Chapter Organizer
Job Title: Temporary Chapter Organizer
Department: Maryland Chapter
Location: Baltimore or Washington, DC (Hybrid)
Reports To: Chapter Director
Duration: Up to 6 months, between 20 and 30 hours/week
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 Temporary Organizer is responsible for recruiting, engaging, and motivating large numbers of new people to take repeated action which will further Sierra Club’s targeted campaign goals. The Organizer identifies and develops volunteers to take on the role of team leaders and build grassroots power and networks, and identifies and builds alliances with other organizations which can influence decision-makers. The Organizer regularly works outside of the office and without direct supervision to communicate with officials, the media and the public, and must be able to travel to relevant communities and locations to implement campaign plans.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
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.
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Compensation
The hourly rate for this position is $35/hour.
This is a category 99, hourly, non-represented, temporary 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.
Department: Maryland Chapter
Location: Baltimore or Washington, DC (Hybrid)
Reports To: Chapter Director
Duration: Up to 6 months, between 20 and 30 hours/week
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 Temporary Organizer is responsible for recruiting, engaging, and motivating large numbers of new people to take repeated action which will further Sierra Club’s targeted campaign goals. The Organizer identifies and develops volunteers to take on the role of team leaders and build grassroots power and networks, and identifies and builds alliances with other organizations which can influence decision-makers. The Organizer regularly works outside of the office and without direct supervision to communicate with officials, the media and the public, and must be able to travel to relevant communities and locations to implement campaign plans.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Grassroots Organizing. With the support of the Chapter’s issue teams, lead staff and volunteers, and Chapter Director, develop and implement organizing plans in Maryland to advance the Chapter’s priority campaigns. Recruit and organize volunteers and Sierra Club members, transitioning participants from digital to offline activity. Using both digital tools and in-person communication to develop, organize, and lead Sierra Club events, and other campaign activities with the goal of increasing community engagement with environmentalism, in line with Sierra Club’s values and policies. With the support of the manager, ensures that all work is rooted in equity and justice and inclusive of frontline and directly impacted communities.
- Community education. Find and engage in opportunities to educate local communities, particularly most impacted communities, on local environmental issues and opportunities. As a result of community education initiatives, invite community members to take action with or participate with the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter
- Volunteer Recruitment and Leadership Development. Identify, vet, and recruit potential volunteers and activists, match volunteers to their areas of interest, and increase volunteer and activist participation within the Chapter structure. Create welcoming, empowering volunteer environments where everyone feels safe, excited, respected, and supported to work together on shared passions. Conduct creative in-person and digital recruitment strategies, meet with new volunteers one-on-one, and encourage interested volunteers to grow their skills and leadership in the work by offering coaching and support as they take on new tasks, projects, and roles. Offer information- and skills-based training to volunteers and serve as a general resource for helping teams advance collective campaign goals. 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 community groups to plan engagement opportunities, activations and events supporting Sierra Club’s priorities. Attends internal and external meetings to coordinate online and in-person events and mobilization tactics
- Participate in Teams: Build, maintain, and participate on teams to advance campaign priorities and base-building. Supports a community of care with colleagues and collaborators and recognizes the need for self care, safety and inclusion in order to sustain ourselves and our work
- Organizing Experience: Experience in community organizing and/or demonstrated ability and experience designing and implementing tactics as part of a larger campaign strategy
- Campaign implementation: Some experience planning or implementing grassroots campaigns in low-income and/or communities of color, including developing tactics based on organizational strategy, organizing and working with local community members, local leaders and partner organizations
- Effective communication:Excellent verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to clearly articulate ideas and communicate effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders, internally and externally. Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm for persuasive communication with individuals on a daily basis, including door-to-door, phone, and text contacts. Experience with online and in-person public speaking, and facilitating community events
- Tech/Digital Tools: Experience using and training on a variety of constituent management tools, including tools such as G-Suite, Salesforce, various social media and other peer-to-peer texting and organizing platforms
- Data practices: Experience collecting and using quantitative data (for example, numbers of people engaged) and qualitative data (for instance, stories about people taking action) to inform and evaluate organizing work.
- Volunteer stewardship: Experience working closely with volunteers to onboard, train, and provide support. Ability to match volunteers with opportunities for meaningful and long-term engagement through a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
- 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
- Must have a driver's license, proof of insurance and be willing to drive up to 2-hours around Maryland
- Knowledge of environmental and energy issues, and either expertise or an ability to develop expertise in regional energy, climate justice, and/or conservation areas
- Connection to the Maryland grassroots environmental justice ecosystem
- Experience working in coalition with community partners
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.
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Compensation
The hourly rate for this position is $35/hour.
This is a category 99, hourly, non-represented, temporary 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.