maintenance skills.

Useful Skills & Experience: 

These are great to have but not required: 

  • Impeccable attention to detail. 
  • Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to work closely with others. 
  • Experience working in diverse communities and on diverse teams of staff and volunteers. 
  • A genuine passion for the WABA mission to empower people to ride bikes, build connections, and transform places. 

Position Location:

The candidate must be located in the Washington, DC area. This is an in-person job at 10 Harry Thomas Way, NE. 

Benefits:

  • Salary Range is $76,000 – $90,000 
  • 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance premiums. 
  • Vacation, sick and personal leave, including:
    • Accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation starting in your first year, with additional hours after two, five, and ten years of service. 
    • 32 hour workweek
    • Accrue up to 160 hours annually of paid sick time starting in your first year.
  • WABA supports and promotes the health of its staff. You may use accrued sick time for unscheduled leave when not feeling well (mind or body), as well as for scheduled medical appointments. 
  • Paid time off for holidays, generally following the federal holiday calendar. 
  • Twelve weeks paid parental leave and up to four weeks of additional parental leave from the DC Paid Family Leave act (based on eligibility). 
  • Immediate access to WABA’s 403(b) retirement program, with up to a 5% employer match after one year of service. 
  • Optional commuter transit benefit (pre-tax deduction). 
  • Optional voluntary benefits including life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability. 
  • A fun and relaxed workplace environment. 
  • Passionate, supportive colleagues who are dedicated to working together for our mission and seeing the impact of our work. 
  • $5 Annual Capital Bikeshare membership

To Apply: 

Send a cover letter and resume to jobs@waba.org with “Gearin’ Up Director” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Position available immediately. Applications accepted until the position is filled. 

EEO Statement:

WABA is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, arrest record or criminal convictions, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, sex, or age.