A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability (OOS) is responsible for implementing Greenworks: A Vision for a Sustainable Philadelphia, the City’s comprehensive sustainability plan. OOS works with partners to improve the quality of life in all Philadelphia neighborhoods, reduce the city’s carbon emissions, and prepare Philadelphia for a hotter, wetter future. The Office of Climate Resilience works within OOS to develop and support climate change adaptation and environmental justice efforts. The team that makes up OOS works interdependently to achieve these goals by drawing upon the wide range of professional and lived experience among team members.

OOS prioritizes professional growth and development across the team. Learning and capacity building occurs in an individual and team context. The entire team convenes regularly to strengthen skills and competencies through training, knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and peer-to-peer support. In addition to all-staff development opportunities, team members create individualized professional development plans to develop specialized skills and explore areas of learning interest.

The Program Strategist for Environmental Justice will steward the development, implementation and communication of inclusive and empowering initiatives that address the root causes of unequal environmental conditions experienced by communities across Philadelphia. This position will advance OOS’ environmental justice program objectives, including:

• Strengthening the capacity of the Environmental Justice Advisory Commission to identify policy and practice reforms that centralize the leadership of those most impacted by environmental injustice and the climate crisis.
• Elevating forward-looking initiatives that assess, communicate, and address the cumulative impacts of multiple environmental stressors.
• Stewarding relationships and creatively communicating with community-based organizations, other levels of government, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and others to advance a holistic approach to environmental injustice that moves impacted communities from surviving to thriving.
• Securing funding to appropriately resource efforts to advance environmental justice

This is a full-time, grant-funded position that runs through December 2024. It reports to the Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice.

Essential Functions

Administrative Support for Environmental Justice Advisory Commission (EJAC)

• Coordinate and attend virtual and in-person EJAC monthly and work group meetings and other convenings as needs or requests arise
• Provide administrative support, including scheduling, meeting documentation and project management, to EJAC leadership and work group leads
• Improve processes so that staff and members can communicate and access information with ease, utilizing email, file sharing, online polls and evaluations, etc.

Design and Communications Creative Expertise

• Design creative and accessible outreach, education, and reporting materials in collaboration with EJAC leadership, relevant work groups and the Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice
• Design and manage communications tools, including website, social media, digital and print resources, events, and others as needed

Grants Support and Development

• Assist with the development, promotion and ongoing administration of an environmental justice grant fund
• Assist with efforts to secure sources of funding for initiatives related to environmental justice

Interagency and Cross-Government Collaboration

• Collaborate and strategize within OOS and across City departments on environmental justice initiatives. In particular, the position will work closely with the Climate Solutions team at OOS to advance energy justice in the city
• Provide administrative support, including scheduling and project management, to any interagency working groups advancing environmental justice

Other Duties

• Steward relationships with impacted communities to ensure activities are centered in their experiences and perspectives and align with their strategic priorities
• Performs other tasks and responsibilities as assigned, the focus of activities may change depending on the needs of the agency

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Administrative Management – Experience managing multiple projects at once, providing administrative support, and creating systems that help people of various abilities to collaborate with ease; Well-practiced in connecting day-to-day work with long-term goals and finding balance between responding to immediate needs and furthering longer-term strategies.
• Graphic or Information Design – Expertise in visually communicating information in a manner that informs, motivates and/or calls recipients to action; Demonstrated ability to translate technical information into accessible forms and adapt styles to diverse audiences and different cultural environments; Well-versed in sifting through a vast array of informational resources and producing products (written or digital) that harvest meaningful insights.
• Equitable Engagement – Demonstrated understanding of power dynamics, types of participation that shift power, trauma informed practices, varied approaches to ensure accessibility, and/or conflict resolution and mediation; Seeks to co-create with community.
• Relationship Management - Relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences; Demonstrated experience (professional or non-professional) building and maintaining relationships with low-wealth and Black, Indigenous and people of color communities and executing projects involving multiple constituencies.
• Environmental Justice Competency – An understanding of issues relating to climate change and resilience, public health, environmental hazards, and resource distribution and their points of intersection with social justice and civil rights concerns; Familiarity with targeted policy and program interventions that address the environmental health hazards that disproportionately burden lower-wealth and communities of color; An awareness of power-building strategies that enable residents of impacted communities to participate as co-creators in the development and implementation of interventions to meet local needs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience (professional or non-professional) in developing communications tools/strategies, managing projects, and/or supporting community organizing and advocacy. Preference may be given to those with experience in environmental justice or an allied social justice field.
• Associate’s/Bachelor’s Degree, or a combination of 4 years of education and/or relevant experience.
• Deep connection with an environmental justice or overburdened community.
• Commitment to building relationships from the perspective of the Jemez and Environmental Justice Principles.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000 

Did you know?

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Please note that effective September 1, 2021 the City of Philadelphia is requiring all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. 

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx