Maryland Engagement Coordinator

Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Annapolis, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36-hour work week

20 vacation days

10 sick days

2 floating holidays

Health, vision, dental, life insurance

403(b) retirement plan with matching

Job summary

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Maryland Engagement Coordinator in the Advocacy and Restoration Department to be based in Annapolis, Maryland. This is a full-time role focused on expanding CBF's advocacy network and engaging diverse communities to protect the Chesapeake Bay.

You will design and execute engagement programs, train citizen leaders, and collaborate with policy teams to advance clean water goals across Maryland.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related fields and up to three years of relevant experience.
• Candidates with insight, lived experience, and skills for community organizing and volunteer management are encouraged to apply.
• Experience planning and executing coordinated events for environmental issues is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage and mobilize members, advocates, volunteers, and constituents across Maryland to support priority policy issues.
• Proactively include existing advocates and cultivate new advocates in activities impacting priority issues in Maryland.
• Coordinate, promote, and execute high-quality events with the MD policy team and staff to reinforce engagement.
• Develop and align community engagement strategies for legislative initiatives in coordination with MD policy team and other groups.
• Build CBF's roster of advocates and connect advocates to decision makers about clean water issues.
• Educate and train citizen leaders on clean water and climate issues and inspire action.
• Expand advocacy activities by testing innovative organizing methods and tools.
• Collaborate with Marketing to create materials that explain technical information to volunteers.
• Represent CBF in partnerships and coalitions with environmental and educational groups.
• Cultivate new partnerships with watershed groups and local leaders in priority geographies.
• Create pathways for partners to stay engaged through advocacy and restoration activities.
• Engage college-level advocates through campus partnerships and mentorship.
• Understand and communicate the urgency of clean water issues to diverse communities.

Skills

Community organizing

Volunteer management

Event coordination

Public speaking

Relationship building

Advocacy

Policy communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related fields

Job description

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Maryland Engagement Coordinator in the Advocacy and Restoration Department to be based in Annapolis, Maryland.

Mike B Photography

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Maryland Engagement Coordinator in the Advocacy and Restoration Department to be based in Annapolis, Maryland.

About 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.

CBF has 200,000 members and supporters and an annual budget of approximately $30 million. For more information on CBF, please visit ourAbout CBF page.

About the Hiring Department

Advocacy and Restoration

CBF's 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 leaders.

Context of the Position

The Maryland Engagement Coordinator expands and mobilizes CBF's advocacy network by cultivating diverse relationships and activating supporters around clean water issues. The Coordinator develops partnerships, designs and executes effective engagement programs, and drives advocate action. Reporting to the MD Director of Advocacy and working closely with the Maryland policy team, the Coordinator implements the Maryland 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 Maryland.

Essential Functions

Leverage, build, and strengthen relationships with individuals and community leaders to serve as validators, ambassadors, and advocates for clean water across Maryland.

• 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 Maryland.
• Coordinate, promote, and execute high-quality events in close collaboration with the Maryland policy team, MD program staff, 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 MD policy team, the engagement team, and other organization- and department-wide teams.

• Build CBF's roster of advocates 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 of 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.

Professional Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science or studies, policy, political science, or related fields and up to three years of relevant 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
• Cultural competency and demonstrated experience engaging a wide range of communities is desired
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and demonstrate CBF's core values of being credible, connected, and courageous
• 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
• Ability to be a public facing member of CBF's team and be a key contributor to successful advocacy and outreach efforts

Salary Range: $60,000 - $62,000 per year

CBF offers a 36-hour work week and for full-time staff, a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan with matching contribution. Learn more aboutCBF Benefits .

We Are Committed to Saving the Bay and We Need You!

Bringing together the most qualified employees with diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, perspectives, and beliefs is the key to saving the Bay. We know that talented professionals can come from anywhere and everywhere. We are proud to have created an award-winning organization where they have the opportunity to thrive while joining us in our work to achieve clean water, clean air, and a safe environment-rights that we all share.

Wondering whether you have the right credentials or background to apply? We value lived experience, are serious about embracing diversity, and are committed to building a team that represents our communities' backgrounds. That means we want people just like you!

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.