Urban and Community Resilience Manager

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks an Urban and Community Resilience Manager in the EPR Department to be based at our Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, MD.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

CBF has a staff of approximately 210 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.
CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CBF has an annual budget of approximately $30 million and is supported by over 300,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

CBF’s Environmental Protection and Restoration department defends and restores the Chesapeake Bay by protecting the Bay’s natural resources from pollution and other harmful activities by fighting for strong and effective laws and regu­lations; restoring the Bay’s essential habitats and filtering mechanisms; and involving citizens in CBF’s environmental efforts by recruiting, training, and incorporating them as effective partners and leaders.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

The Urban and Community Resilience Manager is a staff member of the Maryland Office providing leadership and strategic implementation of initiatives in the urban and built environment across the state. The Manager will lead key stakeholder engagement and relationship building at the local and state level, advocating for equitable policies and resident action to reduce pollution entering local waterways and broadening partnerships in the urban centers across Maryland. The Manager will lead the existing Baltimore program, and develop areas to expand the work into other urban centers, tackling issues of water quality, quantity, environmental justice, and resilience.

Essential functions include:

1. Support key legislative priorities and develop strategies to address environmental and social justice issues, in urban centers and the built environment across the state building on the existing Baltimore program.
2. Unify and collaborate cross-departmentally (Litigation, EPR, Communications, Education, Development, etc.) to implement existing Baltimore programs and develop new initiatives with targeted outreach, events and partnerships.
3. Design and implement strategies for reducing stormwater pollution, improving air quality and building climate resilience in communities across the state.
4. Coordinate with other CBF grassroots staff to lead VoiCeS (Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards) adult-advocacy education course.
5. Participate in workgroups and coalitions aimed at pollution reduction (stormwater, sewage), building resilience, improving air & water quality, enhancing public greenspace and water access and advance diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in environmental conservation (i.e. Healthy Harbor Steering Committee, Trash Free Maryland, Choose Clean Water Workgroups, Chesapeake Bay Program Workgroups, Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition, Results Baltimore)
6. Build productive relationships with partners and stakeholders at various levels, from community, government agencies, funders, businesses, and organizations in urban centers across the state.

ADDITIONAL TASKS:

1. Support the Baltimore Oyster Gardening Program by coordinating with oyster gardening lead and managing relationships in Baltimore.
2. Work with the litigation team on community engagement and outreach to develop opportunities for environmental justice litigation.
3. Work to ensure that systems, organizational culture, and practices are aligned with CBF’s mission, values and commitments related to DEIJ. Develop and refine programs and activities to ensure equitable practices and support the development of a diverse and effective team. Ensure an inclusive working environments that supports diverse populations.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience with 3-5 years working to build relationships, coalitions and implement initiatives to address environmental issues, key legislative priorities and enhance community awareness.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• High degree of organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects or tasks at a time.
• Proven strategic thinker who has experience developing and implementing projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ability to receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Ability to recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Having flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

Salary Range:  $61,000 – $64,000

CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE

Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.

To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:

• Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
• Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
• Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
• Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.

CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.