Environmental Justice Outreach Coordinator (Permit Opposition, Federally-Funded)

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Environmental Justice Outreach Coordinator (Permit Opposition) plays a vital role in mobilizing community efforts to reduce air pollution through AAH’s Environmental Justice Leadership Lab—a training and resource hub focused on environmental justice and community- driven decision-making to improve air quality. This role requires building strong relationships with local organizations, residents, businesses, elected officials, and other key stakeholders within the Greater Houston and Harris County area to ensure that the communities most affected by air pollution can effectively advocate for cleaner air in various governmental entities such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

By engaging and supporting communities in environmental justice efforts, the Environmental Justice Outreach Coordinator will help elevate the voices of residents disproportionately impacted by air pollution, working toward a more equitable, healthier environment for all.

This position is 100% funded by a federal grant, subject to federal compliance, and contingent upon continued federal assistance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and local businesses.
  • Establish connections with elected officials and staff, including those in Houston City Council, the offices of local Senators and Representatives, and Harris County offices.
  • Coordinate with legal aid and advocacy organizations, like Lone Star Legal Aid, to support community members in environmental justice efforts.
  • Drive community mobilization for action alerts and support collective responses to emerging air quality concerns with residents and organizations from frontline communities in
  • Houston/Harris County to create a network of advocacy volunteers.

Event Coordination & Community Outreach

  • Organize both virtual and in-person events, such as “Coffee and Change,” to inform and empower residents. Manage logistics, including securing venues, interpretation, food, child care, and the preparation of materials (e.g., flyers, presentations, sign-up sheets) all in compliance with federal purchasing rules and regulations.
  • Develop informational materials and presentations on air quality issues and disseminate to
  • community members.
  • Use varied outreach methods—block-walking, canvassing, calls, printed materials, meetings, and events—to connect with neighborhood groups, civic organizations, and community leaders.
  • Use digital tools such as Canva and EveryAction for outreach.
  • Provide media interviews on permits of concern and related advocacy activities.

Public Meeting Assistance

  • Coordinate public meetings, ensuring access and engagement for all attendees, including welcoming participants, assisting with public comment submissions, and providing transportation and on-site support.
  • Create and distribute materials, such as health-focused signage, to reinforce messaging and community health advocacy.

Follow-Up & Reporting

  • After public meetings, send updates on community impact and next steps, including the number of comments submitted and further actions.
  • Thank elected officials and key partners for their participation to foster lasting support and collaboration.
  • Follow the lifespan of the permit and notify stakeholders accordingly. Produce routine written updates on permit status, such as newsletters and blogs.

Internal Coordination & Project Management

  • Schedule team meetings to review objectives and tasks and manage project tracking using project management tools such as Asana.
  • Conduct air quality permit analysis to guide informed community actions and improve decision- making for public health.
  • Understanding the permitting processes of air permits, requirements of applicants, and TCEQ guidelines and regulations.
  • Become familiar with the TCEQ website, documents, and other applicable resources.
  • Write or otherwise contribute to grant reporting, time accounting, and other mandatory requirements.

Supportive Activities

  • Work collaboratively with staff and partners to meet agency goals and objectives.
  • Track activities as directed for the purposes of performance management, evaluation, planning, and quality improvement.
  • Support staff with expanding other AAH community engagement structures, such as the Air Quality Ambassadors.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should have the following to be considered for the role:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public health, environmental justice, or urban planning/urbanism, or an equivalent combination of professional experience and training.
  • At least two (2) years of full-time professional experience coordinating and organizing community outreach activities, preferably related to environmental justice, air quality, and environmental usage regulations in the state of Texas.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify and recruit leaders or volunteers.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trust with and nurture equitable relationships with community members.
  • Experience with public speaking to a variety of stakeholder groups including the media.

Highly competitive candidates will also have the following:

  • Understanding of air permits, environmental regulating processes, and TCEQ.
  • Knowledge of the population health impacts of air pollution.
  • Bi/multi-lingual fluency in languages commonly spoken in Houston other than English (e.g., Spanish, Vietnamese).
  • Reside in, are connected to, and/or familiar with the context, resources, and needs of Houston’s environmental justice communities.

