The Department of Conservation and Recreation's mission is to protect, promote and enhance our commonwealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well-being of all. The DCR is steward to one of the largest and most diverse state parks systems in the nation which includes more than 450,000 acres of parks, forests, water supply protection lands, beaches, lakes, ponds, playgrounds, swimming pools, skating rinks, trails, golf courses and parkways. DCR strives to be an exemplary leader in conservation and recreation. DCR's staff is passionate, dedicated, and continuously employs best practices that are informed by expertise, and creates a sense of place through carrying out the mission.

Job Opening

The Department of Conservation, seeks applicants for a Senior Director Environmental Justice (Program Manager VI) to perform the following duties:

Please submit a cover letter and resume as part of the application process.

General Statement of Duties

The Senior Director of Environmental Justice supports cross-agency implementation of Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Environmental Justice Policy and DCR's Environmental Justice Strategy and will work with the Deputy Commissioner and the Ombudsman to build relationships with elected officials, partner organizations, and other stakeholders in furtherance of the agency's Environmental Justice goals. The Senior Director of Environmental Justice will identify current environmental justice initiatives and serve as an advisor to the commissioner and senior staff on all environmental justice and equity issues and matters on further developing environmental justice policies and programs. DCR's Strategy outlines actions for promoting and integrating Environmental Justice (EJ) considerations across programs, policies, and activities to ensure the equal access and meaningful involvement of all people residing in the Commonwealth with respect to conservation and recreation and environmental sustainability and the equitable development, implementation, and accessibility to information and resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

This position will work closely with EEA and DCRs Environmental Justice Task Force, DCR's Climate Task Force, and other DCR staff to support the development and execution of Environmental Justice activities. This position will work closely with the Government Affairs and External Affairs teams more broadly to advance the agency's legislative and policy goals, including relationship building and external communications. This position will work closely with DCR Administration and Finance and particularly with the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, and team, to identify policy targets and the path toward accomplishing them - including the development, gathering, and monitoring of key data.

• Advance environmental justice throughout the agency including in operations, programs and services - aligned with EEA objectives - through active collaboration with DCR Division Managers and Staff and serve as the agency's primary representative at Environmental Justice Task Force meetings.
• Build relationships and proactively engage with external stakeholders in furtherance of the agency's environmental justice goals, including the development and maintenance of a comprehensive list of community partners and groups in order to foster open and transparent communication.
• Advance and track progress on DCR's Environmental Justice Strategy using data analysis tools, including management and implementation of Language Access Planning and program implementation.
• Work closely with the ombudsman and the Legislative and Partnership Coordinators to build relationships with elected officials, stakeholders, communities, and other partners, with an emphasis on advancing environmental justice.
• Create and expand cultural awareness and address language barriers. Manage DCR's Language Access Planning and Program Implementation.
• Help guide training and internal engagement opportunities.
• Work closely with the Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Public Affairs and the Press Secretary in service of the goal that the agency is communicating externally to all our constituents, including through the procuring of interpretation services.
• Oversee the environmental justice webpage and ensure the provision of accurate, accessible information on the agency's goals and progress.
• Provide guidance to agency staff and stakeholders on the MEPA process and analysis of impact to EJ populations, including working with project managers to ensure they are well-informed and compliant with the Interim Protocol.
• Manage staff including the Environmental Justice Internal Agency Coordinator and all functions within that role.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Preferred five (5) years of professional or managerial experience.
2. Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing with the audience in mind to effect change, for both internal and external partners.
3. Must be able to build relationships with elected officials, stakeholders, and key constituencies to advance the goals of environmental justice.
4. Must be able to navigate complex environments, problem solve, and work with diverse and conflicting interests to advance a common goal.
5. Experience with establishing rapport with and exhibiting cultural sensitivity with members of environmental justice populations.
6. Ability to have relevant social sensitivity across cultures and socio-economic classes.
7. Ability to maintain positive morale and outlook while working to overcome internal and external obstacles to advancing environmental justice across the state.
8. Experience with or willingness to learn data visualization, data analysis, and ArcGIS tools to track progress on environmental justice goals.
9. Project management experience, with excellent attention to detail.
10. Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated relationship building and maintenance skills.
11. Ability to read, understand, and relay relevant information in an engaging and easy to navigate and understand manner to agency staff and key stakeholders.
12. Experience with database management, including Access and Excel.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.