Associate Organizer

Job Title: Chapter Associate Organizer

Department: Wyoming Chapter

Location: Remote within Wyoming. This position requires an ability to travel. 

Reports To: Chapter Director

Supervises: N/A

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: Sierra Club Wyoming has been a leader in our state since 1975 working to protect our environment, and today represents over 2,500 Sierra Club members and supporters across the state. Our Wyoming-based staff works cooperatively and in a fully integrated manner with our volunteer activists and grassroots supporters across the state, with a diverse array of partners, and with other regional and national Sierra Club staff. Our top conservation priorities are to slow climate change and minimize its most harmful impacts by ending fossil fuel production on public land; protect our remaining undeveloped wild landscapes; protect healthy and free-ranging wildlife; and maintain high-quality, connected wildlife habitats. All aspects of this position will be grounded in principles of equity, justice, and inclusion. 

This Wyoming Chapter Associate Organizer works with our members, volunteers, staff, and partners to plan, lead, and implement strategic, coordinated organizing campaigns that achieve Sierra Club Wyoming’s conservation, environmental and social justice, equity, and inclusion goals, with primary focus on Wyoming’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The person in this position works to build grassroots power by educating and engaging our members, supporters, partners, and the general public on our priority campaign and legislative issues. Their work helps strengthen our movement and build our power across the state by increasing our membership, volunteer engagement, volunteer leadership, and strong partnerships. The Chapter Associate Organizer coordinates broad, volunteer‑based community outreach and organizing to support Wyoming’s transition from a fossil-fuel extraction economy to a new, just and sustainable economy, with attention to communities most impacted by fossil fuel mining, drilling, and burning. They work under the direction and guidance of the Wyoming Chapter Director and in close cooperation with other chapter staff (in and outside of Wyoming); regional field, communications, and digital staff; the Environmental Law Program; and national Energy and Conservation campaign staff.

The position requires occasional evening and weekend work for volunteer meetings and public events; may require short periods of higher workloads due to project deadlines or other staff absences; requires the ability to travel within the state with a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record; and may require occasional out-of-state travel to regional or national meetings and trainings.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

• Campaign design and implementation. Working with other staff and volunteer leaders, develop and implement strategic campaign plans on assigned projects, including goals, outcomes, strategies, and specific tactics. Ensure that campaigns are centered on the Sierra Club’s core equity, inclusion and justice values, including environmental and racial justice.  Analyze policies, regulations, and proposals, help develop Sierra Club positions, write Sierra Club comments, and develop strategies and materials for public engagement that educate and engage large numbers of people in support of campaign goals. Hold community engagement events, including webinars, rallies, socials, and outings. Regularly track and report metrics.
• Legislative program support. Working with other staff, volunteer leaders, and partners, help prioritize, track, and lobby on proposed legislation; help develop and implement strategies and materials for public engagement to support our legislative goals; and support legislative activities of volunteer leaders and other staff.
• Partnership-building and coordination. Regularly communicate and coordinate with Sierra Club Wyoming’s existing partner organizations, including conservation and social justice groups, and help identify opportunities to expand our partner network to include more traditionally marginalized communities. Strengthen relationships to build power and advance goals based on shared values. Coordinate shared actions with partner groups to further chapter priorities.
• External representation and advocacy. Represent Sierra Club Wyoming to the public and in the media, and support volunteer engagement with the media. Help develop and implement media strategies, including press releases, earned media, and social media. Develop relationships with influential local people and elected leaders at local, state, and national levels, as appropriate.
• Organizational power building. Working with other staff and volunteer leaders, help achieve Sierra Club Wyoming’s shared power-building goals to increase membership, recruit and engage volunteers, develop volunteer leaders, strengthen existing partnerships, and develop new partnerships. Help with fundraising activities as assigned.
• Internal organizational support. Participate in and support Wyoming Chapter Board and committee meetings, regional Sierra Club meetings, and national Sierra Club meetings as assigned by your manager. Complete administrative tasks by assigned deadlines.
• Meeting planning & facilitation. Plan and facilitate regular meetings with volunteers, staff, and partners. Prepare agendas, maintain meeting notes, and organize and maintain team documents. Foster healthy and inclusive meetings with clearly defined purposes, outcomes, and understood standards of behavior.
• Other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience, and competencies:

• Community organizing. You have experience recruiting, organizing, training, or supporting volunteers; building diverse and strong coalitions; and strengthening long-term partnerships. You have worked with partners to achieve shared goals by building pressure on a decision-maker through an escalation of advocacy tactics. You are able to manage a fast-moving, dynamic campaign plan with multiple stakeholders, partners, volunteers, and decision-makers.
• Public speaking & facilitation. You are comfortable speaking in front of large and small groups and leading group discussions. You are able to clearly convey information and help everyone share their ideas while moving through an intentional agenda. You are able to motivate groups of people to take action for a cause.
• Communication & teamwork. You demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills. You understand the components of a comprehensive communication strategy to support an advocacy campaign. You proactively communicate with your supervisor and team members before, during, and after meetings and events to establish shared understanding and expectations. When a miscommunication occurs, you address it promptly. When assigned a task, you follow through and follow up to let your team know the task is complete.
• Environmental and social justice analysis & practice. You understand how climate change, environmental degradation, and limited access to nature disproportionately impact communities of color, low-income communities, and other marginalized groups of people. You have experience developing inclusive campaigns at the intersection of environmental action and social justice.
• Equity analysis & practice.  You are aware of your personal 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, positions, and roles.
• Strong work ethic. You are effective and efficient working independently on your own as well as cooperatively with others to accomplish complex work projects, and can point to specific examples of your experience with each.

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

• Familiarity with Wyoming energy and public land management issues
• Experience and knowledge of legislative and administrative processes (local, state, or federal)
• Demonstrated ability and effectiveness working with environmental justice communities, grassroots leaders and volunteers
• Fundraising experience
• Communications experience
• Working knowledge of database tools such as Salesforce, NPG VAN, Hustle
• Working knowledge of social media platforms
• Working knowledge of website design (Drupal or other platforms)

Compensation and Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $55,000 – $65,000 depending on experience and salary region, non-negotiable.

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 #5, 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.