Position Description

Join a diverse, fun team passionate about creating healthier and more just communities as Faith in Place’s Northern Illinois Outreach Coordinator. The Northern Illinois Outreach Coordinator will join the Outreach Department made up of regional staff working locally across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin and will report to Faith in Place's Outreach Director. This role will focus on establishing and maintaining relationships with Green Teams (small groups of people at Houses of Worship) and mobilizing those Green Teams to action by participating in our 5 program areas: Energy & Climate Change, Youth Empowerment, Water Preservation, Advocacy, and Sustainable Food & Land Use in Northern Illinois.

Responsibilities

• Coach existing Green Teams providing regular support and connection to resources
• Grow Faith in Place’s network in Northern Illinois by cultivating relationships with other organizations, Houses of Worship, and community leaders
• Host educational events and workshops to educate people on topics in Faith in Place’s 5 program areas
• Run Faith in Place’s Youth Empowerment Program for Northern Illinois youth each summer and lead, as requested, monthly site visits for the academic program year
• Complete outreach deliverables for grants applicable to Northern Illinois, or as assigned
• Complete regular reporting on events, outreach, expenses, and time tracking

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Located in (or willing to relocate to) Waukegan, IL
• Passion for environmental issues and economic/social justice
• Exceptional verbal communication skills – comfort in speaking to large groups, facilitating small group discussions, and excelling at one-on-one interactions
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, religious, and political beliefs
• Strong organizational ability and experience in meeting established goals before designated deadlines
• Familiarity with standard business computer applications
• Ability and willingness to motivate individuals to take action regarding Earth care–prior experience in sales, organizing, or faith community life is a plus
• Access to reliable transportation and a cell phone
• Up to date on Covid-19 Vaccinations or willing to be up to date by the hire date

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or 2-3 years of work experience
• At least 2 years of experience in community organizing
• Bilingual in Spanish
• Strong written communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in effectively leading and collaborating with volunteers–management or supervisory experience

Hours

This is a full-time Exempt position. While most work is done during a standard workday, outreach opportunities occur on the evenings and weekends. For any time worked outside regular work hours, comp time will be provided.

About the Organization’s Mission

Faith in Place is a multifaith, environmental nonprofit (501c3) organization with outreach staff working throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Faith in Place’s mission is to empower people of diverse faith and spiritualities to be leaders in advancing environmental and racial justice, providing resources to educate, connect, and advocate for healthier communities. Faith in Place partners with communities of faith from diverse religious traditions as well as people who identify as spiritual or motivated by justice but don't identify with a specific faith tradition.

Faith in Place organizes faith leaders, groups, and members to advance our mission by starting and coaching Green Teams. Green Teams are three or more members of a house of worship who provide cooperative leadership to educate, connect, and advocate for environmental and racial justice within the context of their community’s unique culture, history, and theological practices.

All Faith in Place staff also contribute part of their working hours to the Faith in Place Action Fund, a separate 501c4 nonprofit organization. The Faith in Place Action Fund raises memberships and motivates lobbying for environmental justice. The Faith in Place Action Fund uses several tools to hold candidates and elected officials accountable to create more environmental justice jobs throughout the Midwest. These tools include grassroots lobbying, legislator scorecards, questionnaires, interviews, and candidate endorsements.

About the Organization’s Staff Culture

The Faith in Place team works together to create a culture that is focused on growth, collaboration, healing, and justice. We value a diversity of voices and perspectives and the staff team participates in Diversity and Equity training, Healing Circles, Case Studies, and more to learn from one another and professional teachers about the roots of injustice and how we can work together to create collaborative and healthier work culture.

Benefits

A comprehensive benefits package is offered to full-time employees of Faith in Place. These benefits, with some employee contributions, include medical, dental, vision, life, and short-term and long-term disability insurance, and employer-matched SIMPLE IRA plan, which begins the first of the month following employment, and a stipend to support professional development. Up to twenty (20) paid vacation days, two (2) paid personal days, and two (2) paid sick days will begin after six (6) months of employment. Monthly cell phone and internet stipends are provided along with a $500 one-time payment to help with home office needs.

Anti‐Discrimination Policy

Faith in Place is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, national origin, religion, caste, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values at Faith in Place and in the Outreach Department. Because we believe that the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities must be centered in the work of our intersectional environmentalism, we strongly encourage applications from these identities. We acknowledge that we must do better to represent the diverse communities that we exist to uplift and protect.

To Apply

Application Process and Timeline:

• Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled
• 30-minute phone interview
• 1-hour Zoom interview (questions will be sent in advance)
• Finalists will be asked to provide 2-3 professional references and may be invited for a final 45-minute interview where they will do a sample presentation pitching Faith in Place programs to a potential Green Team

To apply, please submit your resume and respond to the application questions on the job posting here.