Salary: $77,421.00 – $82,683.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-PSP-009
Department: Puget Sound Partnership
Opening Date: 07/25/2023
Closing Date: 8/15/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

The Puget Sound Partnership is a non-regulatory state agency leading the region’s collective effort to restore and protect the Puget Sound natural ecosystems. We are also one of the Executive Cabinet agencies under Governor Inslee’s Office. The Partnership brings together hundreds of partners to mobilize action around a common agenda, advance Sound investments, and advance priority actions by supporting partners.

Position Details
This full-time unrepresented position is exempt from civil service law and has an official duty station at our Headquarters building in Olympia, Washington. Within the organizational chart, this position is a member of the Equity and Environmental Justice Team in the Executive Director’s Office, and reports to the Equity and Environmental Justice Manager. 
 
The Community Engagement Coordinator will work directly with community-based organizations (CBO’s) and overburdened communities to address environmental justice (EJ) and support community engagement across the recovery network. In partnership with agency teams, key recovery partners, CBOs, and EJ communities, this position will create local and regional equity and environmental justice plans that respond to the recovery network and reduce barriers, leverage funding, and develop policies to improve Puget Sound recovery. We are looking for someone that meets the professional experience and education requirements listed below, but we also are looking for someone with lived experience relevant to this position. Please consider applying if your lived experience meets the competencies of the requirements. 
 
A little bit about the Equity and Environmental Justice Team
The Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) Team leads the development and implementation of the agency-wide planning initiatives for equity and environmental justice policy work. This team contributes to the success of the agency’s efforts in achieving its six legislatively identified ecosystem recovery goals by playing a role in how the organization strategically addresses environmental health and human well-being disparities across the Puget Sound. The EEJ Program envisions a healing Puget Sound that equitably benefits generations of communities who call this region home.

Duties

Some of duties include:

• Lead and support equity and environmental justice initiatives within the Puget Sound recovery network to ensure the advancement and implementation of environmental justice outcomes and actions within the statutorily mandated Action Agenda.
• Collaborate with recovery partners, the EEJ team, and agency staff to ensure equity and environmental justice policies and initiatives are appropriately implemented.
• Coordinate public involvement events with overburdened communities, including communities of color and working-class populations.
• Empower, support, and equip recovery partners with meaningful engagement, trainings, and resources that advance environmental justice within ecosystem recovery.
• Assist the Equity and Environmental Justice Manager in executing the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)and EJ action plan across agency planning, accountability, communications, boards, and science divisions.
• Support the EJ Coordinator in community engagement for the implementation of the Healthy Environments for All (HEAL) Act.
• Ensure the use of best practices for engaging current partners while expanding and assisting recovery partners in building new partnerships
• Assist in the progress tracking of EJ outcomes for Puget Sound recovery efforts.
• Develop tools and resources for communicating equity and EJ to support Action Agenda implementation. 
• Lead and coordinate the implementation of the community compensation policy in collaboration with the internal operations division.

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies.
Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental justice, public administration, policy studies, interdisciplinary studies or related field
AND
Any applicable experience in public policy or social justice and environmental and/or natural resource management

OR

Associate’s degree (or equivalent credits) in environmental justice, public administration, policy studies, interdisciplinary studies or related field
AND
Two years of experience in public policy or social justice and environmental and/or natural resource management

OR

At least four years of working experience with public policy or social justice and environmental and/or natural resource management

AND

• At least two years of experience working on issues of justice, diversity, inclusion, and equity, including deep awareness and analysis of systems of oppression, power, and privileges.
• At least two years of experience working with environmental justice and/or historically marginalized communities.
• At least one year of experience facilitating conversations about community issues with diverse groups or leading community engagement in public forums.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (including active listening) to be applied to a broad variety of audiences and situations.
• Substantive knowledge of equity and disparities experienced by communities within the Puget Sound region
• Commitment to social change work and environmental justice.
• Leadership and commitment to furthering a vision of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout all facets of the agency and our work with the Puget Sound recovery community.

Additionally, and not required, this position would benefit from experience in public forums about controversial and sensitive issues that impact large populations, and working in conflict situations and demonstrating sensitivity in navigating and maintaining relationships with community members and Tribal, State, and/or local governments.

CONDITIONS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
   With or without accommodations, I am willing and able to:

• Work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a workday, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions 
• Work in a tobacco-free, drug-free, and alcohol-free environment
• Work a 40-hour work week (A flexible work schedule may be considered upon request and supervisory approval, after an initial review period)
• Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evenings and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines
• Occasionally travel throughout the state, which may include overnight stays, as required, while performing the duties of this position
• Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines
• Maintain confidentiality regarding information accessed or discussed while performing the duties of the position
• Interact and work with partners and staff in a positive, friendly, and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency.
• Permanently reside in Washington state throughout employment and available to report in person at Puget Sound agency offices and meetings on a weekly basis. If the successful candidate is currently living outside of Washington, relocation must occur within 30 days of the appointment date. 

WORK LOCATION: 
The Partnership offers a modern hybrid work environment, which includes both remote and office settings in Olympia and Tacoma. Although it’s not an official duty station of the Partnership, the agency currently utilizes a co-work space at a location in Seattle as a drop-in work environment option for staff.

All staff are required to report for in-person work in group settings or for in-person work at an office building at least once a week, including this position. You may be required to work more frequently in an office setting than others if you’re unable to effectively conduct work remotely or as business needs arise. You will be expected to report to the Olympia office on your first day of employment for onboarding.
 
Travel throughout the Puget Sound area on a regular basis will likely be necessary and travel reimbursement will be dependent on where you reside and your destination. Not all travel will be eligible for mileage reimbursement. The Partnership offers agency vehicles for all staff when traveling to meetings, conferences, or other work-related events that are not part of the employee’s regular commute. Use of the vehicle and a gasoline card for fueling is at no cost to the employee.
 
The annual salary range of compensation for this position is between $77,421 – $82,683 depending upon qualifications, although the expected hiring salary will typically be less than the top of the range, to allow for growth and development movement.

To Apply
Please attach the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

• A letter of interest that describes why you are a compelling candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position. If you’d like lived experience to be considered in lieu of any education or professional experience, please include how that lived experience is equivalent to any of the educational or professional experience requirements. You are welcome to include the name and pronouns you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization. 
• Current resume, detailing experience, education, and relevant skills or talents

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4132626/community-engagement-coordinator-exempt