Environmental Engagement Officer

Location

Long Beach, CA | United States

Job description

The Port of Long Beach, one of the world’s busiest seaports, is an international gateway for the reliable, efficient, and sustainable movement of goods and is a leader in environmental stewardship. Credited with moving approximately $200 billion in trade, the Port serves as a critical hub for international commerce and is a major transportation center. East Asian trade accounts for the bulk of Long Beach shipments. Port-related international trade has a wide-ranging economic impact, supporting millions of jobs that benefit the region and the entire country.

THE TEAM

The Environmental Planning Division is a dynamic entity entrusted with the creation and management of programs focused on reducing environmental impacts form Port development and operations and advancing sustainable practices at the Port. Aligned with our esteemed Green Port Policy, the Division is fervently committed to reducing harmful air emissions, improving water quality in the harbor, safeguarding marine wildlife, and championing environmentally sustainable practices throughout the Port. Our work is structured across five specialized sections: Air Quality, Water Quality, Remediation, Sustainability, and CEQA/NEPA.

Under limited oversight and reporting to A Manager of Environmental Practices, the Environmental Engagement Officer’s role involves overseeing and directing a team focused on active engagement with stakeholders, both internal and external to the Port, on environmental matters. The Environmental Engagement Officer plays a crucial role in communicating the Port’s Environmental policies, projects and achievements to the broader community as well as bringing community input back into the organization, essentially acting as the Green Port ambassador. This position will further refine, shape and evolve the Port’s environmental messaging and interaction with the community and build on the strong foundation of the Port’s Green Port Policy.

The position is also responsible for executing and administering the Port’s Community Grant’s Program which invests in community projects outside the Harbor District to minimize port impacts related to air, noise, water and traffic. Launched in 2009, the Grants Program funds projects such as air filters in schools, asthma education programs, solar installations and new parks. There are three programs: Community Health, Community Infrastructure, and Facility Improvements. The Port has set aside more than $65 million, making it the largest voluntary port mitigation program in the country.

Additional responsibilities extend to providing robust support for the implementation of diverse projects, programs, and initiatives within the purview of the Environmental Planning Division. A vital facet of this role involves acting as a representative of the Port in various public settings, fostering relationships with regulatory agencies, port industry entities, and community partners and environmental justice groups.

HOW YOU GET TO CONTRIBUTE:

Supervise staff engaged in environmental and stakeholder engagement, grant administration, and community engagement work, including training and mentoring, evaluating performance, providing coaching for performance improvement, and taking corrective action to address performance or other deficiencies.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on developing and implementing Port environmental policies and programs related to environmental engagement and community relations.

Coordinate and administer outreach to the community and non-governmental groups.
Act as a credible representative of the Port in public settings, fostering positive relationships with regulatory agencies, port industry professionals, and community partners on environmental matters.
Collaborate with internal teams across various divisions to integrate environmental considerations into overall planning processes.
Execute and administer the Community Grants Program which allocates $3-4 million dollars a year to community projects mitigating port impacts.

Lead and coordinate all meetings and communication with the Community Grants Advisory Committee, a mayor appointed panel to advise the Port on implementation of the Community Grants Program.
Advise and recommend courses of action to management on Port programs, projects, and other environmental issues.
Presents to the Board on environmental and outreach initiatives, programs, or projects, including updates and recommended actions.
Assists other Port divisions with environmental justice-related aspects of Port programs and projects.
Represent the Port at public hearings and conferences.
Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s Degree is required. Experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the position’s duties may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
Four or more years of recent progressively responsible professional-level work experience in environmental management, community engagement, or grant management with two years of team leadership.
Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups and astutely navigate sensitive issues.
Must be a proficient oral and written communicator to diverse audiences.
Must have previous experience managing projects and budgets.
Willingness to work an irregular schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to travel to work-related events, including off-site meetings and conferences.

TECHNICAL SKILLS NEEDED:

Knowledge of environmental regulations, environmental justice, and equity issues is required.
Ability to manage grants, contracts, budgets, and schedules is required.
This role requires knowledge of theory, principles, standards, practices, and information sources for natural resources and environmental science to comprehend and interpret environmental data and reports and summarize complex technical issues verbally and non-verbally to a non-technical audience.
It is essential that you possess the ability to establish and maintain working relationships across functional lines.

DESIRABLE:

Experience working in grant programs or community engagement is desirable.
Experience with programs focused on environmental or sustainability matters is a plus. A self-starter who is patient about the environment and engaging with the community.
Knowledge of the Clean Air Act, State mobile source regulations, CEQA, and other regulations related to environmental compliance and environmental justice is desirable.
Port, City, public agency, or coastal environment experience is desirable.
Experience contracting with and managing consultants is preferred.
Experience working for or with regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, or industry is helpful.
Grant writing experience is desirable

Tagged as: Law/Policy

Job tags

Salary