Community Resilience Director

The Center for an Ecology-Based Economy (CEBE) is hiring a Community Resilience Director in Norway, ME, to enhance local climate resilience initiatives in western Maine. This role involves coordinating with municipalities, managing grant-funded projects, and fostering partnerships. The ideal candidate should possess strong project management skills, a passion for climate advocacy, and experience in grant writing. The position is part of CEBE's leadership team, focusing on community engagement and technical assistance for climate planning.
The Center for an Ecology-Based Economy (CEBE) is seeking a dedicated and experienced climate advocate to lead our work to support local climate resilience initiatives with municipalities in western Maine. As a service provider for Maine’s Community Resilience Partnership, CEBE has led community engagement, visioning, and grant writing for 19 area communities and counting. The role of the Community Resilience Director will deepen our support in these towns while building new partnerships throughout the region.

A small nonprofit with several full-time and several part-time staff headquartered in Norway, Maine, CEBE currently works with area municipalities, state and federal agencies, and various partners, networks, and coalitions to build local resilience to climate instability, while working to help Maine (and the rest of the world) meet its climate mitigation goals in a just and equitable way.

Supported by the Executive Director and CEBE staff, the Community Resilience Director will assist towns throughout western Maine with local energy and climate planning, technical assistance, and the procurement of energy and climate services. Projects include enrollment of towns in the Community Resilience Partnership; community engagement and planning for climate vulnerability assessments; development of a Climate Action Plan for the town of Norway; and additional technical assistance as opportunities arose.

As a Director position within the organization, we anticipate this successful candidate to become part of CEBE’s leadership team as we transition to a distributed leadership model over the next year or two.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

● Coordinate with town staff, officials, and volunteers to plan and implement projects to reduce carbon emissions, transition to clean energy, and increase resilience to climate impacts

● Manage procurement and develop grant proposals for municipal resilience projects

● Manage grant-funded projects, including grant reporting and contract negotiation

● Build and maintain relationships with municipal partners, community organizations, volunteers, businesses and contractors, state and federal agencies, and other relevant stakeholders

● Plan, promote, and facilitate public engagement processes

● Collaborate with CEBE staff on grant writing, fundraising campaigns, public events, coalition/network participation, and other duties as necessary

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of the Successful Candidate

● Passion for local climate resilience and commitment to community, diversity, equity, and inclusion

● Demonstrated project management and administrative skills
● Excellent speaking, written, and interpersonal communication skills

● A history of success in grant-writing and management

● Effective collaboration and communication with diverse stakeholders

● The ability to work across socioeconomic and political boundaries

● Able to work independently and in collaboration, as needed

● Small and large group facilitation experience

Experience

Successful candidates will have a strong knowledge of climate science and resilience strategies as well as working knowledge related to Maine municipal government, renewable energy, green building, regenerative food systems, and alternative transportation. Leadership experience with community planning or climate justice work is preferred.

Hours

This is a full-time (35+hours/week) salaried position. The successful candidate must be able to work occasional nights and weekends, and travel within the region for town meetings, workshops, conferences, and other events as necessary. Mileage reimbursement will be provided.

Location

Work will be conducted primarily on-site at CEBE’s headquarters in downtown Norway, Maine.

Some remote work may be arranged as appropriate.

Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume with 3 professional references, and a short writing sample to scott@ecologybasedeconomy.org. Review of applications will begin February 10 and will continue until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity

CEBE provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Salary

$50,000-$55,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

12 paid holidays, plus 120 hours of paid time off annually (160 after two years, 200 after three years); up to $1,800 annual health care stipend, 1% retirement match, $500 annual tech stipend for laptop/phone; free EV charging in the CEBE network.