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 AAH 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 Programs Manager
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Climate Programs Manager sets and executes organization-wide strategy for reducing air pollution and advancing climate health by leading a comprehensive plan, program, and team. The Climate Programs Manager will understand how heat-trapping emissions from a variety of sources, including transportation and fossil fuels, impact both public health and climate change. They will apply best practices in transportation planning, energy transition, de-carbonization, plastic reduction, and other key environmental topics to oversee effective community-driven campaigns to combat the harms causes by air pollution and climate change. They will also have a deep understanding of how such decisions historically and repeatedly disenfranchise environmental justice communities. The Climate Programs Manager will identify opportunities for, develop strategic partnerships toward, and guide staff in the implementation of specific research, education, and advocacy actions, events, and initiatives that advance the issues and achieve agency goals. The successful Climate Programs Manager will effect long-term change in the Houston region at a policy and resource-allocation level that prioritizes community sustainability, equity, and health.
Reports To: Executive Director
Status: Full-time
Supervises: Climate Justice Coordinator(s), Paid Interns, Contractors/Vendors
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy Development
- Establish an organization-wide strategy for reducing mobile emissions and advancing climate health at a regional level through planning and advocacy on specific policy change related to transportation, land use, housing, weather resilience, energy alternatives, de-carbonization, and other key environmental topics that contribute to mobile emissions.
- Contribute to the agency’s legislative policy priorities and advocacy plans; and draft and revise supportive legislation.
- Build relationships with other organizations and community groups to develop strategies, leverage resources, and build a broad base of support for AAH campaigns. Develop new avenues for engaging with residents.
- Oversee the convening of local and statewide collaborations/coalitions that build momentum, organize and advance community concerns, and reign together power for transportation and climate equity.
Team Supervision
- Hire, onboard/orient, and train a diverse set of team members with background in air/climate science, transportation and land use planning, and community organizing.
- Organize team member roles and evaluate team member performance. Perform employee reviews. Address performance concerns through corrective actions.
- Determine team member needs and provide coaching, training, and other technical assistance to help team members reach their full potential.
- Ensure compliance by team members with all AAH policies and procedures.
- Take steps to create a team and workplace culture of inclusion and equity.
- Identify and oversee efforts by paid student interns and consultants.
Program Management
- Oversee planning and implementation of specific events, actions, campaigns, and initiatives that mobilize community responses to high-priority air quality and climate concerns.
- Monitor achievement of project-related goals and objectives.
- Provide guidance on general community engagement activities and tactics in priority neighborhoods.
- With guidance from the Executive Director, draft and submit grant applications and grant reports, and develop and oversee project budgets.
Thought-Leadership
- Identify needs for and oversee the design and implementation of research and policy analysis that will further AAH’s goals related to mobile emissions reductions.
- Stay current on regional news and issues pertinent to land use, housing, weather resilience, energy alternatives, de-carbonization, and other key environmental topics that contribute to mobile emissions.
- Provide subject matter expertise and thought leadership on the intersection of regional transportation, climate planning, and air quality.
- Write and deliver public comments/testimony and presentations on behalf of AAH at relevant public meetings,hearings, etc.
- Provide media interviews on relevant topics.
- Regularly report on major transportation and climate policy and planning issues to the team.
- Represent the organization on influential regional planning bodies at the local, regional, and statewide level.
Supportive Activities
- Work collaboratively with staff and partners to meet agency goals and objectives.
- Help design and execute the organization’s plans and strategies.
- Provide support to coalitions, groups, and task forces in building and strengthening a community-basednetwork of air quality advocates.
- Track activities as directed for the purposes of performance management, evaluation, planning, and qualityimprovement.
- Support staff with expanding other AAH community engagement structures, such as the Air Quality Ambassadorsand the Environmental Justice Leadership Lab.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should have the following to be considered for the role:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as environmental sciences/studies, urban planning, publichealth, public policy, or political science.
- 3-5 years of professional experience planning, implementing, and evaluating advocacy campaigns or programs related to environmental health, public health, transportation, or another relevant field.
- Experience managing diverse direct reports and team members.
- Demonstrated ability to build trust with and nurture equitable relationships with community members and groups.
- Experience with public speaking to a variety of stakeholder groups.
Highly competitive candidates will also have the following:
- Knowledge of the population health impacts of air pollution.
- Knowledge of the local, regional, and state legislative and policy processes.
- Bi/multi-lingual fluency in languages commonly spoken in Houston other than English (e.g., Spanish, Vietnamese).
- Reside in, are connected to, and/or familiar with the context, resources, and needs of Houston’s environmental justice communities.
CORE ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES
All team members are required to follow and uphold the AAH Mission, Vision, and Values, and Policies andProcedures. 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, solvesproblems.
- COMMUNICATION: expresses ideas clearly both verbally and in writing, listens effectively, addresses issues andconcerns 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 operateindependently, responds to management direction, follows-through on commitments, meets deadlines.
- EFFICIENCY AND PRIORITIZATION: manages time efficiently, prioritizes work obligations appropriately, canplan 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 onbehalf of the organization.
- QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS: completes work accurately and at high standards, uses best practices andcredible methods, follows policies and procedures, achieves consistent results.
- RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: creates and manages program plans and budgets, uses company resourcesresponsibly.
- TEAMWORK: responsive to others, shows respect and courtesy, values diversity, builds rapport internally andexternally, collaborative and open to others views, handles conflict well, contributes to a positive workingenvironment.
Salary and Benefits: $70,000 – 75,000, 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: The 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 regular 40 work week-including some evenings and weekends-are required. Some local travel is alsorequired.
Location: Houston, TX. AAH is currently 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 phone calls or direct emails.
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 with an emphasis on program and people management;
- A brief explanation of your understanding of the intersections between air quality and climate; 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.