Field Director

Summary

Join Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE) as the Virginia Field Director and lead a high-impact youth organizing program focused on climate and renewable energy advocacy. This pivotal role is key to ACE and CEA’s 2025 strategic plan, aiming to build local youth power, advocate for renewable energy, and secure electoral wins. The successful candidate will possess at least 6 years of organizing experience, including managing a statewide campaign, and a deep understanding of Virginia's political landscape. Responsibilities include developing and executing statewide programs, managing a field team, building a volunteer base, and engaging young voters. The position requires seamless integration of electoral and issue-based organizing to achieve lasting impact on clean energy policy and political power. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker and seasoned campaigner, adept at building coalitions and leveraging data to inform strategy.

Requirements

• Based in Virginia and deeply familiar with the state’s political geography and legislative dynamics
• 6+ years of experience in electoral and/or issue organizing, with management of at least one statewide grassroots campaign required
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale voter engagement, volunteer leadership or electoral field programs
• Keen understanding of Virginia elections, voter demographics and the strategic landscape in key swing districts
• Experience managing high-performing teams in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment
• Strong commitment to climate, renewable energy and building youth power
• Proficiency in VAN, EveryAction or similar organizing data platforms; ability to develop and interpret data to inform strategy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven ability to build coalitions across diverse constituencies

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the overall strategy for youth-focused climate and electoral organizing in Virginia, ensuring all efforts are aligned with broader organizational goals and responsive to the state’s evolving political landscape
• Manage the planning and execution of statewide programs that integrate grassroots organizing, voter engagement and issue advocacy to build long-term power on the ground
• Hire, train and supervise a high-performing team of regional directors and field organizers, fostering a results-driven culture rooted in collaboration, accountability and impact
• Collaborate closely with the national Campaigns Department across data, digital, policy and communications to deliver integrated and effective programming
• Design and implement a strategic volunteer leadership program that empowers young people across Virginia to take on meaningful organizing roles in their communities
• Oversee the development and management of youth-led Climate Action Teams, ensuring alignment with organizational frameworks such as the Ladder of Engagement and Snowflake model
• Ensure volunteer leaders are equipped with the training, tools, and mentorship needed to lead canvassing, advocacy, voter outreach, and public education efforts across the state
• Cultivate a culture of sustained youth engagement, leadership development and long-term power building that strengthens our grassroots engagement and drives climate, renewable energy and political impact
• Lead the development and execution of statewide clean energy advocacy campaigns that advance solar, battery storage, and renewable energy infrastructure
• Oversee engagement strategies that mobilize local communities in support of pro-renewable policies and opposition to fossil fuel-backed legislation
• Build relationships with community partners, policy advocates and clean energy stakeholders to ensure local priorities are reflected in campaign goals and outcomes
• Position youth voices as powerful advocates in local and state-level energy permitting, siting and workforce development conversations
• Lead a comprehensive electoral strategy that engages and mobilizes young voters in support of climate-aligned candidates and ballot initiatives
• Oversee all aspects of field operations related to voter registration, turnout and education in key geographies, with a focus on the gubernatorial election and competitive Assembly races
• Ensure that the economic impacts of climate and renewable energy are a central theme in the 2025 elections through youth-led narrative shaping and public engagement campaigns
• Coordinate rapid response and layered field strategies that adapt to emerging political dynamics and ensure maximum impact at the ballot box
• Provide strategic oversight of all field staff and ensure strong systems are in place for performance management, goal setting and reporting
• Build a high-functioning team culture rooted in trust, purpose and continuous improvement
• Manage budgets, timelines and deliverables with precision, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to meet program goals
• Drive coordination across departments and ensure real-time data is used to evaluate and refine organizing strategies

Benefits

• Annual salary range: $80,000-90,000, commensurate with experience
• Generous benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 403b retirement savings plan, Vacation, Sabbatical, Paid Parental Leave, 2 Floating Holidays, 2 Community Service Floating Holidays, sick time, two weeks of full-staff time off (July 4 week and Christmas-New Years week) and 13 observed holidays