Environmental Justice Federal Funding Associate (FTC)

The North Carolina Black Alliance is seeking an Environmental Justice Federal Funding Associate to lead efforts in collaboration among diverse organizations within the climate justice movement. This role is crucial in strengthening statewide coalitions, advocating for the fair distribution of federal climate funds, and promoting community-driven solutions to tackle urgent climate challenges.

Reporting to the Program Director, the Environmental Justice Federal Funding Associate will take charge of coalition engagement, advocacy strategy, and communications. This position plays a key role in amplifying the voices of impacted communities and ensuring their priorities are prioritized in climate policy and funding decisions. Additionally, this role will support our organizational federal funding campaign in partnership with the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center.

To enhance coalition planning and capacity, this role is one of six coalition roles that will be hired to support this initiative. Alongside the other six roles, this position will conduct grassroots outreach, gather community feedback, and assist in coordinating and executing local events, ensuring that the work is guided by the experiences and needs of communities across the state.

Key Responsibilities:

Coalition Engagement

• Engage and collaborate with coalition partners, ensuring fair governance and decision-making.
• Attend coalition meetings (virtual and in-person).
• Act as a primary liaison between our organization and the coalition.
• Co-create outreach strategies to engage underrepresented communities in climate advocacy.

Campaign and Communication Strategy

• Support our organizational campaign to influence the equitable implementation of federal climate funding, including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and Solar for All programs.
• Mobilize community voices and grassroots organizations to advocate for climate justice.
• Develop public education and outreach campaigns to raise awareness of funding opportunities and climate solutions.
• Promote the coalition’s priorities of racial equity, labor inclusion, and intersectional collaboration.

Community Engagement and Advocacy

• Build relationships with decision-makers, including advisory boards and state leadership.
• Advocate for community benefit agreements (CBAs) and workforce development initiatives.
• Educate and advocate for community priorities in relation to federal funding opportunities.

Required Skills and Experience

• Ability to coordinate community education efforts, with a demonstrated ability to build and cultivate grassroots relationships statewide.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Commitment and foundational knowledge of climate justice within North Carolina’s political landscape.
• Ability to support organizational priorities in relation to Environmental Justice and Climate Justice.

Additional Skills:

• IT proficiency, including familiarity with organizational platforms.
• Dedication to equity and inclusion, particularly in underrepresented communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in climate justice organizing, grassroots leadership, or fence line advocacy.