Environmental Justice Organizer

Location

Illinois | United States

Job description

Warehouse Workers for Justice

Environmental Justice Organizer

Based in Illinois

The Environmental Justice Organizer will lead work at the intersection of environmental protection and building worker and community power. The focus of this position will be on a project supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to conduct community-led air quality monitoring in low-income communities of color around one of North America’s largest inland ports - Centerpoint in Will County, IL. By engaging residents in air quality monitoring, data analysis, and advocacy, the project will empower workers and community members to participate in air monitoring and decision-making processes relevant to local air quality, while building trust and understanding among ally organizations in support of environmental justice goals.

The person who will take on this role must be flexible and responsive to a diverse range of stakeholders across Illinois, including warehouse workers, University research centers, community leaders, directly impacted community members, frontline-led environmental justice groups, unions, policymakers and elected officials.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Develop and execute campaign plans, outreach plans, and worker organizing efforts
• Lead community outreach, including canvassing, attending community events, and digital outreach, to involve directly impacted workers and community members in the campaigns
• Recruit and develop new worker and community leaders in local advocacy efforts
• Serve in a leadership capacity on multiple statewide and national coalitions fighting for environmental justice and good, green jobs. Must have the ability to bring worker perspectives to these spaces and use advocacy and relationship-building to help ensure climate initiatives are truly worker-friendly and encourage the creation of good, green jobs in the logistics sector
• Support efforts at the local, state and federal level to address diesel pollution and support clean air policy solutions
• Build grassroots support for policy and coalition initiatives, including but not limited to the priorities of Neighbors for an Equitable Transition to Zero-Emission (NET-Z), Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC), the Moving Forward Network (MFN), and the United Electrical Workers’ Green Locomotive Project
• Lead one-on-one and group meetings related to the campaigns
• Support organization-wide workplace organizing initiatives in warehouses through workplace and gas station canvassing, cross-departmental strategy sessions, worker outreach and 1:1s, and worker leadership development trainings

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• 2-3 years of organizing experience in labor, environmental justice, or community organizing is required. Political organizing experience alone is not sufficient
• Ability to make and execute a work plan
• Ability to write and follow a rap for worker/community outreach and 1:1s
• Ability to list-build in workplaces and communities and follow up to move members up the ladder of engagement
• Ability to maintain up-to-date worker and community-member lists and maps
• Ability to participate and lead in diverse coalition spaces, and help bring together voices with differing perspectives in service of a common goal or vision
• Ability to tackle multiple tasks simultaneously, and prioritize tasks as needed
• Ability to explain complex concepts in accessible language and involve directly impacted community members in policy fights
• Ability to track the progress of projects and relationships through record-keeping with digital tools including Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Broadstripes, and Salsa CRM software.
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
• A working vehicle and a valid driver's license
• A strong commitment to social justice
• Fluency in Spanish, oral and written, is a plus

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Accepts performance-based feedback and directions;
• Works well under pressure and handles stress;
• Must be able to work in a moderately noisy and crowded work environment without an expectation of privacy;
• Traveling is required throughout Chicagoland and out-of-state as needed;
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours; Including nights and weekends, when needed.

This position will be supervised by WWJ’s Executive Director. Salary is $54-60k depending on experience. Full benefits and car allowance are provided.

People of color are urged to apply. Women are urged to apply.

To Apply:
Please submit a résumé, three references and cover letter to Environmental Justice Organizer Application Form.

WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information at .

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Salary