Job Description
ABOUT US: At New Jersey Future (NJF), we believe that great places help build great lives. To help create and preserve our great places, we promote sensible and equitable planning, redevelopment, and infrastructure investments that foster vibrant cities and towns; protect natural lands and waterways; enhance transportation choices; support a strong economy; and provide access to safe, affordable, and aging-friendly neighborhoods for everyone. We do this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance. Embracing differences and advancing fairness is central to our mission and operations, and we are firmly committed to pursuing greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work and culture. NJF is located in downtown Trenton, NJ. For more information, visit www.njfuture.org.
ABOUT LEAD-FREE NJ: Every child should grow up healthy, strong, and able to reach their full potential. Lead-Free NJ is an inclusive and equitable collaborative that ensures lead-free children and a lead-safe environment through changes to state and local policies. The collaborative targets lead hazards in low-income communities and communities of color while also creating the conditions for lead-free children statewide. The collaborative has diverse members: policy advocates, leaders and organizers from impacted communities, and water and housing practitioners. To center the work on the needs and perspectives of directly affected communities, the collaborative includes significant local representation among its leadership and members, and partners with local organizing efforts focused on lead. At the heart of the initiative is a collaborative campaign pushing for change at the state and local level. NJF facilitates the campaign, integrating coalition-building, community organizing, and state policy advocacy. POSITION SUMMARY: The community organizer ensures that Lead-Free NJ is centered on the needs and perspectives of directly affected communities. The community organizer works with and reports to the campaign manager, who leads the day-to-day work of Lead-Free NJ.
WHO WILL BE SUCCESSFUL: A creative, flexible, self-directed, team-oriented person who is willing to learn from mistakes. They are also results-driven, detail-oriented, and organized. The ideal candidate has a demonstrated commitment to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
RESPONSIBILITIES
● Coordination and support for lead-free community efforts: Act as a liaison to lead-free community hubs in three to five cities. Help to identify additional local community education and organizing efforts working for lead-free environments. Connect lead-free community hubs and other local efforts with the collaborative by recruiting residents and community organization representatives to join as members. Support them by providing educational resources and materials, assisting with organizing strategies, and creating opportunities for peer-sharing.
● Coalition management: Help the program manager plan and execute the coordinating group meetings and quarterly coalition meetings so that they are welcoming for everyone, including community members. Attend and help staff the meetings.
● Policy advocacy: Elevate the policy needs and priorities that are identified at the community hubs and work with the program manager to integrate them into the statewide agenda.
● Communications: Assist the program manager with preparing communications materials that will resonate with community members.
● Funder relationship: Contribute to annual foundation reports and proposals in the area of community engagement.
● Other NJF Community Engagement Efforts: Coordinate with other NJF organizing efforts in target cities, most notably the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers campaign. Collaborate and provide mutual support with the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers program manager. Advise and assist Jersey Water Works efforts to engage community members and advance equity. Advise and assist other NJF activities on an as-needed basis, including integration of community engagement in new projects.
● Participate in NJF staff-wide efforts: Attend weekly staff meetings and support events and conferences as needed.
REQUIREMENTS
● Strong leadership skills and experience with an ability to motivate, influence, and drive creativity and enthusiasm in others.
● Deep understanding of the importance of engaging community members and other stakeholders early and often in the decision-making and implementation processes.
● Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and experience working on the issue with others.
● Self-starter who assumes responsibility and makes sound decisions.
● Team player with a collaborative working style.
● Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Experience interacting with and coordinating a diverse group of individuals and managing multiple relationships.
● Experience with successful advocacy efforts is a plus, as is experience with collaborative efforts involving many stakeholders.
● Experience or interest in one or more of Lead-Free New Jersey’s key policy areas—community development, water infrastructure, public health, environmental justice, sustainability.
● College degree or equivalent training and skills.
● Minimum five years of experience in an advocacy and/or community organizing role.
New Jersey Future employees are working on a hybrid work-from-home and in-office schedule.