Job Openings

Current Openings as of July 11, 2008:

Director of Programs
Outreach Coordinator, REDI Campaign
Internships - Race, Poverty and the Environment
Internship - Richmond Equitable Development Initiative Researcher

Position Description
The Director of Programs is a member of Urban Habitat’s Management team and plays a lead role in staff supervision, program strategy and implementation, and overall organizational development. The candidate brings program management and policy expertise in the areas of land-use planning and climate justice. He/she has a strong working knowledge of all aspects of the organization’s programmatic, personnel and financial goals and strategies and works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Management team to achieve Urban Habitat’s short and long-term objectives. The Director of Programs reports directly to the Executive Director and supervises personnel as assigned.

The Director of Programs oversees UH’s core programs focused on land-use and climate justice, including the Transportation and Housing Program, the Social Equity Caucus and the Richmond Equitable Development Initiative. In addition to providing strategic direction, personnel management, and program oversight, the candidate will serve as lead staff on priority land-use and climate justice projects, as assigned.

Essential Duties

• Staff Management and Supervision: Supervise personnel as assigned. Provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure that staff members have the support they need to sustain their work at a consistently high level. Maintain strong lines of communication and coordination among all staff to ensure that individual, programmatic and organizational goals are clearly defined and achieved in a timely manner.
• Program Planning, Management and Integration: Lead staff efforts to develop programs and/or campaigns that are well-integrated and aligned with the overall mission of the organization. Ensure effective development and implementation of program and individual workplans.
• Program Implementation: Serve as lead staff on priority projects related to land-use and climate justice. Define and implement project structure, strategy, and workplan activities. Work collaboratively with other program staff to achieve deliverables.
• Coalition Building: Strengthen the capacity of UH to effectively build and engage in multi-issue and multi-sector coalitions throughout the region, state, and nation. Staff UH coalition efforts when needed.
• Policy & Advocacy: Provide analysis of local, regional, state, national, and international policies that are relevant to UH’s mission and campaign goals. Develop and recommend strategies to help UH and our partners effectively navigate and impact the policy-making arena.
• Fundraising: Participate as a member of UH’s development team to meet financial goals of the organization. Represent organization at funders meetings throughout the country.
• Organizational Spokesperson: Represent UH at conferences, community events and other public and/or media engagements

Job Qualifications

• Master’s degree in urban planning, environmental sciences, economics, public policy, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge and experience working on land-use planning policies and programs (for example inclusionary zoning implementation, analysis of planned land use alternatives, EIR and CEQA review ) and climate change policies and programs (for example, development of climate change actions plans)
• Minimum five years experience developing and leading environmental, social, and/or economic justice programs
• Minimum five years experience of personnel supervision and management
• Demonstrated commitment to issues of environmental, social and economic justice
• High level of proven leadership and ability to manage complex tasks in a timely and professional manner
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work well under tight deadlines and in a team environment

Salary Range

Commensurate with Experience. Generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, holidays, vacation, 401 K, and sick leave. This is a full time position that reports to the Executive Director.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled.

Please email your cover letter and resume, AS ATTACHMENTS, to: Director@urbanhabitat.org.

Urban Habitat is an equal opportunity employer, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.

Internships - Race, Poverty and the Environment

Web /Print Publishing Internship
Writing, copyediting, proofreading and posting stories to the web.

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

Positions require 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. This is a paid internship $12-$15/hr commensurate with experience and will be 1-2 days a week with at lease 8 hours a week on site. (We also offer unpaid off site internships and stipends for reporters by assignment.)

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

Internships - Richmond Equitable Development Initiative Research Internship

Background
REDI is a collaborative of advocacy, research and grassroots community based organizations working together in the City of Richmond to promote quality, living-wage jobs, effective and connected public transportation networks, quality, affordable housing options, and an overall healthier and cleaner environment.

REDI is in the process of undergoing a strategic planning process to determine its future campaigns and project issue areas. REDI seeks an intern to conduct a local environmental scan/partial community needs assessment in Richmond. The purpose of the scan/assessment is to help REDI gain a better understanding of community-based and local government efforts in various activities, including education, housing, business and industry, public safety, work force development, youth programs and the natural environment. The information obtained from the environmental scan will inform REDI on how to best utilize its resources and prioritize future campaigns and projects.

Duties
The intern is expected to assist in the design and implementation of the research, which includes conducting interviews with various stakeholders and preparing a written analysis. Types of information that will be sought in the project include:

• A SWOT analysis for the community (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).  
• Needs identified by community leaders and members
• Current action being taken to meet community needs
• Local resources available to meet community needs

Qualifications
This position requires experience conducting research and interviews and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
This is a six week internship that will require at least 8 hours of work a week. Stipend available.
Send resume and a cover letter via email to Sheryl Lane, Richmond Campaign Coordinator: Sheryl@urbanhabitat.org or to Sheryl Lane c/o Urban Habitat, 436 14th Street, #1205, Oakland, CA 94612.