Community Air Quality Advocate

About Us

South Bronx Unite (SBU) brings together neighborhood residents, community organizations, academic institutions, and allies to improve and protect the social, environmental, and economic future of Mott Haven and Port Morris.

Position Overview

The Community Air Quality Advocate will lead our air quality monitoring initiative in the South Bronx. The Advocate will collaborate closely with partners to ensure that air quality data is accessible, understandable, and actionable for residents. They will also work with the community to address environmental health concerns and support advocacy efforts for improved air quality. This is an opportunity to make a tangible impact on public health and environmental justice in a heavily pollution-burdened community. We seek a highly organized individual with strong follow-through skills who understands the unique strengths and challenges of small, grassroots organizations. This includes recognizing that our projects are interconnected and that teamwork is essential, often requiring support for colleagues’ initiatives.

Primary Responsibilities

Project Management:

• Coordinate the deployment of air quality sensors, ensuring proper placement in targeted locations for optimal data collection. (40 of 65 sensors have already been deployed).
• Ensure that each air quality sensor in the network is working properly and coordinate with the technical team to maintain reliable and consistent data transmission.
• Develop and maintain program timelines, milestones, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Track program budget, including expenses related to sensor deployment, maintenance, and community engagement activities; prepare and present budget status reports.
• Document the program's progress, including technical challenges, achievements, and lessons learned for internal records and external reports, including grant reports.
• Present project findings to the community, policymakers, and other partners.

Community Engagement:

• Organize and facilitate community meetings, workshops, and public forums to discuss air quality concerns, educate residents on the monitoring project, and share findings.
• Develop accessible educational materials (flyers, fact sheets, presentations) to inform the community about the project's goals and how to use the air quality data.
• Establish a feedback loop with community members to gather input on sensor placement, data interpretation needs, and other project-related matters.
• Collaborate with local schools to engage students in environmental justice education.

Partnership Coordination:

• Act as the primary liaison between the organization, Columbia University’s data analysis team, and other partners to facilitate data analysis and interpretation.
• Engage with government agencies and community organizations to inform them about our program, invite their partnership, and share best practices.

Data Management and Dashboard/App Development:

• Identify an app developer to create a user-friendly dashboard and app that displays the data collected from our sensor network in an accessible way, including in Spanish.
• Regularly review dashboard and app performance and functionality, gathering community feedback for iterative improvements.

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of full-time experience in coordinating or managing a project, community engagement, or public health initiatives, particularly within under-resourced communities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with experience building and maintaining relationships with community members, local organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies.
• Fluency in Spanish to effectively communicate with a diverse community.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience and comfortability with public speaking and community education.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient in using project management tools and software (e.g., Excel, Google Workspace)
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet community members' availability.
• Willingness to travel within the South Bronx for sensor deployment, maintenance, and community engagement activities.
• Proactive, outgoing, and a team player.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and adhere to timelines and deadlines.

Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume describing your interest and qualifications for the position to: info@southbronxunite.org, with “Community Air Quality Advocate” in the subject line. In your cover letter, indicate where you heard about the position.

South Bronx Unite is an equal opportunity community based organization which actively recruits people of color, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and people from low-income backgrounds. We encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities in which we live. We give careful consideration to all applicants.