The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) is hiring a Network Director for its
Community Investment Recovery Center (CIRC).
About Us
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change through research, education, community and student engagement for policy change, and health and safety training for environmental careers.
Community Investment & Recovery Center (CIRC)
Drawing on more than 30 years of advancing environmental justice through its Communiversity Model and recent Accelerating Justice40 project, DSCEJ has launched a Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) to build the capacity of organizations and communities in EPA Regions 4 & 6 to secure federal infrastructure funding. Over the course of five years, the Community Investment Recovery Center (CIRC) will engage 250 organizations and tribal communities to apply for federal grants, totaling $50-100 million. Learn more at dscej.org/circ.
Position Summary
The CIRC Network Director is responsible for providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and tactical implementation of outreach, recruitment, engagement, and communications for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) within the CIRC network. This includes leading communications efforts, such as newsletter oversight and website promotion, to ensure consistent and timely engagement with the CBO network.
The CIRC Network Director will report to the CIRC Deputy Program Director and DSCEJ’s Executive Director. This role will work closely with DSCEJ Leadership, CIRC senior leaders, and their team of direct reports—including a CBO Capacity Manager, a CBO Coordinator, Navigators, contractors, and consultants—to ensure that CBOs successfully develop their capacity to secure vital federal grants. This role also involves partnering with the Training Institute, Thriving Community Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC), and external stakeholders to enhance knowledge-sharing and CBO engagement. This is a full time, remote position with a fixed schedule.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight
● Define and lead the Network Core Day-to-day objectives, setting and meeting programmatic and operational goals.
● Lead the engagement of a diverse group of CBOs across the network, addressing unique environmental community issues and advancing the CBO Journey Experience.
● Manage the development of a long-term strategic plan for the Network core, driving success and continuous improvement within the CIRC program.
CBO Engagement and Capacity Building
● Lead ongoing assessments of CBO needs to identify resources and technical assistance required to address these needs.
● Collaborate with the Training Institute and other CIRC departments to develop tailored capacity-building support for CBOs, mainly focusing on increasing engagement through CIRC learning platforms such as the Resource Library.
● Work with CBOs to identify barriers to participation, co-construct the intake process, and adapt the CIRC training and support accordingly.
● Promote the participation of CBOs within CIRC’s learning platforms, increasing capacity to secure federal grants.
● Serve as a Communiversity Educator, facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building through CIRC, specifically by helping communities identify issues and prioritize needed change.
Communications Oversight and Coordination
● In partnership with the Communications Director, oversee the development, distribution, and quality control of all CIRC communications, including newsletters, reports, and other external-facing materials, ensuring that messaging aligns with CIRC’s core objectives and brand standards.
● Lead the editorial direction for newsletters, providing guidance to ensure relevant and engaging content highlighting network successes and promoting CBO participation.
● Collaborate with the communications team to create and maintain up-to-date website content that effectively promotes the CIRC program and its activities.
● Coordinate with media outlets for press releases or media inquiries, ensuring alignment with DSCEJ’s broader communications strategy
Rapid Response Problem-Solving
● Lead rapid response efforts to address urgent challenges or time-sensitive needs from CBOs. This includes developing real-time troubleshooting protocols and swift decision-making processes to minimize disruption and ensure operational continuity.
● Establish a system for quickly assessing and responding to emergent issues, leveraging cross-functional teams as needed to deliver immediate solutions.
Project Management and Staff Supervision
● Oversee and co-create weekly CIRC leadership meeting agendas with the Training Institute to ensure productive sessions.
● Manage staff and consultants by providing supervision, work plan development, and team evaluation for the CBO Capacity Manager and Navigators.
● Lead project planning, ensuring initiatives are completed on time, within budget, and of high quality.
● Proactively develop and execute the CBO engagement protocol, prioritizing support according to the needs of the network
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Develop long-term strategy and work plans for the Network core including but not limited to personnel, capacity building, and CBO servicing.
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● Collaborate with the evaluation team to assess the impact of the CIRC program and make data-driven improvements.
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● Monitor the CBO journey experience, ensuring that engagement strategies align with CIRC’s objectives and provide value to CBOs.
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● Evaluate the effectiveness of the CIRC network strategy to drive process improvements and increase efficiency.
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● Proactively monitor potential risks or challenges and deploy rapid response strategies to mitigate issues before they escalate. Ensure flexibility and adaptability in the program’s operations to meet the dynamic needs of CBOs and stakeholders.
Communications and Reporting
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Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
Work closely with the communications team to document project activities, developments, and success stories for dissemination.
Develop programmatic, data-driven narratives and financial reports quarterly and annually. Ensure timely and accurate reporting to DSCEJ leadership and funders, providing insights into progress, challenges, and plans.
Additional Duties
● Serve as a Salesforce superuser, maintaining relevant data and ensuring smooth project management.
● Provide staff mentorship, particularly the Capacity Manager, supporting growth and leadership development.
● Take initiative in executing tasks independently and work with limited and impartial information to make sound judgment calls.
Note: This job description is intended to be generic and describe the job's essential functions. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The primary duties, functions, obligations, and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Qualifications & Requirements
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● Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of professional experience
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● Minimum of 7 to 10 years of related experience
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● Grassroots experience in community engagement, particularly in underserved communities
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● Minimum of 2 years of experience working in collaboration with an underserved community,
governmental program, social justice campaign, or public policy initiative involving
environmental justice
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● Experience in successfully designing, supporting, and leading teams in cross-functional
processes and change management
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● Proven track record of team management and mentorship experience, with a demonstrated
ability to do so both in person and virtually
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● Strong understanding of training programs and technical assistance delivery
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● Advanced proficiency in Salesforce or similar platforms
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● Experience in environmental justice or related fields (strongly preferred)
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● Knowledge of federal grant processes and experience supporting organizations in securing
funding (strongly preferred)
Skills & Competencies
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● Ability to be a proactive leader, making data-informed decisions and driving initiatives forward
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● Familiarity with policy awareness or ability to quickly learn the policy landscape related to
CIRC’s focus areas
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● Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and communication skills
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● Ability to write and edit documents and internal/external communications using online
platforms (e.g., Google Workspace)
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● Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail and
deadlines
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● Demonstrated competence in organizational processes and practices
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● Intermediate computer literacy skills
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● Strong analytical skills
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● Ability to manage budgets
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● Professional and robust personal ethics
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● Experience in a remote work environment
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● Ability to lead strategic planning efforts and monitor programmatic impact (strongly preferred)
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● A record of practice in community capacity-building (strongly preferred).
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
● This is an remote role with a fixed schedule
o Schedule: Monday - Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM CT
o Flexibility in schedule to offset work outside of regular business hours (as needed) o Availability to work weekends and evenings to represent DSCEJ (as needed)
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● Candidates must be based in the United States. Please note that DSCEJ is not able to provide sponsorship for employment visas.
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● Must have dependable internet access and cell phone with reliable service
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● Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
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● Must be able to access and navigate the office
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● Some stooping, lifting, or carrying objects (up to 15 pounds) may be required
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● Must be willing and able to travel as needed to meet with CBOs, CIRC convenings, etc.
Salary & Benefits
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● Salary range: $80K - $90K per year (commensurate with qualifications and experience)
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● Medical: Health, Dental Vision
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● Retirement: 401k with up to a 2% annual salary contribution on staff accounts
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● Paid Life and AD&D