The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) seeks a community engagement expert to join our interdisciplinary Resilient Landscapes program. SFEI’s mission is to deliver visionary science that empowers people and communities to revitalize nature. SFEI believes in and works to support the self-determination of underserved communities and Tribes, as well as everyone’s right to share equally in the benefits of a healthy environment and access to nature. We are building relationships with communities and Tribes to co-create projects that address the needs of those who have been historically excluded and disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and the impacts of climate change.
SFEI co-develops nature-based strategies with communities, Tribes, and a wide variety of other partners to support healthy ecosystems and communities. SFEI's strengths lie in contributing objective data and applying rigorous science to problem-solving, and we recognize that science in and of itself is only one part of the equation. Partnerships and engagement with the communities in which we work are fundamental to achieving meaningful impact. We are building trusted partnerships and authentically engaging with communities to clearly uncover, understand, and communicate environmental threats and injustices; support the development of holistic solutions; and facilitate equitable access to key decision-making conversations, opportunities, and resources.
The Resilient Landscapes Program provides science-based guidance for decision-makers on equitable, nature-based approaches to habitat restoration and climate adaptation. The person in this role will lead SFEI’s participation in, and facilitation of, engagement and partnership-building activities—with a focus on underserved communities and Tribes—to center community expertise and needs in our work. The role involves working on a variety of projects across the Resilient Landscapes Program’s core domains, including urban ecology, wetland ecosystems, watershed management, shoreline resilience, and historical ecology. The role requires a combination of communication and facilitation skills, experience leading authentic engagement and community partnerships, experience with environmental justice issues, cultural competency, and interest in environmental science.
In addition to developing partnerships, a key part of the role will be working collaboratively with all entities involved in the engagement process. SFEI’s role in engagement varies from project to project; the Community Engagement Specialist may lead or co-lead engagement events, sometimes in collaboration with community-based organizations, Tribes, and outreach or engagement consultants. These partners often support SFEI in event facilitation, large-scale public outreach and communication, engagement logistics, environmental education, and specialized facilitation for complex or sensitive topics.