Childproofing Our Communities Campaign Coordinator

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) is the only national environmental organization that was founded and is led by a grassroots leader.  Lois Gibbs founded CHEJ after winning the nation's first community relocation of 900 families due to a leaking toxic waste dump in Love Canal, New York.  Through this effort she also woke up the nation to recognize the link between people's exposures to dangerous chemicals in the community setting and serious public health impacts.

CHEJ was instrumental in establishing some of the first national policies critical to protecting community health like the Superfund Program, Right-to-Know and others. By pioneering the effort nationwide to protect communities from exposures to dangerous environmental chemicals, in the air, water and soil, CHEJ has become the preeminent national leader among grassroots groups reducing the burden of toxic substances on our environment.

The Child Proofing Our Communities Campaign works to protect children from exposure to environmental health hazards where they live, learn, play and pray. We help communities create safer and healthier environments for children through innovative trainings, programs and personal assistance.

The current focus of the Childproofing Our Communities Campaign is to pass strong comprehensive safe school siting laws starting with strong EPA national voluntary guidelines that are currently being written. The campaign is at an exciting point in bringing attention to the need for state and local policies on safe school siting and assisting local and state leaders in passing effective policies.

Position Overview: 

We are looking for a strong campaigner with community organizing skills to continue this work by leading a national working group, assisting state and local leaders in their effort to pass policy, and pressuring governmental agency's through innovative tactics and communication.

The campaign coordinator is also responsible for maintaining CHEJ's student environmental leadership program called Green Flag Schools Program, assisting communities with local children's environmental health issues, building a national network of children's health advocates through online organizing tactics, and participating in internal committees to help move the work of CHEJ forward.

We are looking for a strong candidate that can jump into a work plan and escalate the campaign where needed.

This position reports to the Executive Director at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, build and sustain coalition of communities and statewide groups attempting to pass and enforce state policy on safe school siting
• Support local and national CHEJ consumer campaigns through unique and creative field, online, and national activities
• Assist local communities and statewide groups in organizing and skill building
• Plan and execute community organizing skill trainings for local groups and activists as needed
• Successfully monitor constituency feedback to identify community organizing and campaign needs
• Build relationships with government, school boards, and other key decision makers that have impacts on children's health issues
• Motivate and train local activists and community leaders to win their community children's environmental health struggles
• Effectively utilize online organizing to mobilize local and national supporters
• Maintain the Green Flag Schools Program, CHEJ's student environmental leadership program
• Conduct in person and conference call presentations on children's health issues and CHEJ campaigns as requested

Qualifications: 

Skills Required: 

• Independent, self-motivated, and creative thinker
• Strong logistical skills
• Detailed oriented and extremely organized
• Strong team player
• Strong communication skills through written and public speaking opportunities
• Strong interpersonal skills that successfully translate into remote organizing and campaigning
• Strong critical thinking and time management
• Strong project manager
• Strong computer and internet research skills
• Able to quickly build and be able to articulate children's environmental health knowledge
• Able to keep diverse communities motivated to achieve community objectives

Qualifications:

• Candidates that are bi-lingual in Spanish and English preferred
• 2 -3 years grassroots campaign and organizing experience
• Experience with environmental health issues preferred
• Experience working with labor coalitions preferred
• Experience with web-based outreach and online organizing preferred
• Experience coordinating coalitions with non-traditional alliances
• Experience leading and coordinating skill trainings
• Commitment to grassroots organizing as a means to affecting long term societal change

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits.

To Apply:

Please send cover letter with salary requirements and resume to Sharon Franklin.

People of color and women are encouraged to apply.