Illinois Outreach Director

Join a diverse, fun team passionate about creating healthier and more just communities as Faith in Place’s Indiana Outreach Director. This position will lead an Outreach Team located across Illinois to equip and inspire diverse faith communities to be leaders for environmental justice. The Illinois Outreach Director will initially report to Faith in Place’s President & CEO and help develop and lead a long-term plan to increase Faith in Place’s leadership and impact in Illinois.

Responsibilities

Strategic Outreach Planning:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive statewide outreach plan and budget at the beginning of each fiscal year, aiming to cultivate new and deepen existing relationships with diverse communities and faith groups interested in environmental advocacy.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of outreach initiatives through regular assessment and adapt strategies based on community feedback and organizational goals.

Collaboration and Partnership:

• Work closely with other Outreach Directors and the Programs Director to ensure all outreach materials are up-to-date, relevant, and accessible to faith communities and Green Teams across Illinois.
• Foster communication and collaboration among all Outreach Staff to share resources and best practices

Leadership and Staff Management:

• Serve as project lead for specific cross-department projects, as needed based on current grant requirements.
• Oversee Illinois regional outreach staff, providing guidance, performance reviews, and professional development opportunities to enhance team capabilities and service delivery.
• Promote a supportive team environment that aligns with Faith in Place’s mission and values.
• Serve on Faith in Place’s Leadership Team, which is a weekly meeting between Directors to ensure efficient cross-departmental collaboration.

Community Engagement and Relationship Building:

• Engage with clergy, Houses of Worship, and seminaries to provide thought leadership on environmental justice and active engagement strategies.
• Organize and participate in community events, workshops, and collaborative projects that promote Faith in Place’s mission and increase community involvement.

Advocacy and Policy Campaigns:

• Lead and support the advancement of Faith in Place and Faith in Place Action Fund’s policy campaigns, mobilizing community support and advocating for policy changes at local and state levels.
• Engage stakeholders in policy discussions and represent the organization in advocacy efforts.

Content Development and Communication:

• Provide compelling content and impactful stories to the Communications and Development Teams to highlight the successes and challenges of Illinois outreach efforts.
• Utilize storytelling as a tool to enhance the visibility and impact of outreach activities.

Fundraising Support:

• Assist in the development of fundraising pitches and strategies, aligning outreach activities with broader funding goals.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities that support the sustainability of outreach initiatives.

Professional Representation:

• Represent Faith in Place at professional meetings, conferences, and public forums, advocating for environmental justice and community engagement.
• Ensure organizational values and mission are clearly communicated and upheld in all professional settings.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Take on additional tasks and projects as needed to support the evolving needs of Faith in Place.

Required Qualifications

• 7-9 years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of relevant education and work experience
• 5 years' experience directing and managing staff
• Proven ability to lead projects and teams effectively
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment, handling multiple projects simultaneously with attention to detail and deadlines
• Demonstrated experience in community engagement, organizing, outreach methodologies, and program or campaign implementation
• Excellent public speaking and interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with diverse teams and build relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Passion for faith-based environmental justice, a strong work ethic, and a positive attitude
• Willingness to travel up to 15% of the time (all travel related expenses are covered)
• Candidate must reside in Illinois

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Environmental Studies, etc.)
• Experience in faith-based and/or environmental organizations
• Bilingual or multilingual skills
• Fundraising or grant-writing experience

Hours

This is a full-time Exempt position. While most work is done during a standard workday, outreach opportunities occur on the evenings and weekends. For any time worked outside regular work hours, comp time will be provided.

About the Organization’s Mission

Faith in Place is a multifaith, environmental nonprofit (501c3) organization with outreach staff working throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Faith in Place’s mission is to empower people of diverse faith and spiritualities to be leaders in advancing environmental and racial justice, providing resources to educate, connect, and advocate for healthier communities. Faith in Place partners with communities of faith from diverse religious traditions as well as people who identify as spiritual or motivated by justice but don't identify with a specific faith tradition.

Faith in Place organizes faith leaders, groups, and members to advance our mission by starting and coaching Green Teams. Green Teams are three or more members of a house of worship who provide cooperative leadership to educate, connect, and advocate for environmental and racial justice within the context of their community’s unique culture, history, and theological practices.

All Faith in Place staff also contribute part of their working hours to the Faith in Place Action Fund, a separate 501c4 nonprofit organization. The Faith in Place Action Fund raises memberships and motivates lobbying for environmental justice. The Faith in Place Action Fund uses several tools to hold candidates and elected officials accountable to create more environmental justice jobs throughout the Midwest. These tools include grassroots lobbying, legislator scorecards, questionnaires, interviews, and candidate endorsements.

About the Organization’s Staff Culture

The Faith in Place team works together to create a culture that is focused on growth, collaboration, healing, and justice. We value a diversity of voices and perspectives, and the staff team participates in Diversity and Equity training, Healing Circles, Case Studies, and more to learn from one another and professional teachers about the roots of injustice and how we can work together to create collaborative and healthier work culture.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $82k

Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package is offered to full-time employees of Faith in Place. These benefits, with some employee contributions, include medical, dental, vision, life, and short-term and long-term disability insurance, and employer-matched SIMPLE IRA plan, which begins the first of the month following employment, and a stipend to support professional development. Up to twenty (20) paid vacation days, two (2) paid personal days, and five (5) paid sick days will begin after three (3) months of employment. Monthly cell phone and internet stipends are provided along with a $500 one-time payment to help with home office needs.

Anti‐Discrimination Policy

Faith in Place is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, national origin, religion, caste, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values at Faith in Place and in the Outreach Department. Because we believe that the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities must be centered in the work of our intersectional environmentalism, we strongly encourage applications from these identities. We acknowledge that we must do better to represent the diverse communities that we exist to uplift and protect.

To Apply

Application Process and Timeline:

• Applications will be accepted until February 28th.
• 30-minute phone interview
• 1-hour Zoom interview (questions will be sent in advance)
• Finalists will be asked to provide 2-3 professional references and may be invited for a final 45-minute interview.

To apply, please submit your resume and respond to the application questions.