Tribal Community Resource and Engagement Specialist —

Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy

Remote role - ideally candidate located in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota or South Dakota

To apply, fill out the form at

https://tribalcleanenergy.libwizard.com/f/employment-app-CRES

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2024. WE MAY INTERVIEW AND HIRE PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE.

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary focus of the Community Resource and Engagement Specialist (CRES) is planning, delivering, coordinating, and evaluating technical assistance programs that build the capacity of Tribal communities to address environmental and energy justice priorities. This position is one of a team of five full-time, community-facing staff central to the mission of the Mountains and Plains Thriving Communities Collaborative (MaPTCC). This full-time, term-limited position is funded by a 5-year cooperative agreement between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Montana State University (MSU), administered by the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy (ATCE).

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy is an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit capacity-building organization supporting the self-determined efforts of Native American tribes to access and deploy federal and other funding streams to build and transition to regenerative clean energy systems as a means to mitigate climate change, diminish poverty, and create thriving economies while protecting Mother Earth for future generations. 

Founded in 2016 by a woman of Native American and European descent, the Alliance is focused on empowering underrepresented talent across all identities. The Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a diverse team of amazing Native and non-Native human beings who actively work to create an inclusive environment where all our employees can thrive in an environment free from judgment and harassment. An equal-opportunity employer, the Alliance consists of a diverse team committed to mitigating bias and lifting barriers. We recognize that diverse experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds enable us to be a stronger company and workplace. Not only will you be welcome here, but your unique thoughts and opinions will be encouraged, celebrated, and deeply valued.                                                                                                                                                        

Our team values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages Indigenous women, people of color, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

General Statement about scope of work

Mountains and Plains Thriving Communities Collaborative (MaPTCC) is one of 17 EPA-funded Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC) around the US. Together, the centers will receive a total of $177 million to help underserved and overburdened communities across the country access federal funds dedicated to advancing environmental justice.

MaPTCC’s primary objective is to deliver effective, locally informed technical assistance to increase the capacity of entities committed to energy and environmental justice in EPA’s Region 8 to successfully identify, apply for, win, and manage grants, secure private funding, and build coalitions to amplify their collective power. To accomplish this objective, the program involves collaborations among multiple universities and non-profit organizations structured in a hub-and-spoke model in which MSU serves as the administrative lead and main point of contact with the EPA. 

One of these partnering organizations is the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy (ATCE), which offers Tribes no-cost capacity-building support.

Under the direction of ATCE, the Community Resource Engagement Specialist (CRES) will provide or secure technical assistance to boost the capacity of Tribes and Tribal organizations in EPA’s Region 8. 

The primary focus of this position is recruitment for, delivery of, and support for technical assistance and capacity-building programming in Tribes and Tribal organizations within Region 8. After undergoing rigorous training about MaPTCC’s offerings and ATCE’s approach, the specialist will travel throughout the Region to implement a train-the-trainer model to enhance and expand the abilities of local community navigators. A key role of this position is to provide mentorship, ongoing skill-building, resource referrals, and facilitation services for community navigators, offering the equivalent of 400 hours of in-person training, workshops, and meetings each year of the project, with locations moving throughout the region to accommodate different Tribal communities. This position will coordinate in-person trainings, workshops, and events that respond to the energy and environmental justice needs and priorities of Tribal governments and community-based organizations.

As such, we seek a candidate who possesses the ability to adapt, deliver, and evaluate technical capacity programming in grants and project management as well as general organizational and community development. This person will interact closely with four other peer positions in the TCTAC and also with peers in other regional and national TCTAC programs. This position reports to ATCE’s leadership team and has access to formal mentoring from multiple project staff. ATCE values diverse perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting, and building an inclusive and culturally diverse environment. Individuals with lived experience that directly informs their understanding of environmental and energy justice challenges are especially encouraged to apply. 

The Community Resource Engagement Specialist will:

1. Establish relationships and build program awareness among the Tribes and Tribal organizations within Region 8 that will build capacity for effective engagement with governmental officials at all levels to ensure Tribal perspectives, experiences, and expertise inform the development of policies and programs, as well as delivery on environmental and energy justice issues.
2. Deliver technical assistance programming for a range of program participants that builds their grantsmanship, project management, financial planning, sustainability, social, civic, economic, and leadership capacities. 
3. Connect Tribes and Tribal organizations with TCTAC volunteers for community-driven projects, including problem-solving meetings, research and reporting, and comprehensive, actionable emails. 
4. Track work in project databases and collect data and feedback to help monitor and evaluate outcome-based programs. 
5. Connect communities with additional technical, grant, legal, and scientific resources such as decision-makers within government, advocacy, and academia; federal and foundation grants; and pro bono legal support. 
6. Schedule meetings for communities and potential experts and organizations. 
7. Produce webinars, trainings, templates (including grant templates), and other capacity-building tools so that additional communities can benefit from TCTAC programming
8. Broadly share findings formally and informally.
9. Provide stipends, travel support, and subsistence to enable Native Americans, whether or not they are enrolled members of a Tribe, to participate in workshops, events, and facilitated meetings. 

QUALIFICATIONS

‭Ideal candidates will have experience, education, knowledge, and skills:‬

• Should possess and demonstrate knowledge of and cultural competence in‬
  ‭ traditions and cultures of the Native nations within Region 8.‬
• Evidence of deep engagement or collaboration in partnership with Tribal and Native‬
  ‭ rural and urban communities.‬
• Demonstrate a commitment to supporting programming on Native American issues.‬
• A strong administrative acumen.‬
• Excellent verbal and written communication, presentation, and public speaking skills‬
• Record of high-quality independent and leadership experiences.‬
• Experience in community development, community economics, business, public‬
  ‭ policy, planning and/or administration, social or environmental justice, or a closely‬
  ‭ related field.‬
•  Developing, delivering, and evaluating educational programs.‬
• Be technologically- and media-savvy in ways that ensure the ability to connect with‬
  ‭ program participants and complete required job duties.‬
• Technical writing, grant and project management, preferably including those‬
  ‭ involving federal agencies.‬
• Knowledge of and commitment to Tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, governance, and‬ law.‬

The successful candidate will:‬

• Demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to the environmental justice and/or‬
  ‭ energy justice priorities of EPA Region 8’s rural, remote, Tribal, and other‬ underserved communities and eagerly anticipate regular and ongoing travel to these‬
  geographies.‬
• Be familiar with differing multicultural, socioeconomic, and underserved audiences,‬
  ‭ particularly Tribal nations and organizations.‬
• Have an interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds and be commited‬
  ‭ to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.‬
• Demonstrate excellent professional, interpersonal, and written communication skills‬
  ‭ and overall excellence in all aspects of their work.‬
• Work collaboratively with tribal leaders, tribal members, and TCTAC colleagues, and‬ ATCE team members.‬
  ‭ 

Required Application Materials‬

• Cover letter detailing qualifications for this position, highlighting experience working‬
  ‭ with and/or within tribal communities and experience working as part of a project‬
  ‭ team.‬
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.‬
• Name and contact information for three professional references.‬
  ‭

Salary‬‭ — starting at $65,000 annually with opportunities‬‭ for advancement during the 5-year‬
‭ program period. Highly competitive benefits package including 100% employer-paid Health,‬
‭ Dental, Vision Insurance, 401K with 4% employer contribution, Life and Disability Insurance,‬
‭ three weeks paid leave, and more.‬

Location‬‭ — 100% Remote‬

Travel‬‭ — 50% anticipated‬

To apply, fill out the form at‬ https://tribalcleanenergy.libwizard.com/f/employment-app-CRES‬

Questions, email deirdre@tribalcleanenergy.org‬