Community Outreach Specialist – Northampton, MA
Organization: Center for EcoTechnology
Position Title: Community Outreach Specialist
Location: Northampton, MA
Hours and Compensation: This is a full-time hourly position with benefits located in our Northampton office. CET offers competitive pay rates and a comprehensive health plan which pays approximately 60% of the individual’s health insurance costs. New employees are eligible for dental insurance; accrue 10 days of paid vacation leave per year, 9 sick days and CET offers 12 paid holidays. CET is an equal opportunity employer.
Organization Overview/Description
At the Center for EcoTechnology, we educate people to inspire actions that result in lasting impacts. This position is responsible for increasing CET’s effectiveness to “make green make sense” through community organizing, outreach and education specifically in the Go Green Initiative: Energy efficiency, renewable energy and waste reduction through home composting, recycling and reuse. The position reports to Marin Goldstein, Outreach and Education Manager in the Outreach and Education Department.
Responsibilities
Go Green Community Outreach and Assistance:
Conduct public outreach and education to achieve various program and mission impact goals:
• Serve as a residential Energy Coach, to facilitate people to take action in their homes and workplaces, with knowledge of behavior choice opportunities and structural home efficiency incentives, providing technical assistance and guidance on resources available in our region;
• Promote, coordinate and deliver residential educational presentations and hands-on workshops that inspire participants to take Go Green actions, specifically:
o Inspire people to make behavior choices to take action in their homes/ workplaces
o Generate referrals for energy efficiency programs for residents,
e.g. Mass Save and Community Action Weatherization programs
o Generate enrollments in green power and clean energy choices for residents,
e.g. Mass Energy’s New England Green Start/New England Wind Fund
• Target a variety of audiences, established and new groups, including but not limited to: municipal leadership, business employers, faith based congregations, neighborhood collectives, youth groups, seniors, community gatherings and much more;
• Track data results of events and outreach activities, including household data and contacts;
• Work on a team to develop marketing materials tailored to specific community events;
• Work on a team to develop and generate community engagement through a multi-media strategy by utilizing CET web site, press events and social media outlets
Work regionally with grassroots groups and municipal committees to achieve campaign goals:
• Serve as resource for objective information about energy efficiency (e.g. Mass Save & Weatherization home energy programs), renewable energy options (e.g. Solarize campaigns), home composting and recycling and reuse opportunities
• Cultivate a network of partnerships and collaboration within the region working on similar campaign goals throughout the region to achieve the Go Green goals
• Support Annual or special CET events (e.g. Household Hazardous Waste and building materials collections, renewable energy seminars, and Green Buildings Open House) by coordinating with vendors and partners, including CET staff, recruit and manage volunteers, advertise, solicit donations, and work within a budget as needed
Program Development, and Grant Reporting and Evaluation
• Assist in the development of outreach strategies and documentation of best practices
• Assist in communicating outreach results through telling the story of the people we guide to lasting impacts in a variety of mediums, e.g. digital content and written testimonials, to be used in our outreach efforts and in funder reports to demonstrate achievements
• Assist in the development of grants and proposals to provide funding for the programs of the Go Green Initiative as needed
Supervisory role for the EcoFellowship program:
• Supervise one or more EcoFellow(s), young professionals hired for one year of training, skill development and project implementation, supporting the development of their outreach skill set by providing them with opportunities to learn the role of community organizing
• Supervise one or more EcoFellow(s) daily work, guide and develop a work plan as appropriate, approve timesheets and other administrative tasks as needed
• Participate in the EcoFellow leadership group to review opportunities and challenges that arise during the program and develop best practices in mentoring these young professionals
Other duties: CET projects and workload vary and responsibilities will change when necessary. Some weekend and evening work will be required on a regular basis, but flexible work scheduling allows maintenance of work load and hours.
Qualifications
• College degree in related field
• Minimum of 3 years community organizing and/or outreach experience, including customer service and public education/speaking experience
• Minimum of 2 years of computer experience working in databases and Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of project implementation in one or more of the following areas:
o Residential energy efficiency and building science, and/or
o Residential solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems, and/or
o Residential and school based food composting and recycling
• Experience in public education with an innovative, hands-on and creative approach
• Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation
Preferred Qualifications:
• Excellent professional communication skills (written, phone, email, in-person) with the ability to convey information in a straight forward unbiased way and adept at helping implement incremental change
• Excellent computer skills with preference given to the use and knowledge of Salesforce
• Interest in interacting with various populations: residents, businesses, community volunteers, public officials, students, teachers, media
• Experience working with and supervising young staff, interns and volunteers
• Strong commitment to non-profit community mission of CET
• Work-style – flexible, self-directed, professional, hard-work ethic, patient, problem-solving, works well independently and as a part of a team
• Attention to detail, good problem solving skills and observational skills and results oriented
• Ability to accomplish tasks within timelines
• Maintain strict privacy of any confidential personnel, fiscal, customer and internal organizational information for which access is required in order to perform assigned duties.
How to Apply
Send cover letter and resume via email ([email protected]) to:
Amanda Bates, HR Assistant
Center for EcoTechnology
112 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
