Environmental Equity Officer

Overview

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 (to acquire, protect, and preserve open space, wildlife habitat, and urban, mountain and river parkland that is easily accessible to the public) 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.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for Tribal issues and act as a liaison between the agency and tribes, tribal communities, and stakeholders to strengthen relationships and create partnerships. Collaborations include rematriation plans, plans for co- or total management of specific properties, and the development and implementation of an inclusive process with tribes and stakeholders that is site-specific.
• Review 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. Policies include, but are not limited to, MRCA’s Outreach and Advertising Policy and MRCA’s Outreach and Employment Recruitment Policy.
• Possess strong organizational and decision-making abilities, work independently or as part of a team, manage multiple tasks, and communicate effectively with a wide variety of interested parties. Proficiency in a second language reflective of the agency’s constituency is highly desirable.
• Support MRCA operations at a senior management level related to planning, construction, and operation of parkland, including land acquisition, capital improvement work programs, and public access initiatives.
• Increase the participation of disadvantaged businesses and individuals in MRCA opportunities and contribute to related goals.

• Supervise the development and implementation of projects to benefit disadvantaged communities in urban Los Angeles, identify opportunities to increase inclusion, and remove barriers to participation.
• Address issues raised by Tribal representatives and facilitate communication to resolve them. Assist staff in communications and consultation with tribal representatives.
• Evaluate and recommend changes to procedures, policies, and practices to increase equitable outcomes; consult with MRCA’s ADA Coordinator regarding accessibility needs.
• Coordinate multiple initiatives simultaneously as the central point of contact for assigned projects, including project tracking, scheduling, and budget management.
• Monitor MRCA’s contracting process to evaluate DBE participation and report findings to the Governing Board; propose procedures to increase participation.
• Attend community and partner meetings to stay informed and act as a liaison on equitable outcomes and projects.
• Prepare and present public information on MRCA operations, plans, and projects benefiting disadvantaged communities, and cultivate relationships with communities not traditionally engaged with MRCA or government processes.
• Report progress to Executive Staff, the Governing Board, funders, and the public; participate in senior staff and cabinet meetings.
• Select and manage contractors and consultants in alignment with MRCA inclusion, diversity, equity, and environmental justice policies.
• Collaborate with staff and stakeholders to complete projects and achieve goals; produce written materials such as staff reports, proposals, and progress reports.
• Maintain project files including budgets, contracts, expenses, and correspondence; ensure…