Energy Justice Policy Fellow

Description

The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) is on the hunt for a strategic, visionary, community and policy-oriented advocate who’s passionate about justice and equity to be our Energy Justice Policy Fellow. This is a 2-year position, with potential for an extension.

This will be a hybrid-remote role with about 25% in-state travel expected to communities in East and West Michigan and to the capital in Lansing. Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license are required, but MEJC will reimburse mileage.

What you’ll do

As our Energy Justice Policy Fellow, you’ll provide policy support and analysis while receiving training, mentoring, and coaching opportunities through programming aimed at developing expertise in equitable climate and clean energy policy and leadership. Day to day you’ll:

• Coordinate, facilitate, and collaborate with MEJC’s state-wide Energy Justice coalition partners to advance successful campaigns
• Establish relationships with elected officials, local leaders, and policy advocates at the national, state, and local levels to bring attention to equitable climate and clean energy policy
• Evaluate new and existing policies and issue areas associated with climate justice and energy equity that MEJC may want to consider pursuing that seek to root out environmental racism
• Writing draft comments and testimony, policy memos, drafting public communications pieces, attending meetings or hearings, etc.
• Research and develop an understanding of climate justice policy best practices and standards, clean energy opportunities, funding availability, and related policy in Michigan
• Track the local and state policy landscape with regard to climate and clean energy
• Facilitate meetings with community, government, and business leaders to drive advocacy forward
• Support the development of toolkits, presentations, case studies, and other collateral to help allies and partners in advancing policy efforts
• Synthesize priorities of coalition, cohort, and community members to create, uplift, or advance legislation and policy that furthers energy justice.

What you need to thrive in this role

• The candidate knows how to work collaboratively, create authentic partnerships with groups representing diverse communities, and is committed to deepening their expertise on equitable energy and climate policy
• Lived experience with frontline communities; this includes Black, Indigenous, and POC communities, and low-income and working-class communities
• Demonstrated commitments to racial, social, environmental justice
• Demonstrated capacity for a solid policy or legal analysis, both written and verbal, as well as formal and informal mediums
• Demonstrated understanding and role of community organizing and participatory processes in policy setting and public policy advocacy
• Deep commitment to grassroots power-building and policy development
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage relationships with colleagues as well as external partners and stakeholders
• Driver’s license and reliable transportation for periodic travel requirements

About us

The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) is a statewide coalition working to achieve a clean, healthy, and safe environment for Michigan’s most vulnerable residents. We focus on the Jemez and EJ Principles through popular education, grassroots policy advocacy, and organizing our communities for systems change. MEJC convened in 2011 to grow the Environmental Justice movement in Michigan. We lead campaigns to fight for Energy Justice and Clean Air as well as engage in federal and state policy. MEJC hopes to define an ambitious Environmental Justice agenda for Michigan that centers Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities and is free of fossil fuels and false solutions.

What we offer you

• Salary: $55,000 – $65,000
• Medical, dental, and vision (Individual coverage is 100% paid for by MEJC)
• 401k with employer match
• Disability insurance options
• Generous PTO including parental leave
• Professional development
• Community involvement

I’m interested. How do I get started?

To apply: https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=oU5zwfwO&s=myHRpartner

Is this the job for you?
If not, feel free to share this link with someone who might be interested.

Our hiring management partner is myHR Partner. myHR Partner is not a staffing service or recruiter. All resumes/applications will be reviewed for this position and only for our organization. Thank you for considering us as a potential employer!

At MEJC, we continually celebrate the diverse community different individuals cultivate. As an equal-opportunity employer, we stay true to that by ensuring that our place can be anyone’s place.