Protect communities from toxics

Forty-five years after Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, chemical companies, oil companies and other powerful interests are still endangering our environment with toxic substances.  Polluters continue to pump billions of pounds of toxic chemicals into our air, land, and water each year, many of which can cause cancer and other severe health effects. Chemicals sprayed on laptops and mattresses are now found in orcas and peregrine falcons. Mercury contaminates fish across the nation.  And scientists are finding these same toxins in our bodies.

To guide us toward a toxic-free future, Environment America advocates switching our economy to safer alternatives, phasing out toxics that accumulate in wildlife and in our bodies, ensuring our right to know about current toxic hazards, and making polluters pay to clean up the toxic legacies of the past.

Job Description

The Environment America Toxics Advocate will develop campaigns to improve environmental quality and health by reducing or eliminating the manufacture, use, release and disposal of toxic chemicals.  Current campaigns include advocating for policies that would require chemical companies to replace dangerous chemicals with safer alternatives and working to ensure that polluters pay to clean up toxic pollution. Specific job responsibilities include:

• Policy development: Develop our approach to toxic problems within a broader political context, and develop a comprehensive platform for solving them. Write comprehensive reports, fact sheets and white papers for release to decision-makers, the media and the public.
• Advocacy: Bring problems and solutions to the attention of decision-makers and build support for campaigns in Congress and administrative agencies.
• Campaign Strategy: Create the plans to win on our toxics campaigns; strategize how to gain political support for our agenda through coalition-building, grassroots organizing, media publicity, endorsements and message development.
• Media Outreach: Serve as the public spokesperson for our toxics campaigns through media events, press releases, editorial board meetings and other media tactics.
• Organization Building: Write grant proposals, impress foundations with an environmental mission to support our work, and meet with large donors, all to bring more resources to our efforts to protect the environment. Recruit new staff and volunteers to increase our impact on all our issues.

Qualifications

Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to environmental issues and a track-record of leadership and academic excellence.  We're looking for a goal-driven and results-oriented individual who has excellent verbal, writing and analytical skills, the ability to debate and speak persuasively in a charged atmosphere, and enthusiasm for the work. Candidates should have at least 3 to 8 years of relevant professional experience, post-college. Experience in political, legal, journalistic, activist or nonprofit settings preferred.

Salary and Benefits 

Salary for this position is commensurate with a candidate’s relevant professional experience and/or advanced degrees.  A competitive benefits package includes health care coverage, educational loan assistance, a retirement plan, and paid vacation and sick days.  Opportunities for advancement, travel, and additional training are available.

Location

Washington, D.C.

To Apply

Apply online (preferred) or send a compelling cover letter and resume Christy Leavitt at careers@environmentamerica.org.  Please specify which position you are applying for in the subject line of the e-mail, and be sure to mention where you saw our job advertised.

Environment America is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status.