Science Coordinator

About Us

The Center for Environmental Health (“CEH”) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that protects people from toxic chemicals and promotes business practices that are safe for public health and the environment. We stop corporations from exposing people to toxic chemicals, collaborate with responsible businesses and industry leaders, and commit to inclusive, community-led solutions that address environmental injustices facing the general public as well as low-income communities of color.

Workplace

CEH is an organization of committed science-driven advocates who work together to keep short-sighted business interests from harming people in the name of profit. We are proud of our work and achieve big wins for people’s health. The organizational culture is one of entrepreneurism and thoughtfully assessed risk taking. CEH believes that to protect the health of all people, we must address the disproportionate health effects of toxic chemicals caused by systemic racism and other social injustices. The movement to eliminate dangerous chemicals must move forward in partnership with environmental justice, reproductive justice, and other related movements working to address the pressing social justice issues of our day. CEH’s headquarters are in Oakland, California.

Commitment to JEDI

At CEH, striving for justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (“JEDI”) for all is critical to its mission and values. We know that having a team that is diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, ability, sexual orientation, age, and background, and opinions — and fostering inclusion among that team — is core to achieving our organizational goals. CEH strives to recruit talent from a diverse pool of candidates and ensure that those professionals we hire are sufficiently supported so that they flourish. CEH wants everyone to not only have a seat at the table but to know that their presence and input make the organization stronger.

Equal Opportunity

CEH is an equal opportunity employer. In keeping with the priority we give to the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI), we are committed to gender and racial equity and actively seek to hire those from historically marginalized communities. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status. Learn more about the Center for Environmental Health at ceh.org.

  1. RESPONSIBILITIES

The Science Coordinator is responsible for assisting the SD to ensure that all of CEH’s programmatic work follows the best available science. This includes our program strategies as well as science and testing projects. This scientific foundation allows CEH to successfully reduce the public’s exposure to toxic chemicals. Current CEH strategies include public interest litigation; partnerships with corporations, large institutions, and schools to eliminate toxic chemicals from the built environment and food/food service ware; partnerships with community based groups; and policy advocacy.

Specific Responsibilities include:

  1. Support CEH’s science strategy, including its research and testing agenda
  •     Work closely with SD to determine CEH’s scientific strategy and implement this strategy in line with programmatic focus areas.
  •     Partner with program staff to ensure that their work is undergirded by a strong scientific foundation.
  •     Partner with SD to coordinate testing at commercial labs and ensure that all of the testing processes are legally and scientifically defensible.
  1. Ensure that new Prop 65 litigation has a strong scientific foundation
  •   Assist with efforts to identify and vet ideas for potential new cases with key internal stakeholders.
  •     Coordinate with commercial labs for necessary testing.
  •     Provide scientific research support for community-based air and water contamination cases.
  •     Assist SD with exposure assessments, as necessary.
  •     Coordinate and correspond regularly with attorneys so they have the evidence they need for successful litigation.
  •     Provide scientific support when CEH investigates other litigation strategies that would both reduce people’s exposure to toxic chemicals and also create revenue for CEH.
  1. Assist with Program-Related Testing and Science Projects Not Tied to Litigation
  •     Partner with SD to identify discrete research tasks that will allow our programs to successfully protect people from toxic chemicals, including chemicals in food and foodware.
  1. Represent CEH to external stakeholders, the media, and the general public
  •     Contribute to CEH’s communications tools, including the website, blog, newsletter, and action alerts.
  1. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS and COMPETENCY FACTORS
  • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Minimum of 2 years of research experience (either work or graduate student experience) in relevant area(s) (e.g. toxicology, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, etc.)
  • Familiarity with issues related to toxic chemicals in consumer products preferred (or willingness to develop expertise and skills in this area). 
  • Excellent written, verbal, and oral communication skills including the ability to translate complicated science into accessible language.
  • Strong commitment to and understanding of environmental health and justice principles. 
  • Ability to communicate and liaise effectively with legal professionals.
  • Keen attention to detail and superior time management skills.
  • Positive and creative—willing to take risks and try innovative new ideas.
  • Demonstrated capacity to work independently, thrive as part of a collaborative team, and manage multiple tasks and deadlines at the same time.
  • Strong commitments to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, working in a multicultural workplace, and approaching cultural differences with humility, sensitivity, and appreciation.
  1.   WORKING CONDITIONS and JOB SETTING    

Work is in a normal office setting. The Science Coordinator will be required to work in our Oakland Office once CEH reopens unless a special provision has been made for a remote staff person. 

  1. Salary

The base salary for this position is $60,000 per year. 

Status:  Exempt

Description last updated:  01/09/2023

Title: Science Coordinator

Disclaimer:  This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Other additional duties may be assigned.

Applying for this job

Please submit the following materials in a single PDF:

  • Cover letter, highlighting your qualifications
  • Resume

Please merge these documents into a single PDF whose file name includes your surname and “Science Coordinator.” Then email it to: jobs@ceh.org with the subject line: Science Coordinator.

We acknowledge receipt of all employment applications, and when we decide a candidate is no longer in the running, we inform her/him/them promptly.  (Note: this sometimes can take a while.)

Close Date: March 6, 2023