Western NC Environmental Justice Organizer-Researcher (remote)

The Clean Water Fund of NC is seeking a Western NC Environmental Justice Organizer-Researcher to engage with communities affected by environmental issues. The role involves outreach, research on policy impacts, and support for disadvantaged communities. Candidates must be current NC residents, preferably from western counties. The position requires excellent communication skills, experience with diverse communities, and knowledge of Environmental Justice principles. It includes virtual meetings and occasional evening/weekend work.
Organization:

Clean Water for North Carolina is a 41 year old grassroots, science based Environmental Justice organization that has worked with hundreds of communities to prevent and respond to harms from toxic contamination, surface and groundwater pollution, air quality threats, drinking water contamination and privatization, and other threats to environmental health and quality of life to disadvantaged communities. We are committed to working collaboratively toward the fulfillment of the Principles of Environmental Justice and to a fair and equitable workplace as we work to empower communities to take actions they choose to best protect themselves.

Description:

This position enables Clean Water for NC to reach out to communities of color, low wealth, and Indigenous communities, or other communities that have faced a disproportionate burden of environmental impacts, to provide organizing and technical and strategic assistance on Environmental justice issues. ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE CURRENT NC RESIDENTS (western piedmont or western NC counties strongly preferred).

This Western NC Organizer-Researcher will also research policy issues that affect environmental justice and background social and environmental information for communities we collaborate with. Clean Water for NC has organized “frontline” communities impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene, Contained Animal Feeding Operations (especially hogs); coal ash contamination of groundwater; oil and gas and pipelines impacting climate, air and water; toxic contamination of air and water by PFAS, lead, arsenic and other substances, privatization of drinking water supplies and regulatory failure to hold polluters accountable. This Organizer will be involved in a new program to assess drinking water well vulnerability to contamination in western counties after Hurricane Helene

This position also participates in virtual staff meetings at least weekly and provides frequent updates to the executive director and other staff, and contributes to shared tasks such as mailings and e-newsletters, events and fundraising.

Required Qualifications:

Excellent communication skills: written, oral and listening Degree or significant coursework in basic sciences and environmental topics

Experience working with diverse communities (professional or volunteer), including rural

APPLICANTS MUST BE CURRENT NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT (strong preference for western NC)

Knowledge of Environmental Justice Principles

Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle

Flexibility for occasional evening and weekend activities

Preferred Qualification:

Intermediate to fluent written and oral Spanish

Background in water quality and drinking water protection

Resident in or near western NC counties