Climate Justice & Engagement Associate

About the Office

The Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) develops and implements citywide environmental policies and programs that propel our city toward a sustainable, equitable, and carbon-neutral future. OSE is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our mission is to ensure a clean and healthy environment for every resident of Seattle. We prioritize those currently and historically harmed by racial, economic, and environmental injustice and serve as cross-departmental and community partners, innovators, and drivers of cutting-edge city policy.

The Green New Deal (GND) for Seattle focuses on developing equitable solutions to substantially reduce climate pollution, create jobs, develop solutions that support healthy and resilient communities, advance racial equity, and invest in communities disproportionately impacted by racial, economic, and environmental inequities. The Green New Deal for Seattle started as a community-led initiative that builds off the Equity and Environment Initiative to ensure that all people and communities benefit from Seattle’s environmental progress, and communities most affected by environmental injustice are engaged in setting environmental priorities, designing strategies, and tracking progress.

Responsibilities

You will be the primary staff for Seattle’s Green New Deal Oversight Board and expected to align the Board’s priorities with City environmental priorities through your leadership, strategic guidance, clear communications, consistent agenda setting and protocols, coordination and organizing expertise, dedication to advancing climate and environmental justice, and technical assistance. You will also lead the development and implementation of engagement and organizing strategies with important external stakeholders.

• Align City priorities in Climate Justice and Environmental Justice with community priorities using strong community-centered engagement and facilitation skills.
• Build partnerships with Black, Native, and Indigenous people and people of color, people with low incomes, immigrants, refugees, and English language learners to advance goals that promote racial, social, environmental, or economic justice.
• Work across diverse opinions and agendas to identify shared goals and pathways toward progress.
• Gather, synthesize, respond to, and integrate feedback from internal and external partners into policy and program creation through strong listening, oral communication, and writing capabilities.
• Provide technical assistance, coordination support, and staff capacity to a Board, Commission, or similar group with annual deliverables such as budget and policy recommendations.
• Collaborate successfully with internal and external partners, moving the work towards common goals and completing required deliverables on time.
• Create communication materials and share information with partners as well as the broader public that is proactive, approachable, and provides clear, accurate information regarding project, program, or organization progress.
• Engage, build relationships, and facilitate collaborative processes and dialogue with internal and external partners.
• Coordinate complex projects/programs, with attention to detail, gathering data, reporting results, and using evaluation loops to continually improve processes.
• Identify situations or issues that need to be elevated to leadership.

Qualifications

In addition to the qualities mentioned above, you will need to possess the following required qualifications (or a combination of education, and/or training, and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class):

• Five years of experience in planning and research related to climate and environmental justice issues, conservation, public health, human services, urban economics, land use, or other work directly related to City planning and development activities
• OR Four years of experience in planning and research related to climate and environmental justice issues, conservation, public health, human services, urban economics, land use, or other work directly related to City planning and development activities, and an associate's degree in environmental studies, public administration, planning, or urban design
• OR Three years of experience in planning and research related to climate and environmental justice issues, conservation, public health, human services, urban economics, land use, or other work directly related to City planning and development activities, and a bachelor's degree in environmental studies, public administration, planning, or urban design

To be successful, you are:

• Committed to racial, climate, and environmental justice, equity, and inclusion.
• Possess a positive, “can-do” attitude and a proactive, helpful strategic approach to problem solving.
• Able to listen to, communicate with, and engage all people with cultural competence and respect.
• Skilled in planning ahead, anticipating needs, and following through on assignments.
• Open to feedback and desire continuous professional growth.

Benefits

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Vacation, holiday, and sick leave
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website.

Pay

The salary range is $56.23 - $65.54 per hour. Personnel Rules will determine the salary placement of current regular City employees. New employees start at Step 1 in this 5-step salary schedule.

Schedule

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and management. Monthly Board meetings and ad hoc community events are typically held outside of normal business hours.