Chapter Director

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 Angeles Chapter is led by an all-volunteer Executive Committee (“ExCom”) which drives the conservational and organizational development of the Angeles Chapter. Through Sierra Club’s 100,000 member activists in LA and Orange Counties, 13 Local Groups, Conservation Committees and its Outings programming, the Chapter engages in grassroots activism that supports the objectives of the Sierra Club mission. The Chapter Director is accountable to the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Executive Committee. 

The Chapter Director carries out the policies, priorities, and objectives of the Executive Committee for the assigned areas of chapter programs and operations. These assigned areas include but are not limited to: conservation issue organizing, political and legislative programming, fundraising, budgeting and financial management, staff supervision, volunteer development, and media relations. The Director represents the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, donors, allies, other organizations, and the public. Evening and weekend work is required. Occasional travel throughout Southern California for advocacy events, team/group meetings, and other as needed/requested. Occasional regional/national travel required.Job Activities include but are not limited to:

Chapter Programs and Operations (Internal)

• Strategic Planning: Collaborates with the Executive Committee and Chapter Issue Committees to develop, present and monitor short and long term strategic, programmatic, and financial goals and objectives.
• Collaboration: Responsible for planning and tracking campaigns and implementing Sierra Club national and chapter goals and priorities. Coordinates with Sierra Club headquarters to ensure cohesion between the chapter and national staff.
• Financial Management: Works with Chapter Treasurer and Executive Committee to develop, manage and report on annual operating budgets, ensuring resource allocations are in line with values of equity and justice, and in line with broader strategy.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with Sierra Club policies, collective bargaining agreements for unionized staff,  and all federal, state and local legal requirements pertaining to Chapter operations.
• Staff Management: Oversee all Chapter staff in assigned operational or program areas. Management includes recruiting and hiring for equity, diversity, and excellence, establishing priorities and assisting in work planning, preparing and conducting performance reviews, taking personnel actions as appropriate, and providing mentoring and on-going professional development opportunities.
• Organizational Development: Ensure that the Executive Committee, Local Groups, Issue Committees and Chapter staff have volunteer engagement plans that outline volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement goals. Ensure the chapter is effectively developing volunteers into leaders, and report volunteer activity as a key metric to the Executive Committee.
• Governance: Responsible for communicating effectively with the Executive Committee and providing, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Executive Committee to function properly and to make informed decisions. Support development of agenda and attend monthly weekend Chapter Executive Committee meetings.

Representing the Chapter (External)

• Outreach and Coalitions: Build strong and active relationships with elected officials, governmental agencies, state and regional community leaders, coalitions, other allied organizations, etc.
• Communications: Represent the point of view of the Angeles Chapter to media, coalitions, external and internal partners, and the general public. Work with staff and volunteers to ensure that the Chapter takes full advantage of all available digital tools including : use of the Chapter website, social media, press releases, op-eds, letters to editors, and the chapter newsletters.
• Fundraising: Responsible for major donor stewardship and cultivation – including 501c(3), 501c(4) and PAC donors. Works with development staff and volunteers to build out a multi-year funding strategy. Serve as Chapter spokesperson during annual fundraising and capital campaigns. Attend donor and foundation meetings, events and fundraisers when appropriate. Ensure donors are acknowledged for their support in a timely fashion.
• Advocacy: Work with appropriate staff and volunteers to design and implement effective legislative programs that reflect the Chapter’s goals and priorities, and lobby government entities and elected officials, Attend lobby days and serve as spokesperson to the media on legislative issues.
• Political: Work with appropriate staff and volunteers to design and implement effective political programs that reflect the Chapter’s electoral goals and priorities. With the Chapter Political Committee, endorse local, state, and federal candidates for support.

The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

Experience managing within complex organizational systems: Demonstrated ability to hire, oversee, and collaborate with staff utilizing organizational management skills, such as planning, program development, and task facilitation. Experience in managing, coaching, inspiring and holding accountable staff and volunteers, including outside of a direct management chain. Demonstrated ability to work under their own initiative, handle multiple assignments simultaneously, and manage initiatives/projects to completion.

Experience in grassroots organizing, training, and coalition building: In-depth knowledge of the craft of grassroots organizing, including experience leading community organizing campaigns. Experience developing strategies to create policy change as well as to create structural and ideological change.

Fundraising experience. Previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funders, partner agencies, and volunteers. A history of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving financial results.

Relationship Builder: Experience managing and supporting staff and volunteers to succeed in their work and develop professionally. Demonstrated ability giving and receiving feedback and mentoring individuals. Direct communication and the ability to balance professional skill development with compassionate forms of accountability.

Operationalizing Equity. Experience modeling effective equity analysis and practice and able to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how group dynamics impact supervisory relationships, organizational culture, partnerships, campaigns and coalition work. Decision-making is consistent, intentional, and committed to creating equitable outcomes at all levels. Experience leading high-performing and leaderful teams across group identities. Experience intervening when challenging group dynamics play out, in ways that build understanding, trust, and deeper self-awareness of team members. 

Strong Communication: Can effectively communicate the organization’s mission and strategic future to staff, Executive Committee, volunteers, donors, and the public, through demonstrated public speaking ability and strong demonstrated written and oral communication skills.`

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

Leadership in nonprofit, mission driven or grassroots organizations

Expert or deep knowledge and background in environmental, social justice, or related field; engagement with communities of color impacted from systemic or environmental discrimination a plus

Budget experience. Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting. Experience overseeing organizational budgets of $700,000 or more. 

Prior legislative lobbying and political campaign experience