Job Title: Education & Engagement Program Manager I
Reporting To: Program Director
Location: Berkeley CA/Hybrid
FLSA Status: Non-exempt, Full-Time
Ecology Center Background
The Ecology Center’s mission is to inspire and build a sustainable, healthy, and just future for the East Bay, California, and beyond. The Ecology Center transforms the ideas of sustainability into everyday practice. We offer information you can act on, infrastructure you can count on, and leadership for lasting change. We are working toward a world of resilient communities, zero waste and toxics, equal access to healthy food, sustainable resource use, and a safe and stable climate.
Founded in the run-up to the first Earth Day in 1970, the Ecology Center has been a regional and national leader on a wide range of issues, turning vision into action and cementing it with advocacy. We operate the nation’s first and longest running curbside recycling service, a nationally recognized food and farming programs, model education and engagement activities, and the EcoStore which provides products that encourage environmentally and socially responsible lifestyle practices.
We are a committed, congenial, and diverse staff dedicated to making the world a better place through action. Every employee is integral to the success of our organization. We value vision, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. If you are passionate and qualified, we encourage you to apply to be part of our team.
Summary
The Education and Engagement Program Manager leads and develops the Ecology Center’s community education and engagement activities, projects, and campaigns focused on educating, informing and providing resilience measures and tools to the local Berkeley and East Bay Community regarding zero waste, climate change, and a wide range of environmental issues. The Program Manager leads EC’s climate equity work, and plays a key role in recycling, electrification, zero waste education and other informational and relevant campaigns. The Program Manager oversees the organization’s information assets and partners with the Store staff who maintain and curate the Resource Center. The Education and Engagement Program Manager reports to the Community Engagement Program Director, supervises program staff, and works collaboratively with the Store Program Manager, Climate Equity Program Manager, and other Ecology Center programs.
Essential Duties
- Assess the current needs of the Berkeley and East Bay community’s access to information and skills to lead healthier and more resilient lives in the face of climate change, pollution and other environmental factors.
- Develop plans, policies, goals, and objectives for the Education & Engagement Program in collaboration with the Community Engagement Program Director Support the Ecology Center’s Resource Center, including updating and creating information sheets, organizing and facilitating public engagement with or without Store support, resource development, information provision, ensuring a safe public space, interdepartmental coordination, external communications, and event coordination
- Hire, train, supervise, work to retain and dismiss as needed Engagement staff, including youth interns and volunteers, while also making termination recommendations as needed to maintain team effectiveness
- Provide leadership on zero waste efforts and education aligned with and for the City of Berkeley’s recycling contract including outreach, activities and events like Plastic Free July and others, as well as campaigns including coalition work, advocacy and pilot projects
- Develop and oversee annual Education and Engagement Program budget in collaboration with Community Engagement Program Director; monitor departmental income and expenses
- Play a role in program fundraising, grant writing and preparation, submission, management, reporting and funder relations in cooperation and with the assistance of their supervisor
- In collaboration with Communications team, lead content development and communications to highlight and promote Education and Engagement programs, issues, services, campaigns, events and overall mission of the organization
- Conduct ongoing assessments of program quality and implement improvements
- Engage City and other government agencies, other NGOs, and community members through coalition building, tabling, public talks, events and other outreach. Maintain relationships and stay abreast of relevant regional organizations and their educational efforts, resources, campaigns and initiatives Provide prompt, effective support for Ecology Center Store, including occasionally serving as backup staff support during Store hours as needed
- Collaborate with event staff to develop events that focus on solutions, leverage partnerships with other organizations, and spur advocacy and activism. Host and facilitate events
- Engage, support, and oversee youth via collaboration with the Ecology Center’s Youth Development Program
- Maintain familiarity with, follow, and ensure staff, volunteer, youth intern, and contractor compliance with all Ecology Center policies and procedures in the performance of duties. Support the Climate Equity Manager on the current City Planning project: Community Voice Matters through high-level feedback and input, support with ongoing community convening and engagement activities, etc.
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Demonstrated program management experience
- Ability to effectively supervise staff, youth, and volunteers
- Experience with grants management and grant writing, program planning, and managing a budget
- Demonstrated experience with event and engagement planning and implementation to attract communities at a grassroots level, connecting with and intersecting with low-resourced and diverse communities.
- Advocacy or campaign experience
- Climate change, climate equity and/or Zero Waste knowledge; well-developed relationships with local climate change and environmental justice organizations; familiarity with relevant inner East Bay (Berkeley, Oakland, El Cerrito, Richmond) communities and institutions
- Experience working with local government agencies
- Excellent presentation skills in both verbal and written formats; experience in public speaking and conducting outreach to diverse audiences
- Ability to lead and oversee content development and digital media communications in collaboration with Communications team
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, including conflict resolution
- Experience working in a collaborative community setting
- Proven ability to work independently and exercise good judgment in a variety of environments and situations
- Flexibility and creativity, ability to adapt to changing situations and find appropriate solutions to unique challenges
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to principals and clients
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule format
- Extensive knowledge and high proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other computer applications such as Constant Contact and WordPress
- Efficient and well organized; able to report information in a timely manner
Special Requirements
- Must possess a valid CA driver’s license
- Alternately, be able to readily access and use public transportation or other means in order to travel from site to site
Education and Experience
- One year of staff management experience
- Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in campaign work, project management, group facilitation, or event planning, or
- High School Diploma/GED and four years of experience in campaign work, nonprofit project management, group facilitation, or event planning or other relevant experience
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required to:
- Regularly talk or hear up to 8 hours a day;
- Regularly sit, type, and use the mouse up to 7 hours a day;
- Regularly sit and stand from chair up to 20 times a day;
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
- Regularly stand, kneel, climb, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms;
- Regularly lift, carry, and/or move up to twenty five (25) pounds and occasionally lift, and/or move up to 50 pounds;
- Regularly stand and walk for up to 5 hours at a time;
- Occasionally climb stairs and/or take elevator;
- Occasionally get in and out of a car up to 6 times a day.
Hours
Full time, 40 hours per week, non-exempt position. This position is scheduled to work with occasional evenings or Sunday events. This position is an on-site position with some limited opportunity for remote work after at least 6 months of employment.
Wage and Benefits:
Starting hourly rate is $28.68 to $34.41 depending on qualifications. This position is eligible for benefits which include fully paid employee medical, dental, optional vision plan, fully vested 401K plan, vacation/sick/holiday pay, Employee Assistance Program.
How to Apply
Send completed application, resume, and cover letter in pdf format to hiring@ecologycenter.org. Please add “Education & Engagement Program Manager” to the email subject line.
Open until filled. Please apply early as this position posting may close at any time.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
People of color, people LGBTQIA-identified, women, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. EOE/AA.
