Climate Justice Fellowship

Overview

AIR COMPANY is looking for a Climate Justice Fellow to join our team. This role will report to our Climate Policy Manager and will provide support to several teams across the organization: Policy, People, and Commercial. The Climate Justice Fellow will serve as a subject matter expert on environmental justice and related issues, and will support the development  of AIR COMPANY’s environmental justice and ESG initiatives. This role will be based at our headquarters in SoHo:166 Mercer St. NY, NY.

Ideal candidates will have relevant work experience or extensive studies in climate justice, environmental justice and/or ESG, and expertise in dissecting complex materials ranging across policy and environmental justice works. Preference will be given to candidates with specific research or work experience in the energy sector. Experience applying academic knowledge on the subject in corporate environments is a significant plus.

At Air Company we value employees for their unique perspectives. We are an inclusive Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

The range for this role is up to $75-$80K. Exact compensation may vary based on the market, experience, skills and technical expertise

Job Requirements

• AIR Scholars Program Support: Support the facilitation of AIR COMPANY’s community engagement and educational initiatives, such as our AIR Scholars program. With this program, we’ve partnered with local high schools to provide financial, educational and career-based resources to students that live in the communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustice and climate change. Working with our Student Research Supervisor, the Fellow will provide guidance and other program support as needed to this year’s summer 2023 cohort of students in their environmental justice research and writing, including overseeing the publication of their research to a peer-reviewed journal following the conclusion of the summer program. 
• Track Environmental Justice (EJ) Requirements: Monitor, research, and stay up-to-date with federal, state, and local policies and regulations related to environmental justice and community engagement. Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the EJ requirements and identify potential implications for the business, and develop recommendations on necessary activities.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Develop internal educational content, contribute to company’s thought leadership projects, and develop internal company policy positions related to EJ and ESG. The Fellow will outline and recommend the leading industry practices and recommend stakeholder engagement activities for internal consideration. The Fellow will also assist in the preparation of policy comment letters and grant applications in response to proposed policies, regulations, or projects. Additionally, the Fellow will collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive and well-articulated position is made. 
• Community Engagement: Work closely with the Climate Policy Manager to develop and implement strategies and content for effective community engagement. Coordinate and participate in community engagement meetings, workshops, and events as needed.
• Communication: Support the Climate Policy Manager in creating clear and accessible communications materials to community members regarding AIR COMPANY’s technology and facilities as relates to environmental justice and ESG. Collaborate with the communications team to ensure that EJ-related communications are aligned with the company strategy and mission and reflect the company’s EJ and ESG priorities. 

Preferred Skills

• Master’s degree in environmental studies, public policy, social sciences, corporate social responsibility, or a related field. Relevant work experience or ongoing studies in climate justice, environmental justice, or ESG is desirable. A PhD degree is a plus.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local environmental policies, regulations, and guidelines, particularly those related to environmental justice.
• Strong research and analytical skills to assess policy documents and understand their implications for environmental justice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write internal and external documents and clearly communicate complex issues to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Passion and experience working with climate justice, environmental sustainability and social equity.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and independently when necessary. 
• Ability to be flexible and work effectively in a fast-paced environment. 
• Experience in peer-reviewed publication of research and oversight of student research, or any experience working with students, is strongly desired.

This opportunity is supported through the NYSERDA climate justice fellowship program. In order to qualify for this position candidates must meet the following requirements. 

Who is Eligible to be a Fellow?

• Eligible fellow candidates must:
• Currently be from a Priority Population as defined on NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Workforce Development Definition page.
• Currently reside in NYC and be able work in NYC full-time for 12-months
• Commit to the entire 12-month fellowship and the goal of assisting the employer in advancing climate justice and clean energy priorities for disadvantaged communities.