Job Title: Chapter Clean Energy Campaign Representative
Department: Sierra Club DC Chapter
Location: District of Columbia

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of togetherness. 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 inequity, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our democracy. 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 is comprised of staff across the country and a network of local chapters that support our grassroots engagement. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with two labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The DC Chapter of the Sierra Club seeks a strategic, collaborative, and equity-focused organizer and campaigner to lead the chapter’s efforts to swiftly and equitably transition DC off methane gas and to electricity. The campaign representative will serve as a central coordinator and work with Sierra Club and our coalition partners to advance the DC Chapters' climate, clean energy, and electrification goals and build a durable, resilient activist community strong enough to drive an equitable clean energy transition. The campaign representative will work in partnership with climate, faith, Black and brown, and low- and moderate-income communities and with organizations serving these communities. The position will develop campaign plans, drive execution, communicate priorities and benchmarks, provide leadership, promote participation, and report on campaign effectiveness. They represent Sierra Club to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, allies and other organizations, and the public. This position is based in DC and will require frequent in-person engagement, meetings, and travel in DC and the surrounding areas. This position will require work outside of regular business hours. Frequent weekend and/or evening work may be required. Heavier seasonal workloads may occur as a result of project deadlines, staff absences and vacancies, and during peak activity periods.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

1. Build the climate base. Identify, engage, and mobilize the environmental and climate communities via proven person-to-person organizing methods. Activate and support the DC Chapter community through one-on-one meetings, events, training, online and social media engagement, and other opportunities.
2. Recruit and empower leaders. Identify, recruit, and train community leaders using proven person-to-person organizing methods. Set up and conduct 10-15 one-on-one meetings per week focused on building relationships and equipping community members, leaders, and leaders-to-be to take public action.
3. Support leader engagement and development. Support community members and local leaders in engaging in climate justice and leading a clean energy transition in their communities. Serve as a partner, coach, mentor, teacher, builder, driver of action, listener, and team builder. Move leaders up the ladder of engagement and leadership development.
4. Build relationships and work in partnership. Help lead the DC Chapter’s work and collaboration in clean energy and climate coalitions, and actively engage and work with organizations, related coalitions, and partner groups as appropriate and directed.
5. Scale a grassroots advocacy program. Working with team leads, volunteers, and partners, own all aspects of creating, implementing, and scaling a grassroots and grasstops public advocacy campaign on clean energy in DC. Working with DC Chapter leaders, track and share updates and information on relevant legislation and campaign developments.
6. Reporting and reflecting. Maintain excellent records and reporting for all organizing activities. Write a weekly reflection and participate in a weekly check-in with your supervisor and, as needed, with volunteer leaders. Maintain active engagement and proactive communication with DC Chapter leaders, especially those focused on the Chapter’s electrification campaigns.

The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

• Community organizing. You are an excellent community organizer with deep community organizing experience. You are focused on building durable power, connection, and community. You understand community organizing is built on trust, deep listening, action, and follow-through. Excellent written and oral communication skills, public speaking, and media presentation ability.
• Community engagement. You have experience with and see the power of field organizing – you’re experienced with making phone calls, canvassing, organizing gatherings and events (small and large), and running training. You have experience with digital and online organizing tools. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse coalition partners. Experience and relationships with environmental justice, climate, labor, community-based organizations, health, housing rights, economic justice, and/or clean energy partners. You’re eager to get out there, hustle, and meet folks in our DC community.
• Data and tools. You have experience with data-informed approaches to organizing. You understand the importance of data and tools to inform organizing and are eager to learn new techniques and organizing skills.
• Advocacy experience. You have experience and familiarity with public advocacy campaigns, including how to move targets, how to engage grassroots/grasstop advocates effectively, and experience writing advocacy communications and other public-facing content.
• Trust and understanding. This position is charged with building and maintaining community trust and relationships, and this requires strong leadership skills, accountability, and dependability. You are open and willing to learn from mistakes, reflect, and seek understanding. You are flexible, can exercise sound judgment, relate to people, and find common ground.
• 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.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following experience, skills, and competencies:

• Strong experience as an organizer, and in advocacy or electoral campaigns.
• Experience organizing in faith communities and low- and moderate-income communities.
• Experience with VAN, Salesforce, Nationbuilder, Mobilize, Hustle, and other movement tech tools.
• Experience writing advocacy communications like emails, advocacy actions, articles, blog posts, and presentations.
• Experience writing and leveraging content on social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
• Language skills. In particular, proficiency or fluency in Spanish.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $65,000 to $75,000.

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 full-time category 5, exempt, represented position.

Sierra Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Sierra Club employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

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 Human Resources 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 diversity.

Apply here.