Help advance environmental health and secure justice for farmers and families impacted by PFAS contamination in Maine! Since 2019, we have learned about a dozen farms and several hundred residential wells poisoned with PFAS - the ‘forever chemicals,’ primarily as the result of the state-sanctioned used of industrial and municipal sludge as fertilizer. As a result, family farms are facing ruin while residents are left with questions about long-term health impacts. As the state continues to test hundreds of additional locations for PFAS over the next several years, the number of impacted farms and people and the need for assistance will likely grow. This position will help address this challenge, working with impacted families, farmers, and organizations to create protective state policies, secure additional relief funds and ensure state resources actually assist impacted communities.

What You’ll Do: In this position, you will lead the development and execution of public-facing issue campaigns that focus on creating health-protective and justice-oriented policies around PFAS in the state of Maine. You’ll organize impacted communities and public health experts to identify needs, and develop strategies to get policy makers to address them. Under the supervision of our Director of Advocacy, you will help shape the narrative of how Maine must address PFAS contamination of our food, water, and land. This will include working with impacted community members to share their stories in traditional and social media as well as utilizing publicly available data or working to collect critical new information to demonstrate the extent of the problem to justify the need for additional investment in solutions.

Who We Need: We’re looking for an experienced organizer who knows how to run issue campaigns to lead our efforts to address PFAS in Maine. We’re looking for a someone with the ability to engage diverse constituents, further develop their capacity, and unite them to take collective action. In addition to having outstanding communications and people skills, you must know how to craft a campaign plan and be adept at engaging our internal team and external allies in implementing the plan and adapting it to changing conditions. We need someone who can effectively work in coordination with a team of other staff and allies who provide research and analysis, strategic direction, and communications, organizing, and fundraising support. You must see opportunities through an equity and justice lens and seek solutions that work for all.

Major Responsibilities include:

· Campaign Planning & Management. Develop and implement campaigns that effectively engage grassroots advocates and impacted communities to reach policy makers, the media, and key allies, which are grounded in strong science, and deliver measurable results. Work well with a staff team, coalition partners and others to advance our campaigns.

· Community Organizing & Leadership Development. Identify and maintain communications with grassroot community leaders recruited from areas of Maine impacted by PFAS contamination, including farmers and well owners. Help leaders develop their skills and knowledge to make positive policy change. Build our base and deepen relationships with other coalitions, organizations, and community groups.

· Policymaker Education. In coordination with our policy team, educate candidates for elected office and incumbents on the needs of farmers and well-owners related to PFAS contamination in Maine.

· Media Relations. Use earned media coverage and social media to strategically advance campaigns in coordination with our communications and policy teams.

· Relationship and Alliance Building. Invest time and positive energy to develop effective working relationships with diverse constituencies including other nonprofits and trade associations, key policy makers, expert scientists, and more. Assess and match others’ self-interest and capacity to the work needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Minimum three years relevant professional experience with proven success in issue campaign planning and management.

· Excellent people skills and proven grassroots organizing ability.

· Outstanding oral and written communication skills, and strong facilitation skills.

· Strongly self-motivated and directed, with the capacity to work effectively in teams of diverse people and organizations.

· Ability to grasp and a curiosity to learn more about the basic science underlying our campaign asks and comfort with communicating it to a lay audience.

· Problem-solving and analytical skills, with drive to continuously learn.

· Proven commitment to social justice and a sustainable future.

Preferred Qualifications:

· A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but relevant experience and other proven success can be substituted.

Defend Our Health believes that all people have a right to safe food and drinking water, healthy homes, and products that are toxic-free and climate friendly. We’ll stand up for this right whenever it is threatened. We use the best science, strategy and people power to persuade governments and corporations to deliver environmental health and justice. In the workplace and in the world, we are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Location: You may either work out of our Portland office, or primarily out of your home in Maine, with frequent in-state travel to meet with impacted community members or partners, and occasional in person meetings in our Portland office.

Salary: Mid-50s, adjusted for experience over the minimum requirements.

Benefits: Medical, disability, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with employer matching; four weeks paid vacation, a generous number of paid holidays, as well as sick leave.

To Apply:Please submit a cover letter highlighting your interest in the position and how your skills and background align with the qualifications, a writing sample, and your resume using our online application: https://jsco.re/bvl83

Application Deadline: Application review will take place as applications are received and until a hire is made. Please see our website to confirm if we are still accepting applications.

Defend Our Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, disability, or national origin.