Job Openings

Current Openings as of April 24, 2008:

Outreach Coordinator, REDI Campaign
Coordinator - Climate Justice Initiative
Request for Qualifications - Event Planner
Internships - Race, Poverty and the Environment

Richmond Equitable Development Initiative (REDI)
REDI is a diverse collaboration of organizations working to create and realize a common vision for an equitable Richmond. REDI was launched in 2003, and since that time, has worked actively in the Richmond community to carry out its vision that every Richmond resident has access to affordable housing, safe and reliable public transit that connects to living wage jobs, quality education, a clean environment, health care, and other essential services. Over the past 18 months, REDI has been working to influence the City of Richmond’s General Plan, which is a comprehensive blueprint for land use and development within a city. REDI has developed a set of policy recommendations and implementation steps for the City’s General Plan and is aggressively working to have these recommendations incorporated into the Plan. Simultaneously, REDI is engaging in priority projects as part of the implementation phase of the General Plan campaign. REDI is comprised of the following organizations: Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), California ACORN, Communities for a Better Environment (CBE).Contra Costa Faith Works!, Center for Community Innovation at University of California, Berkeley, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE), Greater Richmond Interfaith Project (GRIP) and Urban Habitat.

Position Description
REDI is seeking an individual who is passionate, energetic and committed to building partnerships for a more just community. The Outreach Coordinator will play a major role in coordinating community outreach as well as mobilizing community members to turn out at key events and public hearings. He/she will assist in the overall management of REDI’s major projects, documentation of REDI’s impact and the development of an outreach strategy for REDI. Candidate must be able to work with a diverse group of individuals, including campaign coordinators and organizers to promote the goals of the REDI collaborative. An understanding of a variety of environmental and social justice issues including workforce development, housing, transportation, equity, and land use, and their impacts on historically disenfranchised communities, is helpful.

Essential Functions of the Job
1. Community Outreach and Mobilization:

• Assist REDI partners in developing an outreach strategy and work with partner organizations to assure clear communication flow.
• Assist REDI partners with mobilizing critical mass for events, public hearings, and other key meetings. Specifically, assist with turnout and help REDI expand its reach in the community.
• Attend meetings to support REDI’s priority campaigns and projects, as needed.
• Promote the REDI Collaborative amongst non-REDI partner organizations such as labor, faith, neighborhood councils, environmental, housing, and industry groups, and community-based organizations.
• Help coordinate community events related to REDI’s priority campaigns and projects.

• Assist REDI partners with tracking, documenting, and disseminating information about the impact of the various campaigns and REDI as a whole.
• Assist with local data gathering to help manage and move the REDI Collaborative.
• Assist REDI Campaign Coordinator in coordinating/scheduling meetings and attend public hearings, as needed.

3. Capacity-Building & Partnership-Building:

• Attend and assist REDI Campaign Coordinator with Leadership Institute trainings.
• Assist REDI Campaign Coordinator to build strategic partnerships with labor unions, faith, and other allies.
• Provide support to organizations new to the REDI Collaborative.

4. Other Duties

• Maintain REDI outreach database.
• Assist with administrative duties, as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, environmental science, public health, public policy, or related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years experience working on social and environmental justice issues and/or land-use planning.
• Experience in community outreach.
• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Well-organized, self-motivated, able to multi-task, establish priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
• Must be able to work independently and with minimal supervision, take direction well, and learn quickly.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are essential.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, required.

Salary Range: $20,000 plus benefits.

This is a part-time position. The Outreach Coordinator works on behalf of REDI but reports to Urban Habitat’s Richmond Campaign Coordinator. Work schedule will require some evenings and weekends.

To Apply: REDI is a coalition of organizations that are Equal Employment Opportunity employers. People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Email resume and cover letter (AS ATTACHMENTS) to: RediOutreach@urbanhabitat.org or mail resume and cover letter to Sheryl Lane, Urban Habitat, 436 14th Street, Suite 1205, Oakland, CA 94612.

