Common Ground -- the nation’s oldest environmental charter high school, creating the next generation of successful college students and powerful environmental leaders is seeking an Environmental Leadership Coordinator (ELC) who will lead the effort to ensure all Common Ground students have the opportunity to be actively engaged in social and environmental justice issues in our community.. This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to work at a school that prioritizes leadership development and project-based learning around environmental and social justice issues.

The Environmental Leadership Coordinator’s overarching goal is to coordinate key components of our Environmental Leadership strategy -- ensuring that all students have equitable and robust opportunities to grow as leaders for sustainable social and environmental change. This employee will have the chance to:

• Manage our organization-wide Environmental Leadership Initiative, which integrates opportunities for student leadership across classes, out-of-school programs, and green jobs opportunities.
• Coordinate the school-wide Leadership Portfolio Process -- through which all students create and defend electronic portfolios showing their growth as leaders over time
• Work closely with teachers to develop and support authentic project-based work in all Common Ground courses
• Work with farm staff and community partners to use our farm, site, West Rock, and City of New Haven as learning laboratories

Common Ground is seeking outstanding candidates with:

• A passion for our environmental mission and commitment to just, equitable, and sustainable change
• An understanding of the circumstances that low income students and students of color (Black, Latino, Asian etc..) have historically and are presently experiencing and an awareness of the role of individual educators and educational institutions in creating and changing those experiences
• Direct experience working with high school-age young people -- as a teacher, program leader, etc.
• Strong project coordination and detail management skills -- able to manage multiple priorities, develop a high performing team, etc.
• Passion and experience in curriculum development and working closely with classroom teachers
• Prior experience with and commitment to engaging students from racially and economically diverse urban settings
• Experience developing and sustaining relationships with community partners
• Understanding of the unique history and present-day dynamics of the city of New Haven as well as existing connections/social networks within the city of New Haven
• Creativity, sense of joy, and commitment to collaboration and relationship building
• Bachelor degree required
• A preferred minimum of three years experience working in school or community organization setting

At Common Ground, a truly diverse community of 195 students from 16 different towns experiences a mix of high academic standards, active learning and leadership opportunities, and small school supports that are producing dramatic educational results.

Common Ground is particularly eager for candidates who help us fulfill our commitment to building a racially and culturally diverse faculty and staff.

Salary commensurate with experience; health, dental & life insurance; short and long term disability