CORE ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES: All team members are required to follow and uphold the AAH Mission, Vision, and Values, and Policies and Procedures. In addition, the following core skills and abilities are expectations for all staff positions:

  • ADAPTABILITY: is flexible, willing to learn and try new things, accepts new assignments, adjusts well to change.
  • ANALYTICAL SKILLS: analyzes information or situations accurately, acts strategically, draws conclusions, solves problems.
  • COMMUNICATION: expresses ideas clearly both verbally and in writing, listens effectively, addresses issues and concerns at the appropriate level, keeps others informed, gives and receives feedback constructively.
  • DEPENDABILITY: can be counted on/trustworthy, displays an understanding of the work so as to operate independently, responds to management direction, follows-through on commitments, meets deadlines.
  • EFFICIENCY AND PRIORITIZATION: manages time efficiently, prioritizes work obligations appropriately, can plan out work assignments verbally and in writing.
  • INCLUSION: values all input and perspectives, seeks meaningful opportunities to understand and learn from others, applies a social justice and racial equity lens, uses People-First Language.
  • INITIATIVE AND LEADERSHIP: volunteers for and accepts responsibility, is self-directed, clearly and passionately articulates the mission and vision, convenes and coordinates others, speaks and acts appropriately on behalf of the organization.
  • QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS: completes work accurately and at high standards, uses best practices and credible methods, follows policies and procedures, achieves consistent results.
  • RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: creates and manages program plans and budgets, uses company resources responsibly.
  • TEAMWORK: responsive to others, shows respect and courtesy, values diversity, builds rapport internally and externally, collaborative and open to others views, handles conflict well, contributes to a positive working environment.

Salary and Benefits: $58,000 – $62,000, depending on qualifications and experience, eligible for an annual COLA; eligible for an annual merit and bonus after at least six (6) months of employment, dependent on performance and organizational fiscal health; and eligible for promotional pay after at least three (3) years of employment. The AAH benefits package includes paid vacation and sick time; other types of paid leave such as personnel days, disaster leave, and paid holidays, including the last two weeks of the calendar year inclusive of the year-end holidays; free health, disability, and life insurance for employees and shared-cost health insurance for dependents; stipends including a monthly technology stipend, one-time bike stipend, and one-time emergency use stipend; and a 401(k) with a 4% employer match. AAH also provides professional development by supporting local or virtual continuing education for employees and conducting regular staff trainings. AAH offers hybrid and flexible work schedule. AAH is a parent-friendly, dog-friendly, and bike-friendly workplace.

Classification: This is a full-time (36 hour), at-will, exempt position (not eligible for overtime). This position is 100% funded by a federal grant, subject to federal compliance, and contingent upon continued federal assistance.

Schedule: The official AAH office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (CST) and Friday from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST). AAH allows for flexible work schedules and locations of work to be responsive to community and business needs. Occasionally, more than a regular 36-hour work week, including evenings and weekends, are required. Local travel is also required and reimbursed at the federal rate.

Location: Houston, TX. AAH is a hybrid (in-office/work from anywhere) workplace; at least two (2) in-office/in-person days are required; permanent 100% remote work is not an option.

Anticipated Start Date: March 1, 2025 or sooner depending on the progress of the search.

We value people of all experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives and strive to cultivate leadership from the ground up. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, genetic information, or marital or familial status. The successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in the US.

How to Apply: Please submit the following items via email to [email protected] using the Subject Line: EJ OC Position:

  • Resume or CV
  • A one-page email that describes the following:
    • 1. What draws you to Air Alliance Houston;
    • 2. A brief explanation of your understanding of the intersections between air quality and health; and
    • 3. A brief explanation of your experience specific to this role with an emphasis on community organizing.

Deadline: This solicitation will close on February 14, 2025; however, the selection process may begin before this time if a sufficient number of qualified applications are received. Interested persons are encouraged to apply early.

Defensible Hiring: All information about the expectations and qualifications for this position are described here. No additional information can or will be shared outside of this Job Description to ensure a free and open competition.