Environmental Equity Officer

Environmental Equity Officer

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is recruiting for an Environmental Equity Officer. The Environmental Equity Officer will have responsibility for ensuring that MRCA's programs and services promote and achieve equitable outcomes. The Environmental Equity Officer will recommend best practices in all aspects of MRCA operations and oversee the inclusion of communities that traditionally have been overlooked and ignored.

In this context, equity is defined as a systemic process where the benefits of MRCA's mission shall accrue to the public in a manner that reflects the demographics of MRCA's stakeholder base. The Environmental Equity Officer will ensure that disadvantaged communities are a priority for projects with an emphasis on increasing access to public local and regional natural assets for historically excluded, marginalized, underrepresented and under-resourced communities.

The Environmental Equity Officer serves as the primary point of contact for Tribal issues and acts as a liaison between the agency and tribes, tribal communities, and stakeholders, to strengthen relationships and create partnerships. Collaborations will include working to develop rematriation plans, plans for co or total management of specific properties, and the development and implementation of an inclusive process with tribes, tribal communities and stakeholders that is relevant and specific to each site in question.

The Environmental Equity Officer will be responsible for reviewing MRCA's policies related to inclusion, diversity, equity and environmental justice and make recommendations to Executive Staff and/or the Governing Board for revisions and/or new policies. These policies include but are not limited to MRCA's Outreach and Advertising Policy and MRCA's Outreach and Employment Recruitment Policy.

This position requires a highly motivated, responsible, organized and self-starter individual who can handle an array of tasks, has good judgement, and can make decisions, and works independently or as part of a team. The individual must be able to come up with multiple solutions to any given problem, in areas that may be outside their expertise, and be willing to take on challenges. The ability to successfully communicate with a wide variety of interested parties is essential, and proficiency in a second language that reflects the constituency where the agency operates, at minimum conversationally, is highly desirable.

This is professional work related to the planning, construction, and operation of parkland at a senior management level of local government. The work performed will support MRCA's operation of nature parks within greater Los Angeles, land acquisition and capital improvement Work programs, and other efforts related to public access, open space conservation, habitat restoration, and urban park development. The agency has adopted a goal to increase the number of disadvantaged businesses and individuals benefitting from MRCA opportunities and this work will directly relate to this goal.

This is a full-time, exempt at-will position.

This position reports to the Chief of Staff. The position may supervise other staff, and generally works collaboratively as part of a team with coworkers and stakeholders. Direct and regular communication with the Executive Officer will be expected.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Supervise the development and implementation of projects and plans to benefit disadvantaged communities in urban areas of Los Angeles, as part of a project team. Identify and scope efforts to increase inclusion and participation in project planning, and to eliminate or mitigate barriers to inclusion.
• Address specific issues or concerns raised by Tribal representatives and facilitate communication to address these issues.
• Assisting staff in communications and consultation with tribal representatives.
• Evaluate and recommend changes to procedures, policies, and operational practices that would increase equitable outcomes and achieve the goals set forth in MRCA's equity and inclusion policies. Consult with MRCA's ADA Coordinator regarding accessibility needs.
• Implement multiple initiatives simultaneously: The Officer will be the central point of contact on all issues concerning their assigned projects and will be responsible for project quality. Perform project tracking, scheduling, and budget management.
• Monitor MRCA's contracting process to evaluate the inclusion of disadvantaged businesses and make regular reports to the Governing Board. Recommend procedures to staff that could increase DBE participation.
• Attend meetings of community organizations and partner agencies to keep apprised of current conditions. Act as liaison between MRCA and other entities with respect to equitable outcomes and featured projects.
• Prepare and give public presentations on a variety of topics related to MRCA operations, plans and projects benefiting disadvantaged communities and along the Los Angeles River and tributaries. The purpose of this outreach is to create and develop relationships with the entities and communities that have not traditionally been part of MRCA or other government processes and ensure that MRCA programs and services reflect the demographics of its stakeholder base.
• Make reports to Executive Staff, Governing Board, funders, and the general public. Keep Executive Staff apprised of progress regularly.
• Attend senior staff and cabinet meetings and participate in management discussions.
• Select and manage contractors and consultants, in conjunction with other staff, with respect to their work implementing MRCA plans and policies related to inclusion, diversity, equity and environmental justice.
• Work closely, collaboratively, and practice clear and frequent communication with other staff, and other project stakeholders, to complete projects and accomplish project goals.
• Produce written materials including staff reports, text for publication, proposals, progress reports, and a variety of other documents.
• Provide support to coworkers on other projects.
• Maintain files, including documentation and authorization for expenses, project progress, contracts and agreements, project budgets, contacts, board actions and all other items related to a project's development.
• Maintain good habits of answering and responding to incoming telephone calls, correspondence, and when communicating and providing customer service to citizens who seek assistance.
• Maintain positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner's associations, and the public at large.
• Assess MRCA's programs and services to determine if they are serving a representative population and provide resources for staff training and improvement.
• Work directly with agencies responsible of tribal affairs and advancement, elected representatives and other parties responsible for or developing tribal policies and procedures to keep MRCA current with evolving issues.
• Perform related duties as required.

Lead and participate in group hikes and project site tours with project stakeholders.

Write and coordinate grant proposals and research new funding opportunities for related efforts.

Analyze, verify, and obtain payment approvals for invoices.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position, occasionally move about inside the office to access supplies and office machinery, frequently communicate and exchange information, review handwritten, electronic and facsimile documents, and operate a computer and other office productivity machinery. The employee must occasionally move items weighing up to 20 pounds inside the office.

Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week with some scheduling flexibility. The position is exempt from overtime. The position will work out of the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens but may be required to travel to various other locations. Offices at the River Center are spread among multiple buildings and floors. Remote working hybrid option may be allowed, subject to supervisor approval.

As public parklands, the majority of MRCA properties are open to the general public during operating hours. This position is likely to have physical contact with members of the public in public areas such as parking lots and shared public/office restrooms and during in-person public meetings. The MRCA is committed to protecting its staff by ensuring appropriate physical distancing and proper infection control while supporting equitable access to services. Our requirements are based on the current County of Los Angeles guidance, and are subject to change as the County updates their policies.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Education and Experience

• At least five (5-8) years of employment with satisfactory performance, performing duties that provide knowledge relevant to the position.
• B.A. or B.S. degree. One year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education.
• Experience working directly with marginalized communities, tribes and tribal communities is preferred.

Training and Certification

• None required.

Knowledge of

• Environmental justice and equity issues in the MRCA service area as they relate to parks, park operations, recreational access, and related planning processes.
• Local and State legislative processes.
• Common Windows-based programs including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Office practices and procedures.

Ability to