Policy Organizer Specialist

The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice is hiring a Policy Organizer Specialist to lead efforts in advancing environmental justice policies for BIPOC and low-income communities in the Inland Empire. Responsibilities include policy analysis, community engagement, program development, and advocacy. The role requires collaboration with legislators and community members to address key issues like land use, transportation, and clean energy.
Job Purpose:

CCAEJ is seeking a dedicated, tenacious, and driven leader who wants to work with and coordinate a committed team of staff whose focus, and mission is advancing an environmental justice policy agenda that addresses the environmental impacts affecting BIPOC and low-income communities in the Inland Empire. The Policy Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing a policy agenda that is centered on key environmental justice issues such as land use, transportation, electrification, clean and renewable energy, air and water quality. Additionally, the policy coordinator will represent CCAEJ when working closely with elected officials, legislative, local government, regulatory agency staff and will speak with credibility in public forums and with the media.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

● Policy Analysis and Development:

○ Analyzes legislation, administrative policy, and budgetary proposals that impact low-income communities and BIPOC communities.

○ Meets with legislators, the Governor's office, regulatory agency representatives, staff and other advocates on priority legislation and policy proposals.

● Data Collection and Research:

○ Coordinates necessary policy research related to EJ issues, including gathering data, speaking with issue experts, looking at existing statute, and other independent research.

● Community Engagement and Outreach

○ Speak with, educate and empower residents, business owners and other community members about CCAEJ, its programs and opportunities for involvement.

○ Guide and collaborate with CCAEJ Policy Coordinators, Policy & Research Specialists, and key staff to develop comprehensive talking points to support EJ actions .

○ Ensures that campaigns are rooted in equity and justice and inclusive of frontline and directly impacted communities.

○ Collaborate and work with coalitions to advance EJ initiatives locally, Statewide, and nationally.

● Program Development and Implementation

○ Develops tactics, tracks policy and regulatory proceedings, identifies opportunities for engagement, mobilization, or intervention for one or more campaigns or grant outcomes.

○ Ensure Organizing campaigns align with CCAEJ’s Four pillars outlined in our strategic plan.

○ Oversees necessary research related to EJ issues, including gathering data, speaking with issue experts, looking at existing statute, and other independent research.

● Impact Assessment:

○ Assess the potential environmental, social, economic, and health impacts of proposed policy measures using tools such as CEQA.

● Policy Advocacy:

○ Represents and implements CCAEJ actions plans and advance our policy agenda in meetings and other public events, including preparing and delivering testimony at legislative and administrative hearings.

○ Oversees and drafts policy fact sheets and briefing papers on priority legislation and policy issues.

● Monitoring and Evaluation:

○ Monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of environmental policies over time and evaluating their outcomes, achievements, and shortcomings.

● All other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should have the following education, competencies and experience:

Required:

● Minimum of 2 years of experience in advocacy and/or working on legislative matters, preferably on environmental justice, social justice, civil rights or immigrant rights issues.

● Knowledge of AQMD and SCAG agencies.

● Public Policy, Law, Environmental or other similar degree.

● Commitment to advancing environmental and social justice.

● Experience working with low-income and BIPOC communities.

● Strong knowledge of and analytical capacity to think strategically about an EJ public policy agenda and implementation.

● Strong oral and written advocacy skills to present policy proposals to decision makers, community partners, the general public and the media.

● Strong oral and written advocacy skills.

● Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as collaboratively in a team setting

● Ability to function well in a work environment that requires collaboration with many partners and organizations.

● Commitment to CCAEJ’s mission and vision and passion for advocating for EJ policies that uplift low-income, BIPOC communities.

● Familiarity with the Inland Empire political landscape and navigating, nurturing and developing relationships with community and advocacy groups.

● Strong working knowledge of Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Desired:

● Ability to work flexible hours to respond to position needs.

● Ability to multi-task and take on additional work as required, and within reason.

● Ability to work in a fast-paced office setting.

● Ability and willingness to travel to occasional statewide meetings throughout California and to work evenings on occasion.

● This position may require travel

● Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $27.00 - $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:
• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evenings as needed
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:
• Jurupa Valley, CA 92509 (Required)

Work Location: In person