Community Organizer

Summary

Join the Sierra Club as a Southwest Oregon Community Organizer and champion environmental conservation. Based in Coos Bay, Oregon, or remotely on the south coast, this role focuses on coastal and marine ecosystem preservation, energy grid and climate resilience, and public land protection. You will plan and implement campaigns, build grassroots power, cultivate volunteer leadership, and represent the Sierra Club to various stakeholders. The position requires experience in community organizing, strong communication skills, and proficiency in data analysis. Success in this role involves collaboration with volunteers, partners, and staff to achieve conservation priorities. The Sierra Club offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Requirements

• Experience as a field organizer and/or leading community organizing campaigns
• Prior experience and/or demonstrated ability in training, motivating, and coaching volunteers
• Experience designing and implementing tactics as part of a larger campaign strategy
• Highly developed verbal, written and digital communication skills, with a focus on communicating effectively across different groups, internally and externally
• Reliable communicator that regularly follows up with volunteer leaders
• Ability to convey Sierra Club priorities while speaking to groups of volunteers, partners, public officials, and the media
• Experience using quantitative data (for example, numbers of people engaged) and qualitative data (for instance, stories about people taking action) to inform and evaluate organizing work
• Demonstrated leadership experience working within a team structure
• Ability to build vision, trust, and mutual accountability with team members
• Experience working closely with volunteers as colleagues
• You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility
• And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate
• You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey
• You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go
• Experience using a variety of online/virtual tools such as Zoom, G-Suite, peer-to-peer texting, and email marketing as well as ability to learn new technology tools to support organizing and campaign goals

Responsibilities

• Organize campaigns to protect lands, water, wildlife, address the biodiversity crisis, ensure outdoor access for all, protect communities from pollution, and transform the energy economy
• Develop and carry out individual campaign organizing plans, including organizing tactics, conducting or overseeing research, developing engagement strategies, facilitating organizing meetings, volunteer integration, and developing and leveraging partnerships
• Build mutually supportive and accountable relationships with National and Chapter staff and volunteers
• Create a comprehensive volunteer development plan to support volunteers from onboarding to leadership through training, coaching, and mentorship
• Coordinate with National and Chapter staff to support volunteer leadership development and organizing metrics using both VAN and Salesforce
• Identify and develop new and existing volunteers as they assume new leadership roles and build Sierra Club’s grassroots power and outreach into communities
• Support and train volunteers on organizing skills and developing issue expertise
• Support volunteers in preparing for engaging with key partners, coalitions, and elected and appointed decision makers
• Create strategic communication and grassroots engagement strategies and metrics
• Represent Sierra Club priorities to public officials, partner organizations, and to the media
• Maintain positive relationships with strategic partners, coalitions, members of the media, grassroots leaders, elected officials, and government officials when strategic and aligns with Oregon Chapter priorities
• Serve as Sierra Club spokesperson to media outlets and promote volunteer and partner organization media exposure
• Coordinate with coalition partners and outside interest groups to plan volunteer activities supporting Sierra Club’s priorities
• Attend chapter, group, and committee meetings to plan and coordinate events for members and supporters to take action on priority campaigns as well as outings to explore public lands and win hearts and minds towards our conservation goals
• Participate effectively in teams to further the Chapter's goals
• Build and maintain high functioning teams that advance specific state level campaigns while expanding the Chapter organization
• Train and develop volunteer leaders who are skillful at facilitating effective, healthy teams
• Support a community of care with colleagues and collaborators and recognizes the need for self care in order to sustain ourselves and our work

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with community organizing and environmental issues in rural areas
• Knowledge of Oregon environmental issues and the related political, policy, and regulatory landscape, and either expertise or an ability to develop expertise in state energy, climate justice, and/or conservation areas
• Project management and facilitation skills
• The ability to create rapport and inspire trust
• Open to feedback and the ability to learn new skills

Benefits

• $69,000 - $69,000 a year
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement savings 401(k) plan