Employment Opportunities 

Program Director

August 27, 2021

​

The Opportunity

 

Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ) and OCEJ Education Fund are an affiliated pair of multicultural, multi-ethnic 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(3) environmental justice organizations that are developing grassroots leadership and advancing an environmental justice agenda in Orange County, California. Since their formation in 2016, OCEJ and OCEJ Education have:

 

  • Canvassed and surveyed 4,163 people living in the Orange County communities that are most vulnerable to pollution and negative environmental impacts;

  • Produced an analysis of the most pressing environmental justice issues in our region as identified by these residents;

  • Organized a committee of resident leaders who want to get involved in environmental justice issues; and

  • Conducted Soil Lead (Pb) research across multiple land uses in Santa Ana

  • Documented point and nonpoint source water contamination through PhotoVoice

  • Conducted community outreach to support Census participation

  • Launched an integrated voter engagement program

  • Launched a youth internship program focused on building movements to defend indigenous sacred sites

  • Developed an annual environmental justice organizing academy

  • Built a membership of 50+ people across Orange County

 

At present, OCEJ and OCEJ Education Fund are fiscally sponsored projects governed by an Advisory Board composed of leaders with a strong commitment to environmental justice, knowledge of Orange County, and deep connections to local Latino/a/x and Asian American/Pacific Islander communities.

 

OCEJ and OCEJ Education Fund seek an experienced, highly motivated leader, organizer, and strategic thinker to serve as Program Director. The Program Director will report to and work in close collaboration with the Project Director, the Advisory Board and other stakeholders to lead the continuing development of the organization.

 

Responsibilities

 

  • Expand and implement a large-scale grassroots outreach and civic participation program (field program) to engage low-income people of color in organizing, advocacy, and voting related to environmental issues that impact their lives.

  • Build on existing coalition relationships with organizational stakeholders and grassroots leaders, including representatives from local Latino/a/x Asian and Pacific Islander, and Indigenous communities.

  • Develop and implement strategic campaigns to advance the project’s policy and organizing goals.

  • Recruit, train, and supervise project staff.

  • Work with Project Director to develop long-term vision and goals of the organization, as well as measures of success

  • Support and coordinate with the OCEJ Advisory Board

 

Qualifications

 

The ideal candidate has a combination of experience, training, and/or education that

demonstrates:

 

  • Self-motivation with the ability to take initiative and to be a strong team player.

  • Excellent personal organization and time management skills.

  • Strong commitment to environmental justice and understanding of environmental issues that impact low-income communities of color.

  • Minimum five years of organizing experience in an environmental, labor, community, political, or faith-based context with demonstrated ability to organize using house meetings or a similarly strong relational power building method.

  • Experience designing and utilizing popular education techniques and leadership development training.

  • Proven ability to run a successful field program, such as a large-scale canvass or get-out-the-vote campaign, including familiarity with a voter database such as VAN or PDI.

  • Bilingual in English and either Spanish, Vietnamese or Khmer.

  • Cultural competence and emotional intelligence to support and promote a collaborative, multi-racial, multi-ethnic environment.

  • Outstanding interpersonal communications skills and love of people with a demonstrated ability to lead, inspire others to take leadership, build strong working relationships, and hold self and others accountable.

 

Terms of Employment

 

  • This position will begin part-time, and will expand to a full-time, exempt position in Spring 2022. 

  • Salary commensurate with the nonprofit sector for job title and experience ($30,000 to $35,000 at part-time (approximately 20 hours per week), $60,000 to $70,000 at full-time).

  • Partial health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), to be expanded to full benefits once the position transitions to full-time. 

  • The position will require long and/or irregular hours of work, including evenings and weekends as needed.

  • Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable, insured means of transportation.

 

To Apply

 

Submit a one page cover letter, a one page resume, and three professional references (all in .pdf format) to patricia@ocej.org. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications received by September 10, 2021, 11:59pm (PST) will be prioritized for consideration for interviews beginning the following week. 

 

Orange County Environmental Justice and Orange County Environmental Justice Education Fund are projects of Tide Center. Tide Center is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  All qualified persons are encouraged to apply, regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, height, weight, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or religious affiliation.