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The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is seeking a Pennsylvania Engagement Coordinator in the Advocacy and Restoration Department to be based at the Harrisburg Office located in Harrisburg, PA.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

Established in 1966, 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 our education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration efforts, we work together toward our vision of a healthy and resilient Chesapeake Bay ecosystem where people, plants, and animals thrive together.

CBF has a staff of approximately 200 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.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

Advocacy and Restoration

Advocacy 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 leader

CONTEXT OF POSITION

The Pennsylvania Engagement Coordinator expands and mobilizes CBF’s advocacy network by cultivating diverse relationships in priority regions and activating supporters around clean water issues. As the Pennsylvania team’s lead external liaison, the Coordinator develops partnerships, designs engagement programs, and drives advocate action. Reporting to the PA Science Policy & Advocacy Director and working closely with the PA Policy Leadership Team, the Coordinator implements the Pennsylvania Office’s advocacy strategy. The role strengthens CBF’s influence by connecting members, partners, community leaders, and decision makers to advance clean water goals throughout Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay watershed

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Leverage, build, and strengthen relationships with individuals and community leaders to serve as validators, ambassadors, and advocates for clean water across Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay watershed.

• Engage and mobilize CBF members, advocates, volunteers, and constituents to support and amplify CBF’s legislative, regulatory, and policy priorities at the local, state, and federal levels through events, speaking opportunities, and grassroots activities.
• Proactively include existing advocates and cultivate new advocates in activities impacting priority issues in the Commonwealth.
• Coordinate, promote, and execute high-quality events in close collaboration with the PA Leadership Team, PA Watershed Resiliency Program, and other CBF departments that reinforce retention, visibility, and meaningful engagement among volunteers and advocates.

Develop and align community engagement strategies and actions for legislative and policy initiatives in coordination with the PA Policy Leadership Team, the federal team, the engagement team, and other department-wide teams.

• Build CBF’s roster of advocates in focused state and federal legislative districts and local jurisdictions and connect advocates and decision makers to the urgency of clean water issues.
• Educate and train citizen leaders and constituents on clean water and climate issues and inspire them to take action.
• Expand CBF’s advocacy activities by identifying, testing, and refining innovative, creative organizing and engagement methods and tools.
• Work in coordination with CBF’s Marketing and Communications team to develop written and electronic materials that synthesize technical information and activate, build, and empower people in the improvement of the health and resiliency of the Chesapeake Bay.
• Utilize CBF programs, software, and systems to track activities taken by volunteers, members, and advocates.

Represent CBF in partnerships and coalitions with environmental, community, civic, and educational organizations.

• Proactively cultivate new partnerships with watershed groups, conservation districts, community-based organizations, civic associations, non-traditional partners, industry stakeholders, and local leaders in priority geographies.
• Create clear pathways for partners and stakeholders to remain engaged through advocacy, stewardship, and restoration activities.
• Seek opportunities to develop relationships and partnerships to build and activate volunteers and advocates.
• Engage college-level advocates and cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders through campus partnerships, internships/fellowships, and mentorship.

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental studies, policy, political science, or a related field, with up to three years of relevant professional experience.
• Candidates who possess insight, lived experience, and skills for community organizing and volunteer management equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or intensive year-long field program, are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrate a history or ability to implement coordinated events and public action for the environment or related issues.
• Strong cultural competency and demonstrated experience engaging a wide range of communities is desired.
• Proven ability to build relationships, network and communicate with a diverse set of individuals and organizations will be critical to CBF’s engagement, advocacy and policy success
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and demonstrates CBF’s core values of being credible, connected, and courageous.