Job Title: California Climate Organizer (Staff or Senior DOE)
Program: Climate Law Institute
Employment Type: [x] Salary [ ] Hourly
[ ] Part-time [ X ] Full-time
[ ] Temporary [ X ] Regular
Reports to: California Climate Organizing Director
Direct Reports to this position: N/A
Salary Range: Salary/position tier DOE:
Staff Organizer: $55,000 - $70,000
Senior Organizer: $70,000 - $85,000
*Salary will be determined based on experience and will strictly comply with local and state minimum wage and salary threshold laws in California and other applicable locations.
Location:Remote, California
Is this position in the Bargaining Unit? [x] Yes [ ] No
*Because this position is in the Bargaining Unit, some fees may be required depending on where the candidate lives as a condition of employment.
The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a full-time Organizer in our Climate Law Institute to join our campaign for progressive, urgent state action to address the climate emergency and make polluters pay.
How to apply: Please apply online by completing our application and submitting a cover letter, resume, and reference list. The position will remain open until filled. The desired start date is August 3, 2026. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.
Deadline to apply: May 29, 2026
ABOUT THE CENTER
The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, believes the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence of a vast diversity of wild animals, plants and people. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, activism and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that humans, other species and all communities need to survive and thrive.
We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Climate Law Institute wages innovative legal and grassroots campaigns to protect people, wildlife and ecosystems from climate change and dirty and dangerous fossil fuels. We work to eliminate greenhouse pollution, make polluters pay for the damage they have caused, and speed the state’s transition away from fossil fuels. Examples of our campaign goals include passing a state climate superfund law, stopping damaging new fossil fuel projects, rapid cleanup of unplugged oil wells, and winning strong clean car standards. The successful candidate will play a leading role in our state organizing and campaigning work, as part of a dynamic team including organizers, scientists, lawyers and media professionals.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supporting organizational and coalition work to obtain specific science-based, progressive climate actions at the state level in California, such as making fossil fuel polluters pay for climate damage.
- Building strong relationships with coalition allies, working together to achieve our goals. This includes playing a coordinating role in coalitions through regular in-person, phone, and electronic communication.
- Forming strategic relationships with new allies and stakeholders to increase our mutual power.
- Implementing campaign work that advances our policy and legislative priorities, including coordinating in-district meetings, passing local resolutions, and organizing external events like townhalls and rallies.
- Supporting a network of grassroots supporters working to Make Polluters Pay, including facilitating campaign meetings, writing online toolkits to increase campaign engagement, and developing outreach resources as needed.
- Assisting with legislative efforts, such as managing sign-on letters, staffing policy hearings to represent Center positions on legislation, and leading advocacy days at the Capitol.
- Engaging Center for Biological Diversity members in California climate campaigns through action alert emails.
- Coordinating with digital and traditional media staff to support effective communication, messaging and story-telling in alignment with our campaign strategies.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
- Experience in results-oriented coalition organizing and advocacy campaigns and demonstrated success implementing core campaign work.
- Staff: 3+ years of experience
- Senior: 8+ years of experience
- Prior experience with California climate and/or progressive movement organizing preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues and organizations with a wide array of goals, perspectives, and backgrounds. Commitment to incorporating principles of justice, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the work.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully navigate challenges, including from a powerful and well-resourced opposition.
- Strong organizational skills and an ability to succeed in a fast-paced environment with a full workload where it is necessary to balance multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Excellent analytic, written and verbal communication, and meeting facilitation skills.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and with a team.
- Ability to work 40+ hours per week.
- Willingness and ability to travel within California.
- Experience with media outreach and media interviews preferred.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This is a hybrid position, based in California. Travel required, especially in California, for legislative hearings, in-person campaign meetings and other events. Requires working from home office with an option to work at the Center’s Oakland office. A typical schedule of Monday-Friday with some night and weekend work required at times due to deadlines and events. Will need to use typical office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, etc.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation. This is not a complete description of all workplace conditions, and conditions are subject to change per the Organization’s discretion.
Cognitive
Ability to process and analyze information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ x] Frequently
Exchange accurate information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Communicate and express oneself with others: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Interaction with other colleagues: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Interaction with the public/co-collaborators: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Physical
Reading (ingest data): [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Working on a computer: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Typing: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Writing by hand: [x] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Sitting: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Walking: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Standing: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Lift/Carry 0-25 lbs: [x] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Lift/Carry 25-75 lbs: [x] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Hiking: [x] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Climbing up or down stairs: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Bending: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Squatting: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Reaching overhead: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Repetitive motions: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Ability to drive: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Location Conditions
In person required (versus remote work): [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x] Frequently
Travel required*: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Night or weekend work: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Work in outdoor conditions: [ ] Rarely [x] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
Other? _________________ [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
*Attendance at our remote annual all-staff retreat is encouraged. This could require travel and 4-5 days of time away from home each year.
BENEFITS (Subject to change—see Handbook for more details)
For regular staff working 30+ hours a week
- Fully paid medical premiums for staff, and greatly discounted for families.
- Fully paid dental and vision premiums for staff and their families.
- Generous employer contribution to HSA and HRA’s.
- Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) provided for reimbursement of eligible wellness expenses.
- Center paid premiums for Short Term and Long-Term Disability provided for all staff.
- Center paid premiums for Basic Life Insurance for all staff.
- Discounted premiums for pet discount program.
For all regular staff
- 403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.
- Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year and 5 “personal” days awarded each year.
- Vacation accrual starts at a rate of 15 days annually, but it may be higher commensurate with experience, and paid sick days accrue at a rate of 10 days per year.
- Center Paid Time Off for parental leave, personal leave, caretaker leave and even pet caretaker leave.
- After 5 years of service, all employees receive a 12-week paid sabbatical.
- Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code.
JEDAI STATEMENT
The Center for Biological Diversity deeply values, and is committed to sustaining and promoting, both biological and cultural diversity. We welcome, embrace and respect diversity of people, identities and cultures. We are committed to fostering an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. The Center believes staff and board diversity is critical to saving life on Earth.
We are an equal opportunity employer.
The Center complies with all federal and local laws regarding work authorization for new hires. We welcome and encourage anyone interested to apply to any of our open positions. Everyone, regardless of current work authorization, will be considered.
Exempt Classification: Exempt
Applicable Exemption: Professional
Reasoning behind this classification: High degree of discretion and work is predominantly intellectual in nature and varied in character. The output produced can’t be standardized in relation to a given period of time.
