Ports and Community Engagement Assistant-Remote

Who We Are: 

Friends of the Earth (FOE) is a national not for profit environmental organization driven by passion for a healthier and more just world. We push for the bold reforms that are needed. It’s an approach that has worked for five decades to produce important victories that help protect our planet and its people. We’re part of Friends of the Earth International, a federation of groups working in more than 70 countries on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues.   

To accomplish our mission, Friends of the Earth is working at the nexus of environmental protection, economic policy and social justice to fundamentally transform the way our country and the world value people and the environment. Our current campaigns focus on promoting clean energy and solutions to climate change, ensuring the food we eat and products we use are sustainable and safe for our health and the environment, and protecting marine ecosystems and the people who live and work near them. This work is carried out by our team of staff in our Oakland, California and Washington, D.C. offices.

The Oceans and Vessels team is seeking a Ports and Community Engagement Assistant to support the advancement of Environmental Justice within port-side communities. This temporary role will involve collaborating with local partners in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Northwest, and Gulf Coast regions to enhance local recruitment, engagement efforts, and educational programs about the environmental impacts of maritime shipping, port operations, and workforce development opportunities.

What We Look For: The Oceans and Vessels team seeks a candidate passionate about environmental justice and able to work closely with port-side communities. Are you able to advocate for greener port operations?  Do you have the desire to partner with local, state, and federal entities to support engagement efforts focused on greening ports? Are you willing to assist with the planning and executing local campaign actions to address ports and environmental justice issues? Do you have the skills to provide technical assistance, including port-related training, workforce development support, and promoting local employment opportunities?  

Does this sound like you? If so, then this temporary position is for you. This is a paid, part-time temporary position, requiring 15-20 hours of work per week, at the rate of $20-$25/hour. The length of the temporary position is 6-9 months. Occasionally, the role will necessitate weekend work and travel. During travel weeks, working hours may exceed 20 hours. The temporary employee(s) may work up to 8 hours daily, including potential weekends and overtime.

Who You Are:

Supportive Collaborator: Follow up with community-based collaborators and confirm logistical details for virtual engagements; support outreach and scheduling of meetings with port advisory councils, government, and non-profit program partners throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Northwest Regions, and along the Gulf Coast; take detailed meeting notes, conduct research on Port and Environmental Justice-related policies, and support outreach with student, community-based health, and environmental groups.

Strong Researcher: Assist with grant research and mapping based on local efforts and needs of community-based organizations representing port-side communities; research emerging technology efforts at ports across the USA, including electrification and alternative green fuel options; and support the research and assessment of Generative AI technology to shape an ethical AI future. Assist the Sr. Ports and Freights Campaigner with providing Technical Assistance (TA) to our community-based partners, including non-grantees. Technical Assistance includes training related to the electrification of Ports, climate action plans, the impacts of pollution from Port operations, grant research, grant mapping, and grant writing support.

Detail Oriented: Regularly update the existing Ports and Environmental Justice Engagement database and file system for our campaigns throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Northwest Regions and along the Gulf Coast. Confirm the logistical details related to the planning and execution of in-person engagements. Gather and track data from Port and Environmental Justice tours hosted by FoE. Serve as a Production Assistant for film & podcast projects and at conferences, workshops, seminars, or interviews that feature the Senior Ports Campaigner.

Effective Communicator: Assist the Senior Ports and Freight Campaigner to organize and coordinate local support for state and federal policy-based work that helps improve laws and regulations by engaging legislators, stakeholders, and policymakers on the following campaigns: Clean Shipping Act, the IMPA Act, Barragan's ZE shipping bill, and other federal campaigns that use the existing Clean Air Act authority, to establish a goal-based fuel standard for ships calling on U.S. Ports.

Required Qualifications: 

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Education and/or experience with public health, environmental studies, non-profit or community-based work.
• Community organizing and engagement experience with or in overburdened communities.
• Must live on the East Coast, Gulf Coast or Mid-Atlantic regions.
• Familiarity in using Teams/Zoom/Google Meets, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google and Microsoft Documents, and other basic Microsoft programs.
• A highly motivated, quick learner who can take initiative, effectively engage in collaborative work, and work independently.
• Travel to conferences, in-service training opportunities, and events or meetings related to local and federal campaign efforts within the Gulf Coast, Southeast, Northwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Portside communities, as needed.
• All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. FOE does not sponsor any employment-related visas.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Post secondary education experience or recent college graduate or graduate school student.
• A resident of a Portside or Environmental Justice community.
• A background in social or environmental issues, racial justice, climate justice, or public policy.

 Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from women, people of color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of our staff.  In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.