Environmental Justice Program Outreach Manager

Groundwork USA seeks a Manager of EJ Program Outreach to support us in undertaking an ambitious community outreach and technical assistance initiative funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Manager to lead our participation in the EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (known as "TCTAC"- pronounced “Tick Tack”). This role, embedded in a multi-sector team lead by the University of Connecticut, is pivotal in driving the equitable distribution of federal resources for community development, climate resilience, pollution reduction, and environmental stewardship and will serve as the lead in designing, building, launching, tracking, and evaluating an outreach and technical assistance program in EPA region 1.

Groundwork USA is the only network of local, people-centered organizations devoted to transforming the natural and built environment of under-resourced communities -- a national enterprise with local roots, working at the intersection of the environment, health, equity, youth empowerment, and civic engagement. Through inclusive, meaningful community engagement and cross-sector collaboration, local Groundwork affiliates called “Trusts” transform neglected land and waterways into assets that under-resourced neighborhoods need to be healthy and resilient while building community capacity to improve systems. Groundwork USA supports this dynamic network and advances the field of equitable development through national technical assistance and learning network programs for local practitioners. Our work is supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, and other partners.

The Position: Sitting within the Climate, Land, and Water team, the EJ manager will lead Groundwork USA’s participation in a grant intended to reduce pollution and increase climate resilience in disadvantaged communities by connecting New England nonprofits to federal resources and supporting their program design and development. The program aims to build climate-resilient infrastructure in vulnerable areas, reduce pollution, enhance community governance, and advance principles of environmental justice.

There are three key components of this role:

1. First is leading the program’s outreach in select cities across New England. This includes attending and participating in local conferences, conducting in-person outreach events, collaborating with the communications team to design and distribute outreach materials, developing a network map of eligible organizations and community groups, and building relationships with established and developing organizations.
2. Second is conducting workshops, webinars, and technical assistance engagements- both in person and virtual- to support eligible organizations in designing equitable, competitive project concepts and plans that are proposal-ready.
3. Third is working closely with a cross-sector group of stakeholders to evaluate the program’s progress, assess emerging needs, and workshop solutions.

The Manager will provide project management and evaluation leadership, develop a framework for shared learning, ensure progress towards deliverables, deliver training, workshops, and coaching sessions outside of the Groundwork Network.

This is a fully remote position and travel is required.

Candidates must reside in states, tribal nations, or US territories located in EPA region 1 and there is a slight preference for candidates residing in or near our New England Trust cities.

The majority of travel will take place within EPA region 1 and may include partner meetings, workshops, outreach events, and/or conferences. Additional travel is required for Groundwork USA’s annual staff retreat and an annual network-wide gathering.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborating and co-creating systems, structures, and methodologies with a team of five nonprofit and university partners.
• Designing and delivering mobile outreach clinics, webinars, and workshops to advance community participation in pursuing federal grants.
• Working both independently and collaboratively to design, develop, and deliver shared resources, workshops, webinars, trainings, and tools on a variety of nature-based climate solutions, community engagement, and environmental justice topics.
• Conducting workshops, webinars, and technical assistance engagements- both in person and virtually- to support eligible organizations in designing equitable, competitive project concepts and plans that are proposal-ready.
• Providing and assessing the effectiveness of technical assistance to communities delivered via 1:1 coaching, workshops, and presentations.
• Establishing systems for tracking grant-related outcomes and ensuring completion of deliverables.
• Contributing to grant proposal development and reporting.
• Meeting frequently with our nonprofit partners, federal grants officers, and technical assistance clients to review progress, assess emergent opportunities, identify project support needs, deliver technical assistance, and troubleshoot barriers.
• Synthesizing and communicating lessons learned from work with technical assistance recipients to external partners, the broader field, and other funders.
• Working closely with the Groundwork USA communications team to launch outreach efforts and uplift stories.
• Representing Groundwork USA in national partnerships and diverse public settings, including at conferences, webinars, workshops, and meetings with partners.
• Collaborating with Climate, Land, and Water team members to expand the capacity of staff, network members, and the broader sector to engage in equitable climate adaptation, pollution reduction, and community governance projects.
• Uplifting best practices and new opportunities to our network and the broader environmental justice community.
• Helping nurture a collaborative, high-performance culture in a geographically dispersed team.
• Contributing to Groundwork USA’s continued progress as an inclusive, culturally competent organization.

Required Qualifications:

The Environmental Justice Program Outreach Manager should exhibit the following core competencies:

• Topical expertise and at least three years of experience in either community organizing, urban forestry, environmental justice organizing, impact evaluation, green infrastructure development, city planning, or a related field, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and project management in diverse community settings.
• Strong research, project management, and organizational skills, with the ability to independently develop transparent systems, follow through on assignments, meet deadlines, and facilitate the efforts of the full team to do the same.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to design and implement effective presentations and workshops both in person and virtually.
• Excellent coaching, communication, and relationship-building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and collaborate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience providing technical assistance in diverse community settings.
• Experience leading, managing, or supporting urban forestry, nature-based solutions installations, pollution reduction initiatives, and/or community engagement efforts in disadvantaged communities and a demonstrated ability to synthesize key learnings.
• Experience designing or reviewing grant applications.
• Experience leading or meaningfully participating in program impact evaluation design, implementation, and communication.
• An ability to effectively build relationships with and engage individuals working on the ground in distant locations.
• Demonstrated experience, or at least a demonstrable familiarity, with the use of geospatial analysis to make data-informed land use decisions and lead equity-centered conversations.

Desired Qualifications:

• Proficiency in written and spoken Spanish, a plus.
• Experience managing or applying for federal awards.

Applications received by November 8, 2024, will be ensured full consideration. The hiring committee will begin reaching out to applicants selected for interviews after that date. Only those selected for interviews are guaranteed to be contacted. Your understanding is appreciated.

Groundwork USA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to maintaining and growing a diverse team, and an anti-racist organization committed to doing business in keeping with core values of relevance, equity, diversity, and inclusion.