Executive Director

Job Title: Executive Director

Hours: An established eight-hour period between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00 M-F, with paid lunch. The Executive Director will be expected to attend some evening meetings.

Rate: Full-time with generous benefits; $60,000 - $65,000 annual salary depending on experience.

Position Overview

Allegheny County Clean Air Now (ACCAN) is seeking an Executive Director to lead its air quality advocacy efforts working closely with the Board of Directors. The Executive Director would work remotely with significant in-person fieldwork a minimum of twice a week. The Executive Director would be expected to live within reasonable driving distance of ACCAN’s service area – the Neville Island Area on the Ohio River northwest of Pittsburgh.

The mission of ACCAN is to protect the residents of the Neville Island Area by (1) informing them about the health, safety, environmental and economic impacts of industrial air pollution; (2) by being the voice of residents living downwind from air polluters: and (3) by helping residents get their voices heard by regulators. (ACCAN has two websites – accan.org and accancamera.com.)

ACCAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the state of Pennsylvania, governed by a six-member Board of Directors with one contract employee. ACCAN’s fiscal sponsor is the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (CFA); ACCAN is a program of CFA.

ACCAN seeks a candidate with program/project management and executive management experience to serve as Executive Director. This position requires extensive experience with advocacy and communications. Experience with campaign organizing around industrial, environmental and public health accountability is highly desirable.

The Executive Director must be organized, highly collaborative, solutions-oriented, client/customer focused, experienced in advancing a cause or strategic agenda, skilled in communicating effectively at many levels and comfortable working in a grassroots community environment with many community stakeholders.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Executive Director will work with ACCAN’s Board of Directors to carry out ACCAN’s mission and the Board’s vision for the organization.

Community Outreach

• Respond to resident air pollution complaints and assist residents in logging effective, well-documented air pollution complaints to the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD).
• Organize and participate in local air quality advocacy, get petitions signed and increase community awareness of local air pollution and environmental advocacy events.
• Manage ACCAN’s social media.
• Plan and set up member and community engagement events.

Collaboration Activities

• Work with existing regional partners and other community organizations to leverage ACCAN’s mission.
• Represent ACCAN at local and regional meetings including preparing and presenting reports at various public and governmental meetings/hearings.
• Recruit and manage resident presentations at public meetings.

Organizational Promotion

• Lead ACCAN membership and board recruitment, including finding creative ways to increase ACCAN membership.
• Work to publicize information about air pollution and ACCAN’s efforts via news outlets, social media, and through direct communication with ACCAN members.

Interface with Regulators

• Serve as ACCAN’s principal contact with regulators, including ACHD, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Pollution Source Identification

• Work with community members, collaborators, technologies, and monitoring data to identify polluters.
• Identify and gain a working understanding of applicable operating and other existing industrial air pollution permits. Use this background to address and magnify polluter practices, permit violations, and deficiencies.
• Conduct/update annual industrial pollution sources inventory and permit assessment.

Air Pollution Monitoring

• Establish relationships with affected residents to provide air pollution educationand to identify homes/individuals needing interventions to improve indoor air quality.
• Oversee and assist with installation and troubleshooting of air monitoring equipment. Work to expand ACCAN’s air monitoring network.
• Work with collaborators to analyze the data collected from airshed monitors.
• Oversee submission of ACCAN air pollution complaints to the ACHD using air monitoring data.
• Provide public access to air pollution complaints submitted by ACCAN and residents.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Report to the ACCAN Board during regular Board meetings and to membership in monthly membership meetings.
• Develop and communicate agendas for membership and other meetings.
• Work with the Board Treasurer to prepare financial reports, track budgets and manage budget reporting.
• Work with the Board to hire and manage contractors/employees as needed and financially feasible.

Fundraising/Grant Activities

• Identify funding sources, including community sources, as needed, based on ACCAN strategy and community needs, including writing or overseeing completion of grant applications.
• Manage and ensure grant reporting and other funding requirements are met within established parameters.

Skills and Qualifications

• Interest in and familiarity with local and regional environmental and environmental justice issues including in-depth knowledge of air pollution, industrial air pollution sources and their impacts.
• Willingness to get to know the people we serve and their priorities.
• Excellent organization and leadership skills including financial planning and management, strategic planning, analytical and project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including conflict management.
• Two to three years of successful Executive Director experience or a combination of a public management degree (MPA or MBA) and three to five years of prior experience including a combination of:
  • extensive program/project management experience including, budget development and management, setting organizational and program objectives, goals and tracking progress
  • experience writing successful grant applications and/or raising funds from the community
  • experience with communication and outreach; and
  • experience working with a board.
• Demonstrated experience with various social media and data visualization tools and proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Candidate must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation, as the ability to travel within ACCAN’s service area is expected.

Job Details

This is a full-time, exempt position. Full-time employees regularly work at least a 37.5-hour workweek in a collaborative environment. Exempt employees are not entitled to overtime pay. All employees are on an introductory period during their first 90 days of employment. During this time, you will be able to determine if your new job is suitable for you and your supervisor will have an opportunity to evaluate your work performance. The completion of the introductory period does not guarantee employment for any period of time since you are an at-will employee both during and after your introductory period.

To Apply

Submit one email including cover letter and resume to info@accan.org. Applicants will receive an

email confirmation upon receipt of requested materials. Applications are accepted

immediately. Potential interview dates for selected candidates will follow

shortly.

Our Equity Statement

ACCAN is committed to working toward a diverse, equitable, and inclusive society, where all individuals feel valued and respected. We are committed to taking a nondiscriminatory approach in our policies and actions, respecting diverse life experiences and heritages, and ensuring that all voices are valued and heard.