Wellness and Environmental Justice Community Engagement Manager (4564U) #78514

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

The Student Environmental Resource Center cultivates a collaborative space to strengthen the collective effectiveness of the sustainability community, and provides resources for students to actualize their visions of a more equitable, socially just, and resilient future.

The Wellness and Environmental Justice Community Engagement Manager will develop, support, and advise programs, projects and initiatives focused on wellness, outdoor education, civic engagement, and environmental justice for the UC Berkeley community, and supervise SERC student staff, fellows, and serve as an advisor for student organizations.

Centering under-served and historically marginalized populations on campus, this position will execute and supervise several of SERC's programs, including EJ Education, Nature Education & Wellness Together (NEWT), SERC's Outdoor Education Department, SERQueer, and more. The position will continue to nurture relationships and help advise important environmental community stakeholders including the Students of Color Environmental Collective & Mentorship Program. SERQueer will provide space encouraging the empowerment and wellbeing of Queer and Trans community members that are engaged in environmentalism.

SERC's Nature Education & Wellness Together (NEWT) department will connect with campus partners like UC Berkeley Recreation & Wellness, RecWell Adventures, University Health Services, Exercise is Medicine on Campus and off campus partners such as Justice Outside. Intentional outdoor education experiences will be planned and facilitated for a diverse range of student communities and will create space/opportunities for BIPOC and QT+ populations to reconnect with their communities through healing activities/reconnection with nature. These projects will be focused on empowering both undergraduates and graduates that are most vulnerable to the impending climate crisis and impacting the broader campus community through coalition building and resource sharing with similar groups across campus and in our surrounding communities.

The position will also serve on SERC's leadership team, supporting large decision making, strategic visioning/planning, and development, for the larger organization.

The First Review Date for this job is: June 5, 2025

Wellness and Environmental Justice Education and Programming:

• Manage NEWT programs, initiatives, and student staff
• Develop and support student programs focused on wellness and environmental justice or the environmental community on campus
• Develop and/or adapt curriculum surrounding wellness and healing in the environmental movement
• Creating and maintaining active space and discourse surrounding the intersection of mental health and student advocacy
• Implement and lead programs focused on fostering wellness and collectivism Implement and lead community outdoor education trips/activities, focused on environmental justice and climate wellness
• Manage the SERQueer program and support SERC POC groups
• Collaborate and coordinate on programming with relevant partners, including but not limited to bridges!, GenEq, University Health Services, Centers for Educational Justice and Community Engagement, and the Basic Needs Center

Strategic Program Analysis and Assessment:

• Provide structure and strategic guidance for student-led initiatives, programs, and campaigns
• Provides recommendations, reports, and metrics on current program activities, fellow and community partner participation, and outreach efforts as required by federal and state funders
• Prospects new opportunities to sustain and/or expand the service-related programming for the broader environmental justice community
• Create systems of assessment for program related events and programs; support assessment and analysis for student organization's events, campaigns, and programs
• Contribute to department wide strategic planning and visioning
• Collaborate with the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Sustainability and according partners, including but not limited to the Working Group on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Sustainability
• Collaborate with relevant campus colleges and departments

Student Group and Civic Engagement Advising Services:

• Supervise the 2026 Environmental Voting Network program, in collaboration with the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment
• Supports student leaders in developing the Environmental Voting guide during election seasons
• Provide support and guidance for environmental student organizations and civic engagement
• Develops workshops and training sessions for students and student organizations Works in partnership with student organizations on developing inclusive spaces of engagement within their student organizations

Community Engagement and Partnership Support:

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with communities that are local and/or relevant to work conducted by the Student Environmental Resource Center Provide institutional memory for successive generations of student organizers Develops and maintains relationships with internal and external organization
  stakeholders critical to program success (namely, the College of Natural Resources, Public Service Center, Basic Needs Center, GenEQ, and current and prospective community partners that serve local youth and families)

Student Supervision:

• Recruits, hires, trains and supervises student staff
• Supervises the following student positions:
  • Environmental Justice Associate
  • Community Resilience Associate SERQueer Associate
  • Farmworker & Climate Justice Associate
  • NEWT Associates (2)
  • Community Wellness Associate

Budget Management and Administration:

• Provides financial oversight for the Student Environmental Resource Center and environmental justice and wellness programs
• Assist staff in navigating fiscal bureaucracy of grants and program budgets Provide institutional memory for successive generations of student staff

• Analytical/problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff; both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes. Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
• Knowledge of current social and environmental issues, including having a solid framework and understanding of environmental justice
• Experience with education including working with curriculums, facilitation, & leading group discussions and activities
• Critical engagement and intention of justice and liberation over status quo/reformation. Experience driving long distances and familiarity with overnight event logistics
• Ability to work weekends/evenings
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Direct experience in sustainability, social marketing, institutional change, and community engagement campaigns related to sustainability.

Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong public speaking, presentation, and meeting management skills.

Student Group Advising and Services Skills:

• Direct experience working with college/university students, youth, and/or student organizations on planning, advising, campaigns, civic engagement, and event programming
• Knowledge of advising and counseling techniques, dialogue facilitation and conflict mediation Knowledge of common university-specific computer application programs
• Knowledge of best practices and professional standards as it pertains to Green and Sustainability advising support programs including pertinent laws, policies, and statues
• Knowledge of campus resources, partnerships, and organizations for groups to collaborate with on relevant programming, events, and processes
  

Communication and Partnership Building:

• Experience in critically and meaningfully collaborating with communities, partners, and other stakeholders long-term.
• Experience in connecting sustainability/environmentally focused students/organizations with other relevant partners on campus and/or in our local community or movements.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively one-to-one, in small groups and in public speaking contexts.
• Ability to write precise, well-organized emails, letters and proposal using appropriate vocabulary and grammar
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with student and professional staff, Division colleagues, and the University community.

Programmatic and Event Development:

• Experience in creating and/or adapting sustainability and environmental justice programs, initiatives, and events.
• Experience in creating and/or adapting environmental wellness/healing programs, initiatives, and events.
• Experience with program management and handling program finances Experience with outdoor education, trip planning, and execution.
• Experience with networking and making relevant connections in order to grow programs Experience in facilitation & leading dialogue regarding trauma, environmental injustice, and intersectionality.
• Experience in collaborating with underserved populations, including predominantly BIPOC, QT+, undocumented communities, to ensure their needs and voices are represented and met.
  

• Experience in grant writing and grant management.
• Wilderness First Aid (ideal)

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $62,000 - $79,000

• This is a 100% full-time (40 hours per week), career position that is eligible for full UC benefits.
• This position is exempt and paid monthly.
• This position is eligible for up to 30% remote work. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs, and are subject to change.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.