Citizens for a Healthy Bay (CHB) seeks an energetic, passionate professional to join our team as the Climate Action Coordinator. The Climate Action Coordinator will be responsible for engaging communities in Tacoma to inform and develop a comprehensive, robust, innovative, and equitable Action Plan and Resilience Strategy (for the City of Tacoma) to address the City’s commitment to reaching its climate goals. This position is funded primarily by the City of Tacoma. This position will work closely with both CHB and the City of Tacoma’s Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability (OEPS).

This is a full-time, project position that is expected to end on September 30, 2021.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values for Citizens for a Healthy Bay and the City of Tacoma. We welcome and value a diversity of people, experiences and perspectives. We embrace and actively encourage participation of people with differences in age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, language, national origin, family or marital status, veteran status, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion and/or political affiliation.

 

Scope of Work

The Climate Action Coordinator will be responsible for engaging communities in Tacoma to inform the City’s Climate Justice Planning, which will aid in the development of a comprehensive, robust, innovative, and equitable Action Plan and Resilience Strategy to address the City of Tacoma’s commitment to reaching its climate and sustainability goals. This will be achieved through:

  • Advising OEPS staff on the development, and assisting in the implementation of, a community engagement workplan that will inform the City’s Climate Action Plan and Resilience Strategy;
  • Managing and adapting a shared work plan (shared between CHB and OEPS);
  • Fostering and supporting community engagement, particularly from diverse, underserved, and vulnerable communities;
  • Supporting community members in their own climate action engagement activities;
  • Planning, organizing, and developing materials for community meetings, and incorporating community members’ findings and recommendations into the City’s Action Plan and Resilience Strategy;
  • Developing and maintaining communication strategies and tools; and,
  • Reporting on project milestones and outcomes.

This work will involve developing relationships with community and organizational leaders, maintaining a shared work plan, scheduling meetings, facilitating productive group conversations, tracking meetings and follow up actions, training and speaking with community members, researching and writing clear and compelling communication pieces, juggling multiple projects with competing deadlines, and event planning. The Climate Action Coordinator should understand how environmental issues intersect with social issues in order to develop strategic coalitions with communities and stakeholder groups across Tacoma.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Works with City of Tacoma OEPS staff to develop and execute a community engagement strategy supported by a living, shared work plan that will aid in the development of a comprehensive, robust, innovative, and equitable Action Plan to address the City of Tacoma’s commitment to reaching its climate goals;
  • Supports approximately thirty Climate Justice Ambassadors in their individual climate action engagement activities;
  • Supports the Environmental Justice Leaders Workgroup and work group Facilitator by helping to draft agendas, develop virtual engagement activities, meeting materials, and follow up correspondence;
  • Leads the development and execution of several workshops (most likely virtual) to seek input about potential climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and actions the City could prioritize. This includes:
    • Generating forum topics, recruiting speakers, reserving meeting space, and performing event outreach to ensure audience participation that is reflective of Tacoma’s racial and socio-economic diversity;
  • Provides climate justice presentations to local community groups;
  • Acts as one of the primary writers of fact sheets, FAQs, talking points, etc. for climate action work in Tacoma, and distributes these materials to the public;
  • Leads solicitation of local artist(s) to help bring the climate justice plan to life;
  • Tracks participation data from all engagement events and accurately summarizes the data in appropriate formats;
  • Builds relationships with important community stakeholders through targeted outreach efforts;
  • Mobilizes and supports community members to participate in workshops, community conversations, and other engagement events that will inform the City’s Action Plan;
  • Ensures the principles of racial and social equity are infused in our work by acknowledging our privileges and bringing underrepresented voices into the conversation to more effectively address the complex issues that threaten Tacoma;
  • Promotes, attends, and assists in the execution of CHB’s fundraising efforts; and,
  • Undertakes special studies and projects as requested by the Executive Director.

Desired Strengths and Qualifications

  • At least 1 year of professional experience in community relations, community advocacy, public policy, political/advocacy campaigns and/or environmental science;
  • At least 1 year of experience in effectively and professionally communicating and forming relationships with other environmental and/or social justice communities and organizations, constituents, staff, and elected officials of Tribal nations, academic organizations, regulatory agency staff and elected officials from City, County, State, and Federal governments;
  • At least 1 year of experience developing, executing, measuring and reporting success of advocacy campaigns;
  • At least 1 year of experience facilitating and or supporting team or workgroup collaboration;
  • Proven record of inclusive engagement; demonstrated competency working with diverse cultures; ability to build trust and create authentic relationships with a diverse range of people; ability to deal respectfully and constructively with people of divergent opinions;
  • Demonstrated ability to develop, maintain and follow a work plan;
  • Demonstrated proficiency in clear, effective written and verbal communication;
  • Demonstrated ability to create informative, persuasive messaging pieces like brochures, talking points, email and social media campaigns;
  • Demonstrated ability to understand and relay information from technical documents like environmental impact statements, land use plans, or water quality permits, for example, to diverse audiences;
  • Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines, such as managing multiple campaigns while meeting deadlines for reporting on other projects;
  • Desire to collaborate with a multi-disciplinary and diverse team; a highly organized, curious, and laid-back demeanor works well in our office, and;
  • Desire and ability to learn quickly, be creative and flexible in day-to-day work, take initiative and exercise sound judgement in making decisions and completing projects.

Reports to:

CHB Policy and Technical Program Manager

Working Conditions

Position is based in Tacoma and is office work (i.e. sitting at a desk using a computer and/or phone for long periods of time), along with meetings and speaking events at a wide variety of venues (these will be remote until it is safe to hold public meetings). The position also requires some travel and a valid driver’s license. Accommodations can be made for this position for persons who might need them.

Salary/Benefits

The Climate Action Coordinator is a full-time FLSA exempt position with an annual salary range of $41,600 – $52,000, commensurate with experience. As a full-time employee, the Climate Action Coordinator is eligible for competitive benefits, including paid holidays, sick leave, and health and dental insurance.

To Apply:

If you are sincerely interested in the position, please email a cover letter stating your suitability for this position and resumé demonstrating your qualifications to chbhealthybay.org. Please include the position title in the email subject. Applications are due by midnight on Wednesday November 11, 2020.

Please note: questions about the position via email or phone are unlikely to receive a timely response, if any.