Co Executive Director

Co-Executive Director – Programs

Co-Executive Director – Development & Operations

About the Organization

The California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) is a statewide coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations. We organize among those most affected by environmental and climate injustice – low-income communities and communities of color – to advance statewide policy that protects the environment and our health. We are committed to a Just Transition and to the right of every person to a healthy environment.

CEJA brings together ten of the foremost EJ organizations in California in a strategic alliance: Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment (CRPE), Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability (LCJA), People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER), Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles (PSR-LA), and Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE).

CEJA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. CEJA also runs a 501(c)(4) organization (CEJA Action) and a Political Action Committee, both of which are fiscally sponsored projects of Tides Advocacy.

For more information about CEJA and our members, visit

About the Opportunity

CEJA is looking for two (2) exceptional, strategic, and collaborative leaders to fill our newly created Co-Executive Director positions. Through a shared leadership model, the Co-Executive Directors will steward CEJA as we enter a new chapter of growth, stability, and impact – while centering our commitment to social and racial justice and staff well-being.

The Co-Executive Directors will share certain core responsibilities, such as Board and staff management, while each leading distinct areas of CEJA’s operations. The Co-Executive Director – Programs will oversee CEJA’s complex and high-profile programs, including our Energy Justice, Climate Justice, Land Use, Legislative, and Civic Engagement programs. The Co-Executive Director – Development & Operations will oversee CEJA’s thriving fundraising and communications work, as well as administration, finance, and human resources.

The Co-Executive Directors will report directly to CEJA’s Board of Directors and supervise, coach, and lead CEJA’s 20+ staff.

Duties & Responsibilities

Shared by both Co-Executive Directors:

• Establish a culture of care and belonging at CEJA that is centered around anti-oppressive leadership and relationship-building and creates a professional, positive, and equitable work environment.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of CEJA’s organizational strategies, goals, and power-building approach, as established in the strategic plan.
• Lead CEJA’s Management Team, establishing a consistent leadership model and clear expectations that reflect CEJA’s values throughout the organization.
• Determine CEJA’s staffing needs and recruit, interview, and select staff as needed; oversee annual performance evaluation process.
• Maintain strong working relationships and collaborative arrangements with CEJA Members and other allies.
• Serve as a CEJA spokesperson and represent the Alliance in internal and external contexts, including as a media spokesperson.

Specific to the Co-Executive Director – Development & Operations

• Develop and maintain sustainable financial and administrative systems, ensuring that CEJA upholds the highest possible fiduciary and organizational standards, manages risk, and creates transparency and clarity;
• Supervise the Finance Director, Communications Director, and Development Director and serve as primary liaison with consultants as needed.
• Manage CEJA’s staff recruitment process, establishing consistent recruitment practices with a DEI focus;
• Work with the Development Director to prepare an annual fundraising plan; help maintain and expand CEJA’s network of foundation funders;
• Work with the Communications Director to prepare an annual communications plan, identifying predetermined communications events and creating systems for responding to unexpected crises/opportunities.

Specific to the Co-Executive Director – Programs

• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of CEJA and CEJA Action’s programs, including the development of annual program plans to operationalize the Alliance’s strategic plan and its focus on fossil-fuel phase-out and the building of resilient communities.
• Supervise the Energy Justice Director, Climate Justice Director, Land Use Director, Political Director, and Legislative Director and serve as primary liaison with consultants as needed.
• Oversee the work of CEJA’s Energy Justice, Climate Justice, Land Use, Civic Engagement, and Legislative teams (c3 and c4 work).
• In collaboration with program directors, serve as lead CEJA representative in key movement alliances and coalitions to advance CEJA’s mission and long-term strategies.

About the Ideal Candidates

Successful candidates will possess/demonstrate:

• Deep commitment to environmental, racial, social, and economic justice, a Just Transition, and CEJA’s mission.
• Excellence in organizational management with experience supervising and coaching a diverse staff and developing high-performing teams.
• Successful track record of at least 10 years of leadership experience in a non-profit setting, including at least 5 years of executive-level experience.
• Extensive experience reporting directly to a non-profit Board of Directors.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, reporting, and decision-making.
• Outstanding communications skills (written and verbal), with the ability to facilitate understanding across multiple audiences and experience serving as an organizational spokesperson.
• Ability to develop a team-oriented environment; commitment to democratic participation.
• Ability to multitask while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to work flexible hours to respond to position needs.
• Experience managing an alliance/coalition strongly preferred.
• Experience managing both a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4) organization strongly preferred

Co-Executive Director – Development & Operations should also possess/demonstrate:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and education in a discipline related to organizational development, fundraising, business administration, or other relevant field; a Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, administration, strategic leadership, fundraising, or equivalent relevant experience, with a proven track record of success.
• Proven knowledge and experience raising funds for a non-profit organization, including from individuals, foundations, and government agencies.
• Proven knowledge of best practices in non-profit management, including legal compliance, human resources best practices, equitable policies/procedures, and change management.
• Familiarity with environmental justice issues and the organizational EJ landscape in California strongly preferred.

Co-Executive Director – Programs should also possess/demonstrate:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and education in public policy, urban planning, environmental science, law, or other relevant discipline; a Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience working on climate justice, energy justice, and/or land use policy, including cross-sector strategies to promote a Just Transition, as well as proven expertise in the workings of California’s legislative, budgetary, and regulatory systems. Outstanding strategic planning, program evaluation, and project management skills.
• Experience working with or demonstrated commitment to movement building and the building of grassroots and political power.
• Ability to advocate before various policy-making bodies, cultivating and furthering relationships with a variety of decision makers and stakeholders, including elected officials, labor unions, and environmental and social justice organizations.
• Electoral expertise, including experience developing civic engagement campaigns and electoral strategy strongly preferred.

Salary and Benefits

• The Co-Executive Director positions are full time, at-will, and exempt. CEJA staff must be residents of California.
• The Co-Executive Director salaries will be commensurate with experience, within in the range of $150,000 to $175,000.
• These are remote positions, with occasional travel to CEJA’s hubs in Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento.

How to Apply

CEJA has retained Impact Search Advisors by Nonprofit HR as their Executive Search Partner for these critical leadership hires. To be considered, applicants must submit a resume and cover letter via the Nonprofit HR website at

Please direct inquiries regarding this search to Hakimu Davidson, Senior Executive Search Consultant at hdavidson@nonprofithr.com