[Hiring] Fellow, Sustainable Community Development @NAACP

Role Description

The NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc. seeks a Fellow, Sustainable Community Development, Environmental and Climate Justice, who is a dynamic and innovative leader to serve as a content expert assigned to the core programming area and contribute to the strategic direction of the Association.

The Center for Environmental and Climate Justice is one of four Centers of Innovation (C-HOPE) at the NAACP. The Center’s team of subject matter experts work with our robust national network of member units and their local communities to execute transformative strategies. The Center proactively disrupts the inequitable systems that disproportionately impact Black Americans. The Center responds to environmental and climate justice issues leveraging change levers through a comprehensive, strategic advocacy approach.

Fellows have a deep understanding of environmental and climate justice issues, respond quickly and thoughtfully to changes and issues within the environmental and climate justice space, can produce high-quality written work, gather and translate research and information for internal and external audiences, and strategize new ways of building on existing campaigns. Fellows are thought partners to the Center Directors, serving as strategists and as part of their brain trust. Additionally, Fellows hold the primary task of assisting in conceptualizing, developing, and executing projects and initiatives centered around the Black experience. Moreover, they assist in day-to-day operational needs within the Center.

The ideal candidate has the capacity to work with the Director for the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice to develop a compelling view of the future of environmental and climate justice and how the NAACP can meet that moment. The candidate has expertise in and expansive knowledge of environmental and climate justice issues. Attention to detail in work product, an ability to swiftly solve problems and think critically, and a high level of emotional intelligence is required.

Responsibilities/Duties

• Act as the ambassador for the Association in the field to many important constituencies.
• Work directly with Director of Center for Environmental and Climate Justice to build streamlined efforts regarding major pillars of work including but not limited to: disaster resiliency, sustainable communities, zero emissions, air and water quality advocacy, and energy justice.
• Establish and maintain processes for managing campaigns, initiatives, and projects.
• Coordinate reporting functions and track key metrics and outcomes of team’s grant-funded and other work.
• Manage and coordinate team, committee, and other meetings.
• Assist with administrative and operational functions within the Center.
• Contribute to the overall strategic direction for the organization and provide input into the development of programming efforts.
• Assist Director and actively contribute to Center for Environmental and Climate Justice needs regarding legal, policy, social, cultural, and economic developments to identify priorities and help shape the Center’s strategy, advocacy and guide its programming.
• Assist Director in Center planning regarding fostering new relationships.
• Maintain effective ties and promote strategic partnerships with foundations, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, and others to leverage new resources, scale impact, and advance the work.
• Write original research briefs, public comments, reports, blog posts, website content, and other materials communicating the Association’s policy impact and strategy to internal and external coalition partners, community members, departments, and offices.
• Provide technical, research, and other assistance as needed for Director and Center for Environmental and Climate Justice.
• Provide intellectual leadership, internally and externally.
• Manage, coach, galvanize, and work closely with a nimble team in developing, monitoring, and evaluating integrated approaches contributing to the overall strategy.
• Research, coordinate, and provide technical assistance to Director on legislative, legal, field, and other engagement strategies for the Center.
• Works closely with other Centers of Innovation to integrate various aspects of the work.
• Foster strong and continuous communication across the environmental and climate justice space.
• Assist with measuring and evaluating efforts and outcomes.
• Provide high-level technical assistance to state conferences, units, and NAACP committees, including consultation, drafting of letters, communication summaries, and recommendations on key issues and initiatives.
• Articulate change strategies and convene key stakeholders as appropriate.
• Understand and effectively communicate the Association’s and Center’s mission, vision, core values, and strategic direction.
• Manage ambiguity and devise timely solutions, even when a clear path is not evident.
• Lead an ongoing process of continuous improvement and learning.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Director, Environmental and Climate Justice or other designee.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and graduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience preferred.
• Minimum of three to five years’ experience in relevant fields, including direct environmental and climate justice experience, experience in non-profit, legal, policy, advocacy, or other civil rights organizations. Graduate-level internships and fellowships as well as lived-experience and volunteer campaign leadership are considered acceptable professional experience.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in top-tier written and oral communication.
• Experience in engaging in external partnerships and collaborations with foundations, non-profits, corporations, and other key communities, groups and coalitions.
• Demonstrated background in coordinating complex advocacy strategy.
• Proven background in legislative, civil rights and community or movement-based advocacy, and/or environmental justice advocacy.
• Proven background in project management and grant reporting.
• Proven ability to support innovative research projects and engage with broad diverse audiences.