Senior Campaign Organizer
Sierra Club
Chicago, IL, USA
Posted on Oct 29, 2024
Job Title: Senior Campaign Organizer - Industrial Transformation
Department: Campaigns
Location: Remote within Illinois. This position requires an ability to travel.
Reports To: Deputy Director - Industrial Transformation Campaign
Supervises: N/A
Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.
Scope: The Senior Campaign Organizer is responsible for organizing campaigns to accelerate industrial transformation in Illinois, including decarbonizing industrial heating processes, which win real victories and build the grassroots power to accomplish Sierra Club priorities, which are: to address climate disruption, transform the energy economy, protect communities from pollution, ensure access to the outdoors for all and protect our lands, water and wildlife. The Chapter is a crucial partner for the Senior Campaign Organizer to successfully develop and carry out strategic plans. The Senior Campaign Organizer works closely aligned with volunteers, partners, and staff across the state, while harnessing all of the strategic levers of Sierra Club including legal, communications, digital strategies and subject matter/campaign expertise.
The Senior Campaign Organizer works to develop a comprehensive volunteer development strategy to support volunteers from onboarding to leadership through training, coaching, and mentorship. The Senior Campaign Organizer works with Industrial Transformation campaign leadership to develop tactics and plans to achieve state based and local Sierra Club priorities and fosters a comprehensive media and grasstops engagement plan. The Senior Campaign Organizer works with the field & campaign teams to create educational materials, presentations and reports, research on priority issues as well as providing public comments, lobbying strategies, and develops subject matter expertise on relevant topics. The Senior Campaign Organizer represents Sierra Club at community events and with partner organizations, to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, and the public.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Strategic Campaigns. Participates in the creation of a state strategy while leading the Illinois industrial heat campaign, balancing national and local priorities. Works to incorporate key state and chapter stakeholders, including volunteers, to create and implement the overarching strategic plan. Helps develop tactics and metrics, tracks policy and regulatory proceedings, identifies opportunities for engagement, mobilization, or intervention for one or more campaign outcomes. Ensures that campaigns are rooted in equity and justice and inclusive of frontline and directly impacted communities.
- Organizing Implementation. Develops and carries 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. This includes evaluating progress and measures of effectiveness through data collection and key metrics. Weaves individual campaigns with other key state strategic campaigns and desired outcomes to ensure unified organizing in the state.
- Collaboration. Builds a healthy, mutually accountable relationship with Chapter staff and volunteers to carry out Sierra Club priorities. Communicates clear expectations, capacity, and works in strategic alignment to accomplish Sierra Club’s priority goals. Prioritizes relationships with volunteer leaders and coordinates with other Sierra Club stakeholders as needed.
- Volunteer Development and Management. Develop a comprehensive volunteer development strategy to support volunteers from onboarding to leadership through training, coaching, and mentorship. Coordinate with state and Chapter staff to support volunteer leadership development and organizing metrics. Identify and develop new and existing volunteers to support as they assume new leadership roles and build Sierra Club’s grassroots power and extend outreach into communities. Supports and trains volunteers on organizing skills and developing issue expertise. Support issue-focused volunteer teams to accomplish their goals, coach volunteers on skills, coordinate activities, and to engage key stakeholders and coalitions, elected and appointed decision makers, and their influencers to assure advancement of Sierra Club’s priorities.
- Strategic Local Representation of Sierra Club. In coordination with state and Chapter staff and volunteers, develops strategic communication and grasstop engagement strategies and metrics. Represents Sierra Club priorities to public officials, partner organizations, and to the media. Maintains positive relationships with strategic partners, coalitions, members of the media, grassroots leaders, elected officials, and government officials when strategic and aligns with the strategic priorities in the state. As needed, serves as Sierra Club spokesperson to media outlets and promotes volunteer and partner organization media exposure.
- Build and Participate on Teams. Build, maintain, and participate on teams to advance state level specific campaign work and Chapter organization building. Train and develop volunteer leaders who are skillful at facilitating effective, healthy teams. Actively participate and build the state campaign team. Supports a community of care with colleagues and collaborators and recognizes the need for self care in order to sustain ourselves and our work.
- Seasonal Activities. Heavier workloads may occur as a result of project deadlines, staff absences and vacancies, and during peak activity periods, like during active regulatory proceedings. Some weekend and/or evening work may be required.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Organizing Experience: Experience as an organizer and/or leading community organizing campaigns prior experience and/or demonstrated ability in developing, training, and coaching volunteers. Some knowledge and experience with the craft of grassroots organizing and power building.
- Campaign Implementation: Some experience planning or implementing a state or state level campaign, including developing strategy and tactics, organizing, lobbying, media relations, and working with mid to senior level political, organizational and business leaders.
- Volunteer Development: Track record of recruiting and developing volunteer leaders along a progression of leadership. Skillful at building trusting, mutually accountable relationships with a diversity of volunteer leaders. Skillful at placing volunteers with roles that match their expertise and passions.
- Team Building: Demonstrated leadership experience working within a team structure. Ability to build vision, trust, and mutual accountability with team members. Experience working closely with volunteers.
- Effective Communication: Highly developed communication skills, with a focus on communicating effectively across different groups of stakeholders, internally and externally. Reliable communicator that regularly follows up with volunteer leaders.
- Data Practices: 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.
- Tech Competency: Working knowledge and experience with G-Suite, Zoom, Canva, Mobilize, and Hustle and the ability to learn new technology tools to support organizing and campaign goals. Proven ability to train and coach volunteers on tools.
- Committed to evolution: 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.
- Uplifting and additive: 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.
The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Issue Expertise: Knowledge of environmental and energy issues, specifically industrial decarbonization and heat process electrification, and either expertise or an ability to develop expertise in state energy, climate justice, and/or conservation areas.
- Political Expertise: Knowledge of the political, policy, and regulatory landscape in the state. Best candidates will have some relationships and/or an understanding of the major players in business, organizations, and government.
- Project Management: Self-starter with project management and facilitation skills. Able to work well on teams to accomplish goals. Able to facilitate others to buy into projects and timelines.
- Demonstrates the ability to create rapport and inspire trust. Open to feedback and the ability to learn new skills.
- This job description encompasses all of the functions held by this position. A realistic annual work plan will be developed based on the strategic priorities and campaign goals of the state and/or region. The work plan will be approved by the Senior Campaign Organizer’s manager and adjusted as needed throughout the year. Depending on the needs of the state and/or campaign, the Senior Campaign Organizer may be doing some of these functions more than others. The work plan is the tool a manager will use to ensure there is clarity around expectations and work responsibilities.
To Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.
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