Apply here (Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for this position only if they have a STEM OPT extension that allows them to complete the two-year term of the fellowship). 

Note: Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application, together with a 1-3 page writing sample illustrating the ability to communicate complex topics in a digestible and compelling way. This can be an excerpt from a longer essay, an article or blog post, a briefing memo, or another form of written communication material.

• Website: www.edf.org
• Location: Any EDF U.S. office location (Austin, TX; Boulder, CO; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Raleigh, NC; San Francisco, CA; Washington D.C.)
• Fellowship Position
• Position title: High Meadows Fellow, Environmental Justice Storytelling
• Department: Justice & Equity
• Reports to: Allison Cobb, AVP, Justice & Equity
• Address of fellowship placement: Any EDF U.S. office location (Austin, TX;
  Boulder, CO; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Raleigh, NC; San Francisco, CA; Washington, D.C.)

Department Description

The Justice & Equity team is a core capacity within EDF’s Mission. Guided by EDF’s Equity and Environmental Justice Vision and Principles and its Environmental and Climate Justice Strategic Plan, we work to embed environmental and climate justice frameworks across the Mission, optimizing EDF’s core strengths to drive lasting and effective environmental solutions.

EDF is on a journey to integrate justice and equity into our organizational structure, strategies, and values. Understanding how social inequities and injustices intersect with our environmental work requires clear and consistent narratives: what does a “just and equitable” environmental solution mean in practice? How do historical inequities compound upon and contribute to environmental inequities? Why does it matter for our work?

Position Description

The High Meadows Fellow will focus on storytelling as a mechanism to deepen understanding and adoption of environmental justice frameworks within EDF’s Mission. They will also support storytelling as an avenue for engagement and partnership with frontline organizations. The Fellow will report to the AVP, Justice & Equity, and will have the opportunity to work with the SVP, Justice & Equity and the team’s directors. Fellow supervisor is in Oregon and core team members are based on the East Coast and adept at working professionally remotely.

The Fellow’s work will encompass three primary projects: one independently driven and two directly embedded in the Justice & Equity team’s existing work. The projects can be pursued in more depth and prioritized based on the Fellow’s skills and interests. Opportunities to engage globally can be pursued if the fellow is interested in environmental justice beyond the U.S.

1. Equity and justice in environmental solutions (Fellow-led, with team support): The Fellow will develop and lead a project drawing from EDF projects and outside literature and cases to model what a “just and equitable” environmental solution looks like in practice and demonstrate the overarching importance of equity and justice
   considerations for effective environmental solutions.
2. Frontline storytelling (embedded in existing team efforts): The Fellow will support the creation and sharing of stories that capture the experiences and insights of frontline community organizations. These stories and learnings will be distributed across an external network of environmental justice leaders and organizers.
3. Internal story and knowledge capture (embedded in existing team efforts): The Fellow will support the documentation of stories and insights from teams engaged in environmental and climate justice work across EDF’s Mission and regions.

Responsibilities

Tasks include but are not limited to:

• Create a framework and strategy for demonstrating what a “just and equitable”
  environmental solution looks like in the context of EDF’s work, and lead the development and implementation of this effort.
• Perform literature reviews on environmental and climate justice in social, policy, science, and economics-based environmental interventions.
• Conduct interviews in the environmental and climate justice network, including EDF staff, frontline community leaders, and organizers.
• Pursue creative approaches to storytelling, draft stories, blogs, and other methods of communication (ex. video, podcasts, visual media, etc.) to capture the experiences of those in the environmental and climate justice network.
• Communicate and share findings to relevant EDF teams and external partners through written reports and presentations.
• Support outreach and engagement with community-based organizations around grant opportunities, knowledge-exchange, and networking.
• Develop case studies and other materials capturing lessons and insights from environmental and climate justice work happening across EDF and its global teams.
• Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

• Degree and/or coursework in environmental justice, environmental history, advocacy, public policy, social sciences, communications or related fields.
• Demonstrated understanding of environmental and climate justice, and power structures in different geographies.
• Demonstrated interest in writing, storytelling, and other forms of creative communication, and a genuine desire to create impact in the environmental sector.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and working with community organizations or nonprofits is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong research skills and ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.
• High emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to think creatively and engage meaningfully with subject matter from a range of academic disciplines (ex. policy, history, sociology).
• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work both in a team setting and independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills.

Professional Development

• Work alongside subject matter experts in the field, and learn about the interdisciplinary approach to EDF's work and mission.
• Ability to work in a global NGO that uses science and economics to influence policy
  change, and develop a better understanding of ways to work with colleagues across different timezones.
• Attend team conferences and annual all-staff conferences to connect with EDF colleagues across the globe.
• Network with other fellows across EDF working in the sciences, economics, policy, law, and business.