Great organization, terrible leadership - Anonymous employee ITDP Employee Review

3.0
2 Dec 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The work ITDP does is great, and the staff is very dedicated and hardworking. People are smart, engaged, and passionate. The work is rewarding and interesting. There are great international travel opportunities (if this is the place for you, this should be a positive), and opportunities to do all kinds of urban planning work at all levels.

Cons

The leadership has been in flux for the last five years or so, after an awkward and painful resignation from the long time CEO three years ago, and the year before that where he was actively working to sabotage the organization. He was awful, but at least he was in charge. Now, there are no adults running the place, no one takes any decisions or responsibility for anything at the top level, and there is no strategic direction. Staff is smart enough to do their work, but its just day to day, there is no vision, no goals as an organization, leadership is incompetent, and the board is useless.

Explore other reviews about ITDP

5.0
1 May 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The mission is fantastic, and the people who work here are genuinely kind and smart. The CEO is very accessible to staff and engaged with the work happening on the ground. There are a lot of opportunties to learn from the best of the best in sustainable transport across the globe. The health insurance is fantastic and has no deductible. There is a lot of time off and flexibility.

Cons

None really stand out to me.

4.0
26 Jul 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I've worked at various international NGOs & community nonprofits, and my time thus far at ITDP has by far been one of the better workplaces and learning opportunities. If you have an interest in urban planning, int'l development and transport/mobility policy, and are willing and interested in learning with an open mind, this is the place where that can be possible. Of course, like with any global org, there are challenges and issues, but honestly I think ITDP is the sort of place where you get as much out of the experience as you're willing to put into it. Staff and leadership are generally friendly and willing to listen (even if they might not necessarily change their minds) as long as you are willing to meet them where they're at. I would say this is unlike other NGOs i've worked for where, unfortunately, ego and self-aggrandizement was much more rampant at all levels. Benefits and compensation is on par for the size and budget of the org in my experience. Post-COVID travel opportunities are also coming back.

Cons

As with many places, it's hard to juggle the personalities and opinions across culturally/politically/economically diverse offices with their own needs and projects and funders. I think a big challenge is finding unity across int'l offices and breaking out of the silos of the 'us' vs. 'them' mentality of separate teams, which honestly is not unique to ITDP but probably prevalent in all NGOs. Core functions like fundraising, development, comms could also use more integration with program areas and support.

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