Northern California Program Director

The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water is a network of more than 50 grassroots and intermediary organizations. EJCW works to empower community members to become strong voices for water justice in their communities.

We enable community members to take control of their water resources by participating in water policy, planning and decisions. We ensure policy makers are listening to the concerns of community members and hold policy makers accountable for the heavy impacts water policy has on low-income communities and communities of color. Our coalition is building a collective, community-based movement for democratic water management and allocation in California. 

Position Overview: 

The EJCW seeks a full-time Northern California Program Director. The Program Director is responsible for working with local communities on water justice campaigns covering the Northern half of California starting in Fresno. The Program Director is primarily responsible for elevating local water struggles to the statewide arena and mobilizing local communities to participate in statewide policy activities through capacity building and collaboration with our members across the State. In addition, the Program Director is 1 of 4 members of the organization's collaborative management team.

EJCW strives to maintain geographic, ethnic, racial, issue and organizational diversity within our membership base and to ensure our work truly reflects the needs of our members.

Responsibilities: 

The Northern California Program Director is responsible for developing and executing local and statewide campaigns that engage specific water justice issues at the community level and connect them to statewide policy.

Conversely, the Program Director is also responsible for identifying how statewide and regional policy can be leveraged to improve conditions in local communities. Core to this position is the responsibility for building the capacity of organizations and communities to undertake water and environmental justice work.

The Northern California Program Director shares responsibility with the Southern California program director for general membership outreach, recruitment, member communications, and general member assistance. Finally, the Northern California Program Director is responsible for facilitating one of EJCW's work groups. Facilitation includes working with the members to develop an advocacy agenda and to implement that agenda.

EJCW has a unique, internal collective management structure based on a non-hierarchical staff system. In addition to programmatic responsibilities the Northern California Program Director is responsible for working with other staff collaboratively to maintain the health of the organization. Each staff member is accountable to their fellow staff members and is responsible for a certain amount of organizational development duties.

Qualifications:

• At least 2 years experience coordinating campaigns and/or capacity building with community-based organizations and people of color
• Understanding of environmental justice issues
• Experience mobilizing grassroots constituency and organizing
• Experience in campaign development & implementation
• Experience in community capacity-building and training
• Willingness and flexibility to take on new responsibilities and support fellow staff members
• Experience working with media
• Strong communication and written skills
• Ability to interface effectively with a diverse leadership structure and members within EJCW
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize daily activities to meet competing deadlines
• Strong leadership and excellent interpersonal skills
• Self-directed and organized individual with ability to work independently
• Proficient in MS Office, including MS Word and Excel; Internet applications
• Ability to prosper in a team environment
• Willingness to travel and work on weeknights and weekends, as required
• Valid California Drivers License
• Web-skills a plus
• Experience working with coalitions not required, but a plus
• Bilingual English-Spanish not required, but a plus
• Experience in collaborative leadership environment a plus
• BA degree or commensurate experience/Advanced degree preferred

A Note on Collaborative Leadership: The Collaborative leadership model provides many exciting opportunities to engage in the actual nuts and bolts of operating a non-profit organization. The right candidate will bring some experience, or at a minimum, interest in managing non-profits including budgeting, personnel, fundraising, etc.

Compensation: $45,000, plus a highly competitive benefits package, including health, dental and paid sick leave. EJCW also offers 15 days paid vacation and 10 paid holidays.

To Apply:

If you are excited about becoming a member our friendly and dynamic team please send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 professional references. *No phone calls please*

Program Director Search
The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water
1201 Martin L. King Jr. Way
Oakland, CA 94612