Air Alliance Houston (AAH) believes everyone has a right to breathe clean air and where you live, work, learn, and play should not determine your health. The mission of Air Alliance Houston is to reduce the public health impacts from air pollution through applied research, education, and advocacy. We are a growing and dynamic non-profit organization, active in the Houston area for over 30 years, with a friendly, diverse, inclusive, dedicated, and collaborative team.
Climate Justice Coordinator (Plastic Pollution)
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Climate Justice Coordinator (Plastic Pollution) will be the first position of its kind at AAH. The purpose of the new role is to amplify the connections between air quality, environmental justice, and plastic pollution across the supply chain by planning and coordinating a new community-based campaign that educates and empowers communities to take action for their health. The successful Climate Justice Coordinator will understand the population health impacts of air pollution and how the plastic industry contributes to poor air quality. They will also cultivate relationships with residents, community organizations, governmental offices, businesses, and other relevant groups within the greater Houston/Harris County area. They will provide accurate and compelling messages about air quality, plastic, climate, equity, and energy toward the goal of a unified and mobilized voice for change. As a result of their work, the Climate Justice Coordinator will increase the influence and power of residents that experience an unfair burden from both air pollution and climate change.
Reports To: Climate Programs Manager
Status: Full-time
Supervises: Paid Interns/Students
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Campaign Strategy Development
- In collaboration with staff and partners, design campaigns and strategies to mobilize community responses to high-priority air quality and climate “bad actors” including specific industry sources, such as coal fired power plants.
- Support AAH’s work in climate action planning at the local and regional levels by attending and actively participating in key meetings and other policy settings.
- Design AAH-led efforts to develop local and regional climate action plans using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and other methods that center community voices as vital data.
- Serve as a point-of-contact and subject matter expert for staff and partners on issues related to air quality, climate, and energy.
Community Outreach and Engagement
- Lead community organizing with residents and organizations from frontline communities in greater Houston/Harris County to create a network of advocacy volunteers.
- Coordinate diverse coalitions of like-minded organizations, individuals, and groups to cultivate a unified and mobilized voice for air quality, climate action, and equity.
- Drive community turnout to events and activities including neighborhood meetings, regional planning meetings, air permit hearings, trainings, press conferences, and other forums where action can be taken. Plan similar events and activities for AAH.
- Develop and disseminate accurate and compelling informational materials and presentations on air quality, climate, equity, and energy.
Supportive Activities
- Work collaboratively with staff and partners to meet agency goals and objectives.
- Provide support to coalitions, groups, and task forces in building and strengthening a community-based network of air quality advocates.
- Help design and execute the organization’s plans and strategies.
- Track activities as directed for the purposes of performance management, evaluation, planning, and qualityimprovement.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should have the following to be considered for the role:
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- 2-3 years of professional experience coordinating community outreach activities.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and engage residents, community leaders, and multi-sector organizations to support a cause.
- Demonstrated ability to build trust with and nurture equitable relationships with community members and diverse sectors.
- Demonstrated experience with public speaking to a variety of stakeholder groups including crafting and conveying accurate and compelling public health messages.
- Demonstrated ability to research, analyze, and recommend on questions, issues, and concerns relevant to the role.
- Knowledge of the population health impacts of air pollution and climate change.
- Passion for the mission of AAH and for building a culture of health and equity in the Houston/Harris County area.
Highly competitive candidates will also have the following:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as public health, urban planning, environmental justice, environmental sciences, or energy studies.
- Paid or volunteer work as a community organizer or canvasser on climate or other environmental issues.
- Media experience.
- Experience planning and implementing special events.
- Reside in, connected to, and/or familiar with the context, resources, and needs of Fort Bend Houston and/or the broader Southwest Houston area.
CORE ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES:
All team members are required to follow and uphold the AAH Mission, Vision, and Values, and Policies and Procedures. In addition, the following core skills and abilities are expectations for all staff positions:
- ADAPTABILITY: is flexible, willing to learn and try new things, accepts new assignments, adjusts well to change.
- ANALYTICAL SKILLS: analyzes information or situations accurately, acts strategically, draws conclusions, solves problems.
- COMMUNICATION: expresses ideas clearly both verbally and in writing, listens effectively, addresses issues and concerns at the appropriate level, keeps others informed, gives and receives feedback constructively.
- DEPENDABILITY: can be counted on/trustworthy, displays an understanding of the work so as to operate independently, responds to management direction, follows-through on commitments, meets deadlines.
- EFFICIENCY AND PRIORITIZATION: manages time efficiently, prioritizes work obligations appropriately, can plan out work assignments verbally and in writing.
- INCLUSION: values all input and perspectives, seeks meaningful opportunities to understand and learn from others, applies a social justice and racial equity lens, uses People-First Language.
- INITIATIVE AND LEADERSHIP: volunteers for and accepts responsibility, is self-directed, clearly and passionately articulates the mission and vision, convenes and coordinates others, speaks and acts appropriately on behalf of the organization.
- QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS: completes work accurately and at high standards, uses best practices and credible methods, follows policies and procedures, achieves consistent results.
- RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: creates and manages program plans and budgets, uses company resources responsibly.
- TEAMWORK: responsive to others, shows respect and courtesy, values diversity, builds rapport internally and externally, collaborative and open to others views, handles conflict well, contributes to a positive working environment.
Salary and Benefits: $55,000-$65,000 depending on qualifications and experience, with an annual COLA, merit, and bonus dependent on performance and organizational capacity.
The AAH benefits package includes paid vacation and sick leave; other types of paid leave such as personnel days and paid holidays, including the last two weeks of the calendar year inclusive of the year-end holidays; free health benefits for employees and shared-cost health benefits for dependents; various stipends including a monthly wellness stipend; and a Simple IRA with a 3% employer match. AAH also supports professional development with an annual budget allotment per employee. AAH offers flexible work schedules and locations of work. AAH is a parent-friendly, dog-friendly, and bike-friendly workplace.
Classification: This is a full-time (40 hour), at-will, exempt position (not eligible for overtime). This position may be funded all or in part by grants and contingent upon funding availability.
Schedule: Official AAH office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (CST). AAH allows for flexible work schedules and locations of work to be responsive to community and business needs. Occasionally, more than a 40 work week-including some evenings and weekends-are required. Some local travel is also required.
Location: Houston, TX. AAH is a hybrid in-office/work from anywhere workplace; at least one in-office/in-person day is required; permanent remote work is not an option for this position.
Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2023 or sooner depending on the progress of the search.
Deadline: Applications will be reviewed until a candidate is selected. Please no emails or phone calls.
We value people of all experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives and strive to cultivate leadership from the ground up. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, genetic information, or marital or familial status. The successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in the US.
How to Apply: Please apply online by uploading the following:
- Resume or CV
- A cover letter that describes the following:
- A brief description of the experience you have pertaining to this role;
- A brief explanation of your understanding of the intersections between air quality and plastic pollution; and
- A brief explanation of what draws you to Air Alliance Houston.
Applicants are encouraged to review our website prior to applying. Only applications submitted to our online portal will be considered.