Kern County Environmental Outreach Worker

Position Summary

The Kern County Environmental Outreach Worker is a temporary, full-time position funded for an initial one-year term, with the potential for extension based on the availability of funding. This position is responsible for conducting community education, canvassing, and outreach activities throughout Kern County.

The Outreach Worker will support multiple environmental justice initiatives, including programs focused on clean transportation, home electrification, and increasing access to resources in low-income and historically underserved communities. Serving as a trusted liaison between community members and program partners, the Outreach Worker will connect residents with available services and opportunities while helping to ensure that community perspectives and priorities are represented in regional planning and decision-making efforts.

Key Responsibilities

Environmental Monitoring Outreach

• Support community awareness, education, and engagement efforts related to local environmental issues, including methane emissions, air quality concerns, and environmental health impacts.
• Conduct door-to-door outreach and neighborhood canvassing in affected communities when environmental events, incidents, or concerns are identified.
• Distribute bilingual educational materials regarding environmental health, available resources, and community rights.
• Represent the organization at community events, workshops, and outreach activities by staffing information tables and connecting residents with relevant programs and services.
• Gather, document, and communicate community concerns, feedback, and priorities to program staff and partner organizations.
• Support community participation in the IVAN (Identifying Violations Affecting Neighborhoods) network by assisting residents with reporting environmental concerns and accessing available resources.

Home Electrification & Clean Energy Outreach

• Engage Kern County residents, with a particular focus on the Delano and McFarland communities, to increase awareness of whole-home electrification opportunities, energy efficiency resources, and climate resilience programs.
• Attend community steering committee meetings and serve as a representative of community interests by gathering, communicating, and elevating resident perspectives and priorities.
• Plan, coordinate, and host at least one community outreach event focused on home electrification programs, available incentives, and related resources.
• Develop and publish social media content to promote steering committee meetings, community engagement opportunities, and electrification outreach efforts.
• Conduct outreach to low-income households to increase awareness of program eligibility requirements, available incentives, and support services.
• Gather and share community-specific insights, concerns, and feedback to inform program implementation, outreach strategies, and workforce development initiatives.

Clean Transportation Equity Outreach

• Promote awareness of clean transportation programs, incentives, and resources available to Kern County residents through the Access Clean California initiative.
• Represent the organization at a minimum of three community outreach and tabling events to distribute educational materials and connect residents with clean transportation opportunities.
• Develop and publish at least four social media posts highlighting clean transportation equity programs, available incentives, and the Access Clean California Benefits Finder.
• Support outreach efforts to promote at least one Electric Vehicle (EV) Equity or Clean Mobility webinar to community members, stakeholders, and partner networks.
• Participate in quarterly partner and stakeholder meetings to provide updates, share community feedback, and coordinate outreach activities.
• Evaluate and provide feedback on program materials, resources, and community-facing tools to improve accessibility, usability, and effectiveness for residents.

General Duties

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of outreach activities, community engagement efforts, events attended, and resident contacts in accordance with program requirements.
• Complete and submit all required program reports, data collection forms, and supporting documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
• Represent the Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN) professionally and positively at community events, public meetings, workshops, and partner engagements.
• Collaborate closely with program staff and organizational leadership to ensure outreach activities align with project goals, grant deliverables, and organizational priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Strong ties to Kern County communities, particularly Delano, McFarland, Bakersfield, or surrounding areas
• Experience with community outreach, canvassing, or grassroots organizing
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Ability to staff evening or weekend events as needed
• Reliable transportation to travel within Kern County
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with environmental justice, clean energy, sustainability, climate resilience, or public health issues affecting underserved communities.
• Experience utilizing social media platforms and digital communication tools to support community outreach, education, and engagement efforts.
• Previous experience working with low-income, rural, disadvantaged, or historically underserved communities.
• Knowledge of community organizing, grassroots outreach, or public engagement strategies.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders and effectively communicate with community members from various backgrounds.