Environmental Justice Associate

The South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) is now accepting applications for an Environmental Justice Associate. SCELP was founded in 1987 to meet the critical need for specialized non-profit legal services for environmental protection and justice in South Carolina. As a non-profit public interest environmental law firm, we use our legal expertise to protect land, water and communities across South Carolina. SCELP has a main office in Georgetown and satellite offices in Columbia, Greenville and Mt. Pleasant. Applicants must be available to work in one of these offices.

Location: Charleston, Columbia or Greenville, SC

Description

Ever since its founding, SCELP has strived to create and enforce environmental protections by offering our legal expertise to those in need, giving them an effective voice and legal muscle in processes when they would otherwise be financially foreclosed or procedurally marginalized. There can be no lasting environmental protection without justice and equitable environmental outcomes. Environmental justice is the most systemic solution to complex problems like climate change, wildlife and habitat loss, and pollution.

SCELP is seeking a new team member to strengthen, expand and deepen our environmental justice operations by, among others, refining and guiding the services and assistance that SCELP can provide to underserved and overburdened communities, and engaging with relevant organizations and community leaders across the state. Candidates do not need to have any legal background and will gain an understanding of how SCELP uses legal advocacy tools through on-the-job learning.

The position will be responsible for coordinating SCELP’s existing casework, research, communications and outreach for our environmental justice operations, and for assisting the SCELP Board and leadership in building out new initiatives that help advance environmental justice in South Carolina as SCELP becomes a more inclusive workplace.

The position will report to the Senior Manager of Strategy and will have the opportunity to work closely with all staff across different offices on various SCELP cases and issues.

The goals and key responsibilities of this position include the following:

Program Development (40%)

• Review relevant cases and projects and develop an understanding of SCELP’s historic and ongoing environmental justice operations, in order to improve SCELP’s ability to represent environmental health concerns and advocate remedies for affected communities;
• Work with the executive team to develop strategies and new action plans for SCELP to counter environmental inequity;
• Map issues and communities, challenges and opportunities who are or should be on SCELP’s radar;
• Work with the legal team to help refine our skills, areas of expertise and the corresponding level of intervention that SCELP could be expected to provide to environmental justice communities.

Community Liaison (20%)

• Work with clients, consultants, communities, groups and organizations dealing with environmental justice issues in the state to facilitate delivery of SCELP services;
• Assist with planning and attending fairs, community events, conferences, coordinating scheduling, logistics and follow up with attendees, as needed.

Public Relations (20%)

• Coordinate with the Communications Team to better integrate environmental equity and justice in our communications and marketing plans, channels and messaging;
• Help plan and execute special PR campaigns to educate the media, elected officials and decision-makers about the critical role of environmental justice in dealing with the climate and other environmental crises;
• Contribute to press kit materials, including press releases, pitch letters, case studies, feature articles, and trend stories relating to SCELP’s environmental justice operations;

Strategic Insights, Monitoring and Evaluation (20%)

• Conduct research and attend trainings on relevant topics and emerging issues to ensure SCELP’s EJ strategies and actions remain relevant and effective;
• Contribute to SCELP’s evaluation, monitoring and metrics work and assist with Board, grant and other reporting as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

The Environmental Justice Associate should be current and knowledgeable about the history of environmental justice and some of the most relevant challenges for vulnerable and frontline communities in South Carolina. Specific requirements for this position include:

• Two or more years of professional experience;
• Experience working with value-driven organizations to fight oppression, racism and injustice, working across lines of race and class;
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking and planning skills;
• Experience in project management, case management and/or execution of PR campaigns;
• Good communicator, familiar with both traditional and digital media;
• Demonstrated commitment to SCELP’s mission and environmental protection;
• Availability to work evenings, especially for public hearing or community meetings and the occasional weekend, and to travel across the state;
• Must be flexible, proactive, very well organized, and able to prioritize and work efficiently under deadlines;
• Good sense of humor.