Job Title: Field Organizer
Department: Missouri Chapter
Location: Mid-Missouri (Jefferson City preferred or Columbia)
Reports To: Missouri Chapter Director
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 Field Organizer is responsible for the planning and implementation of the Missouri Chapter’s state level policy priorities, organizing tactics, legislative priorities, government relations, and political priorities, which are: to regionally 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 Field Organizer works closely with volunteers, partners, and staff across the region & state. The Field Organizer works to develop a comprehensive volunteer development strategy to support volunteers from onboarding to leadership through training, coaching, and mentorship. The Field Organizer works closely aligned with volunteers, partners, and staff across the state with an emphasis in the Mid-Missouri region. The Field Organizer represents the Sierra Club at community events and with partner organizations. The Field Organizer plans and implements regional tactics to help achieve the state strategy; the Field Organizer will do this by fostering volunteer leadership and participation on movement ready teams, builds and recruits for events and actions to accomplish policy priorities, and report on campaign results and effectiveness.
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Job activities include but are not limited to:- Organizing Campaigns. Collaborates with staff and volunteers to implement components of an overarching strategic plan for Sierra Club’s priorities in the region. Tracks policy and regulatory proceedings in the region that are relevant to the campaign, identifies opportunities for engagement, mobilization, or intervention. With the support of the Chapter Director, staff, and volunteer leaders, develops individual campaign organizing plans, including organizing tactics, facilitating organizing meetings, volunteer onboarding and integration, and developing and maintaining partnerships. This includes evaluating progress towards goals through data collection and key metrics.
- Collaboration. Builds a healthy, mutually accountable relationship with staff and volunteers to carry out Sierra Club priorities. Communicates clear expectations, capacity, and works in strategic alignment to accomplish Sierra Club’s priorities. Prioritizes relationships with volunteer leaders and coordinates with other organization stakeholders as needed.
- Leadership Development. Support the Missouri Chapter’s Legislative and Political Committees. Identify and recruit potential volunteers and activists, match volunteers to their areas of interest, and increase volunteer and activist participation within the chapter and group structure. Support issue-focused volunteer teams to accomplish their goals, coach volunteers on skills, and coordinating work activities. In coordination with other staff, supports the volunteer leadership development including facilitating training and coaching leaders and supporting governance processes and functions. Maintain good data practices tracking volunteers teams, roles, and contact information as well as other core metrics.
- Mobilization and Event Planning. Coordinates with coalition partners and outside interest groups to plan volunteer activities supporting Sierra Club’s priorities. Mobilizes members and allied organizations and people to testify on bills, build relationships with legislators and lobby legislators. Working with volunteer leaders, leads lobbying efforts in the Missouri legislature. Attends chapter, group, and committee meetings to coordinate events and mobilization tactics. Responds to inquiries concerning membership, outings, events, and environmental issues from the general public, members, and volunteers. Provides good public relations and volunteer support for Sierra Club.
- Just Partner Relationships. Works to build just, respectful relationships within the organization and with external individuals and entities around our collective work. Works with community volunteers to develop relationships with grasstops leaders including key governmental officials and political leaders. Supports a community of care with colleagues and collaborators and recognizes the need for self care in order to sustain ourselves and our work. In coordination with regional field staff and volunteers, represents the Sierra Club in coalition and partner meetings.
- Local Representation of Sierra Club: Represent Sierra Club priorities as aligned with the overarching strategic plan to public officials, partner organizations, and to the media. Maintains positive relationships with strategic partners, coalitions, members of the media, elected officials, and government officials when strategic and aligns with the strategic priorities in the state. Organizing testimony/personally testifying on bills in Jefferson City, utilizing relationships with legislators to effectively lobby. As needed, serves as Sierra Club spokesperson to media outlets and promotes volunteer and partner organization media exposure.
- Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned.
- Seasonal Activities: Heavier seasonal workloads may occur as a result of the Missouri State Legislative session, project deadlines, staff absences and vacancies, and during peak activity periods. Frequent weekend and/or evening work required.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:- Lobbying or Policy Analysis Experience. You have 2+ years experience lobbying elected officials, working with government officials, analyzing policy, or related experience.
- Organizing Experience: You have experience as a field organizer and/or community organizing and/or demonstrated ability to onboard, train, and support volunteers. Experience designing and implementing tactics as part of a larger campaign strategy.
- Effective Communication: You have highly developed communication skills, with a focus on communicating effectively across different groups of stakeholders, internally and externally. You are a reliable communicator that regularly follows up with volunteer leaders.
- Team Building: You have demonstrated leadership experience working within a team structure. You have the ability to build vision, trust, and mutual accountability with team members. You have experience working closely with volunteers.
- Equity Analysis and Practice. You are aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role.
- 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, and either expertise or an ability to develop expertise in regional energy, climate justice, and/or conservation areas.
- Political Expertise: Knowledge of the political, policy, and regulatory landscape in the region. Best candidates will have some relationships and/or an understanding of the major players in state 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.
- Just Relationships. Demonstrates the ability to create rapport and inspire trust. Open to feedback and the ability to learn new skills. Has a good sense of humor, strong emotional intelligence, and builds strong interpersonal relationships.
- Tech Tools: Experience using and training on a variety of in person and online/virtual tools, for example tools such as Zoom, G-Suite, peer to peer texting and Mobilize, and venues for volunteer outreach and engagement.
- Data Practices: A working understanding of quantitative data (for example, numbers of people engaged) and qualitative data (for instance, stories about people taking action) and a willingness to use data to inform and evaluate organizing work.
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$68,500 - $68,500 a year
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $68,500 annually.
This position is represented by a collective bargaining unit and is subject to the terms and conditions of the contract between Sierra Club and Progressive Workers Union.
The Sierra Club offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.
This is a category 4, exempt, represented position.
Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club People Department in consultation with the employee’s manager. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition. The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce belonging.
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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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