Environmental Justice Coordinator

Who We Are

COPAL, Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action, is a member-based organization established in 2018 to improve the quality of life of Latine families. Grounded in the Principles of Jemez, COPAL is committed to continue building meaningful relationships that transcend both identity and geographical boundaries. COPAL envisions a Minnesota where everyone lives with dignity and respect.

Why You'll Love Working Here

Our greatest asset is the dedication and commitment of our board, staff, members, and interns, as well as our valued volunteers, partners, coalition members, and leaders of the Latine community. With a clear mission and vision of a better future for all, we can mobilize people to bring about transformation and lead social, political, and economic change.

Wages

$29.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), plus eight paid holidays per year and two floating holidays; competitive health plan with BlueCross, BlueShield of MN, dental, and vision insurance offerings: Health Savings Account (HSA). There is employer paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employees. The employer pays for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and short- and long-term disability insurance. COPAL sponsors a retirement plan with 6% employer contribution after 90 days of service and immediate vesting.

Schedule

This is a hybrid position that works during normal business hours and may include evening and/or weekend hours. This position also requires travel to and from community settings, as well as shelters and the homes of program participants and their families

A Typical Day in the Life...

A typical day as COPAL's Environmental Justice Coordinator provides an opportunity to lead and support COPAL's environmental justice initiatives through strategic coordination, community engagement, education, policy advocacy, and coalition work in coordination with the environmental justice team. Responsibilities will include the following:

• Working with leadership to develop and implement long-term strategic plans for COPAL's environmental justice initiatives that reflect COPAL's core constituency concerns and organizational goals.
• Advocating for policies that promote environmental justice and sustainability.
• Coordinating and representing COPAL in local, state, and national coalitions.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with local community organizations, educational institutions, advocacy groups, policymakers, legislators, regulatory agencies, and local leaders to support efforts aimed at achieving environmental justice goals.
• Coordinating initiatives on COPAL's core areas of work, including cumulative pollution impacts, forced climate migration, green jobs, and a just energy transition.
• Staying informed about emerging trends and opportunities for collaboration.
• Developing and delivering training programs for COPAL staff, community members, and partner organizations on environmental justice topics.
• Participating in regional environmental justice networks to connect issues of climate change, forced migration, and the impacts of U.S. policies, corporations, and local governments to generate systemic change.
• Monitoring and participating in public hearings and legislative processes.
• Conducting research and policy/data analysis related to pollution, climate change, and community health, and using research to support advocacy and amplify efforts with partner organizations.
• Preparing regular reports and contributing to grant writing on the effectiveness of programs.
• Acting as a liaison between COPAL, regulatory agencies, and the community to facilitate meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
• Participating in fundraising activities, including site visits with funders and phone banking to members and donors.

Who You Are

• You hold a degree in environmental studies, public policy, sociology, or a related field, or you possess equivalent experience.
• You have a minimum of two years of experience in community engagement, organizing, or grassroots advocacy.
• You demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental justice and social equity.
• You demonstrate an understanding of environmental justice principles, concepts, and issues.
• You speak both English and Spanish fluently.
• You are able to work independently, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• You demonstrate strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex data and research.
• You demonstrate skills in conflict management.
• You are competent in MS Office applications, including Word, Access, Publisher, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• You possess strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• You have the ability to maintain good working relationships with all co-workers and the public.
• You are able to travel to events and other COPAL offices and strategic locations in Minnesota such as Mankato, Rochester, Austin, and Saint Cloud.
• You are open to traveling to other states and outside of the United States as needed.
• You have a valid driver's license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet COPAL's driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit (not applicable for new hires living out of state).

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of COPAL. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.