Coordinator, Climate Justice Initiative

Position Description

Urban Habitat is seeking a high-energy individual to coordinate its Climate Justice Initiative. Candidate must have substantive content knowledge of the causes and effects of climate change and the ways in which transportation, economic development, and land-use policies can be used to advance equitable and green development that benefits low-income communities and communities of color. More specifically, the candidate will play the lead role in the development and implementation of the following components of UH’s Climate Justice Initiative: 1) Creation of a green economic development strategy for the City of Richmond; 2) Development of regional transportation strategies and policies that reduce green house emissions and improve transit services for low-income communities; 3) Coordination and facilitation of regional convenings involving labor, business, government and community groups to develop a climate justice strategy for the Bay Area; and 4) Participation in relevant coalitions and meetings taking place at the local, regional, state and national level.

Candidate should have a strong understanding of the disproportionate burdens on low-income communities of color associated with the direct effects of climate change (especially in the Bay Area), as well as equity issues associated with adaptation and mitigation strategies. In addition, candidate must be a strategic thinker and have the ability to translate complex ideas and research findings into concrete recommendations for climate change policy development. He/she must be able to work with a diverse group of stakeholders including community groups, policy, government, labor, and health organizations. Finally, the candidate must be able to work collaboratively with UH staff in a team environment to strengthen other UH programs and priority campaigns.

Essential Duties:

1. Policy and Research

• Play a lead role in analyzing existing climate change policies and developing policy solutions that benefit the region’s low-income communities and communities of color.
• Research trends, initiatives, and developments in climate change/climate justice, including green economic development, throughout the region, state, and nation. Identify and implement best practices and methodology that will advance UH’s mission and program goals.
• Work with Urban Habitat’s Richmond Campaign Coordinator, Richmond’s City Council, including the Mayor, city staff, labor, and other key allies to develop a comprehensive green economic development strategy in Richmond.
• Work with Urban Habitat’s Transportation Program to develop strategies and policies that reduce green house emissions while also improving services for the region’s low-income communities.
• Serve as Urban Habitat’s key contact on all matters relating to climate change and climate justice.

2. Coordination and Facilitation

• Coordinate and facilitate a series of regional convening of key stakeholders to develop a climate change strategy for the Bay Area.
• Assist UH’s Education and Training Coordinator with research and curriculum development for Leadership Institutes focusing on climate change and green initiatives.
• Participate in other related climate change initiatives at the state, regional, and local levels.

3. Development and Communications

• Provide regular updates and other written materials to the Director of Development and Planning, Board of Directors, and Media and Communications Associate in order to support UH’s fundraising efforts, media strategy, and web-site outreach.
• Participate in fundraising cultivation meetings and/or provide talking points on UH’s Climate Change Initiative for development purposes.
• Represent UH at conferences, workshops, and meetings, including but not limited to, those with a focus on climate change and green economic development.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Environmental Sciences/Policy, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Community Development, or related field.
• At least three (3) years of experience conducting policy and research in climate change, economic development, transportation, housing, land-use planning, or other related field.
• Experience in program management, coordination, and facilitation.
• Excellent written and public-speaking skills.
• Experience working with a range of partners including government, business, labor, community, and policy organizations.
• Demonstrated sensitivity and understanding of issues facing low-income communities of color.
• Capacity to establish goals and priorities along with the ability to manage multiple projects to achieve deadlines.
• A team player who works well with others as well as independently.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office with some graphics applications.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Status: Full-time position with full benefits. Position reports directly to the Associate Director.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled.

Start Date: ASAP

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Please email your cover letter and resume, AS ATTACHMENTS, to: GreenCoor(at) urbanhabitat (dot) org

To Top of Page

Request for Qualifications - Event Planner

Urban Habitat is seeking an Event Planner to coordinate all aspects of its inaugural State of the Region event as well as its SEC 10th Anniversary Celebration, both of which will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2008 in Oakland, California.

