Opening for an Eastern Grassroots Organizer

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is hiring a full-time East Coast Regional Organizer based out of its Washington, DC office. Interested applicants should email a cover letter (one page), resume, a writing sample (original work), and 3 references to Clayton Daughenbaugh at clayton@suwa.org. Please include the words “Eastern Grassroots Organizer” and your name in the subject line. The deadline for submission is Friday, June 24, 2022.

Reports to: Organizing Director

Job Description Summary:

The Eastern Grassroots Organizer works to advance the goal of building and maintaining cohesive Eastern and National support for SUWA’s congressional and administrative efforts to protect Utah’s wilderness lands. Working closely with SUWA’s Organizing Director and a team of regional and community organizers, this person will plan and implement direct organizing activities in targeted areas across the Eastern U.S. They will also recruit, develop, and maintain a diverse network of grassroots activists, volunteers, and coalition partners; develop educational and advocacy materials, coordinate with SUWA’s legislative and policy teams, and contribute to DC-based events.

This position requires a willingness to travel regularly to targeted areas for organizing activities in person and to Utah for staff and organizing events. Estimated travel is 30%.

The overall mission of the organizer is to work towards permanent protections for Bureau of Land Management lands within the Utah Wilderness Coalition’s citizens’ wilderness proposal.

Qualifications Required:

· Excellent listening and verbal/writing/public speaking communication skills.

· Self-motivated; able to work in a team and independently. The position is based from SUWA’s Washington, DC satellite office.

· Ability to build and maintain relationships and develop leadership skills among volunteers.

· Passion for public lands protection.

· Commitment to and ability to communicate the need for protecting wilderness landscapes within the context of climate change.

· Willingness to travel and work flexible hours. It is estimated that this position could require 30% of time away from home base, varies per month.

· Must be skilled/comfortable with Microsoft, Google Docs, Zoom.

Additional helpful qualifications:

· Past grassroots organizing work.

· Knowledge of agency and congressional processes.

· Prior experience using advocacy software platforms such as CRMs, texting services.

· Ability to work with traditional and social media.

· A four-year college degree.

· Bilingual (Spanish).

Responsibilities Include:

· Build, grow, and sustain a network of volunteer leaders and activists working together to support identified wild land protections.

· Identify, organize and manage events, venues and activities for interaction with SUWA’s programs.

· Utilize traditional and social media platforms to engage volunteers and demonstrate support for protecting Utah’s wild lands.

· Develop and give educational presentations.

· Develop and produce educational materials and articles.

· Manage volunteer participation and grow activists into leaders.

· Supervise interns as needed.

· Assist in development and implementation of grassroots activists training and workshops.

· Participate in staff strategic planning.

· Grow the organization’s membership.

· Other responsibilities as assigned by the Organizing Director.

This position will start at $47,000 per year; with paid health insurance; a 3.5% contribution to a 403b plan; 14 paid holidays; 3 weeks of vacation to start; and other benefits. (Benefits begin after a 60-day probation period.)

Currently the position is a blending of in-office and at-home work time. Circumstances permitting, SUWA supports the collegiality of working together in a common location.

SUWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the outstanding wilderness at the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and the management of these lands in their natural state for the benefit of all Americans. SUWA promotes local and national recognition of the region’s unique character through research and public education; supports both administrative and legislative initiatives to permanently protect Colorado Plateau wild places within the National Park and National Wilderness Preservation Systems, or by other protective designations where appropriate; builds support for such initiatives on both the local and national level; and provides leadership within the conservation movement through uncompromising advocacy for wilderness preservation. The lands we work to protect are the ancestral homelands of many Tribes. We are committed to expanding present-day collaboration with our Tribal neighbors.

SUWA is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. SUWA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.