State of the Region and SEC Anniversary Celebration

The State of the Region is a daytime convening of Bay Area community, government, labor, and business allies and is designed to deepen an understanding of the macro forces impacting working class people and people of color in the Bay Area, share existing sectoral strategies to address inequities, and cultivate new members & allies. The “State of the Region” will serve as a signature event analyzing how trends impact working class people and people of color and identifying opportunities for collective action. It is anticipated that the audience will range from 250-500 participants, and will take place in downtown Oakland, CA.

The SEC’s 10th Anniversary Celebration will occur the evening of the State of the Region event, providing the SEC’s membership base a time to honor the coalition’s accomplishments and recognize key volunteers.
The consultant will work closely with Urban Habitat’s Management Team and the SEC Coordinator to simultaneously plan these two events. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience coordinating all aspects of a large-scale event, and some experience working with nonprofit organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities for the two events include:

State of the Region:

• Identifying and negotiating venue costs, if necessary.
• Overseeing outreach and marketing, including electronic and hard-copy invitations and mail-outs as well as coordinating the RSVP process.
• Overseeing event sponsorship, including acquiring sponsors for the event, working with UH staff to collect the contributions, and coordinating the development of advertisement booklets.
• Contacting and confirming speakers and handling their travel plans, hotel accommodations, and other logistical needs.
• Coordinating both online and mail pre-registration for the event.
• Preparing event materials, including sign-in sheets, evaluations, comment cards, and assembling event packets (to include agenda, speakers’ bios, name tags, etc).
• Working with the UH staff to coordinate talking points and scripts for speakers.
• Overseeing set-up, break-down, and other specific venue configurations for the event.
• Arranging all audiovisual needs for the event, including contacting speakers and confirming their audiovisual needs.
• Working with the videographer to coordinate: 1) access to facility, 2) interviews with key participants, and 3) the flow of the video presentation on the day of the event.
• Overseeing the catering and working with UH staff to select the menu for the event.
• Providing direction and supervision on the day of the event, including, but not limited to, registration, panel discussions and break-out sessions, menu, and overall flow of activities.
• Providing UH staff with a written report that includes: 1) a summary of participants’ post-event evaluations and 2) a cost-benefit analysis of the State of the Region event.

SEC 10th Anniversary Celebration:

• Identifying and negotiating venue costs, if necessary.
• Overseeing outreach and marketing, including electronic and hard-copy invitations and mail-outs as well as coordinating the RSVP process.
• Overseeing event sponsorship, including acquiring sponsors for the event, working with UH staff to collect the contributions, and coordinating the development of advertisement booklets.
• Preparing event materials, including name tags, appreciation packets for guests, and certificates for honorees.
• Overseeing set-up, break-down, and other specific venue configurations.
• Arranging all audiovisual needs for the event.
• Working with the photographer as well as the DJ for musical entertainment.
• Overseeing the catering and working with UH staff to select the menu for the event.
• Providing direction and supervision on the evening of the event.

Start Date

This is a contract position to start immediately. The contract period will end on December 18, 2008.
Please send: Résumé or curriculum vitae and list of previous clients, along with the attached Request for Quotes completed, to: Stateoftheregion (at) urbanhabitat (dot) org by April 4, 2008.

To Top of Page

Internships - Race, Poverty and the Environment

Web Publishing Assistant, Communications Assistant

Urban Habitat seeks publishing and communication assistants for Race, Poverty and the Environment (RP&E), a journal for social and environmental justice published by Urban Habitat. The positions are on-site in Oakland one day a week and the schedule is flexible. Assistants will proofread and post stories for RP&E website; do research on environmental justice issues such as green economics; and climate justice and manage email alerts to readers and constituents.

Positions requires experience in updating and maintaining websites, managing and creating content for email listserves, proofreading skills, commitment to social justice, and knowledge of environmental justice issues. Unpaid internships are ongoing. The next paid internship ($12-$15/hr -- 8 hrs/week):

Send resume and a cover letter describing your computer, publishing and social justice experience to editor (at) urbanhabiat (dot) org or to Race, Poverty & the Environment, Urban Habitat, 436 14th St. #1205 Oakland, CA 94606