Conservation Organizer at Sierra Club

Job Title: Conservation Organizer

Department: Oregon Chapter Sierra Club

Location: Bend, Oregon or remote in Central/Eastern Oregon.

This position requires the ability to travel.

Reports To: Oregon Chapter Director

Supervises: None 

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. In Oregon, the lands we live and do work together on are the traditional homelands of many diverse indigenous tribes and bands including the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, bands of Chinook, Tualitan, Molala, Yahooskin, Coquille, Tolowa, Upper Umpqua, Clatsop, Wasco, Walla Walla, Umatilla, Tenino, Alsea, Siuslaw, Coos, Lower Umpqua, Shasta, Siletz, Tillamook, Kalapuya, Klamath, Modoc, Molala, Cayuse, Takelma, Bannock, Burns Paiute, and many other peoples. We recognize Indigenous peoples as the traditional stewards of this land and acknowledge the enduring relationship between the land and the people since time immemorial.

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 proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

The Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club consists of nearly 60,000 members and supporters statewide who have been working together to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet since 1978. With a team of three full-time staff working remotely and out of our Portland office, our chapter has both the close-knit feel of a small grassroots local organization and the powerful feel of being connected to and supported by Sierra Club staff, volunteers, and resources from every region of the country. Our volunteer-driven campaigns are protecting endangered species, forests, and public lands and moving Oregon toward a just transition to 100% renewable energy.

Scope: The Conservation Organizer is responsible for organizing campaigns which win real victories and build the grassroots power to accomplish Sierra Club priorities, which are: to protect our lands, water and wildlife, address the biodiversity crisis, ensure access to the outdoors for all, protect communities from pollution, and transform the energy economy. The Conservation Organizer is critical to the Oregon Chapter’s efforts to successfully carry out its strategic plan, with a specific focus on the protection of public lands, water, and wildlife while establishing new national monuments.

The Conservation Organizer works closely with Oregon Chapter volunteers, partners, and staff in Central & Eastern Oregon and across the state, while harnessing the strategic levers of Sierra Club including legal, communications, digital strategies and subject matter/campaign expertise. The Conservation Organizer plans and implements tactics to help achieve the state’s conservation priorities by cultivating volunteer leadership and participation on conservation campaigns, building and recruiting for events and actions to accomplish policy priorities, supporting the Chapter’s outings program by planning and recruiting for outings to crucial public lands, and reporting on campaign results and effectiveness. The Conservation Organizer represents Sierra Club at community events, as well as interfacing with partner organizations, government officials, the media, business and community leaders, and the public.

• 1. Campaign Planning. Participates in the creation of a state strategy while leading specific campaigns, balancing state and local priorities. Ensures that campaigns are rooted in equity and justice and inclusive of frontline and directly impacted communities. Works to incorporate volunteers in creating and implementing campaign goals outlined in the overarching Oregon Chapter strategic plan. Develops tactics and metrics, tracks policy and regulatory proceedings, identifies opportunities for engagement, mobilization, or intervention for one or more campaign outcomes.
• 2. Organizing Implementation: Develops and carries out individual campaign organizing plans, including organizing tactics, conducting or overseeing research, developing engagement strategies, facilitating organizing meetings, volunteer integration, and developing and leveraging partnerships. Evaluates progress and measures of effectiveness through data collection and collectively-established metrics. Weaves individual campaigns with other state campaigns and desired outcomes to ensure unified organizing in the state. 
• 3. Collaboration. Builds mutually supportive and accountable relationships with both National and Chapter staff and volunteers to carry out Sierra Club priorities. Communicates clear expectations and capacity. Prioritizes relationships with volunteer leaders and collaborates with other Sierra Club entities and partners.
• 4. Volunteer Development and Management. Creates a comprehensive volunteer development plan to support volunteers from onboarding to leadership through training, coaching, and mentorship. Coordinates with National and Chapter staff to support volunteer leadership development and organizing metrics using both VAN and Salesforce. Identifies and develops new and existing volunteers as they assume new leadership roles and build Sierra Club’s grassroots power and outreach into communities. Supports and trains volunteers on organizing skills and developing issue expertise. Supports volunteers in preparing for engaging with key partners, coalitions, and elected and appointed decision makers.
• 5. Strategic Local Representation of Sierra Club. In coordination with National and Chapter staff and volunteers, creates strategic communication and grassroots engagement strategies and metrics. Represents Sierra Club priorities to public officials, partner organizations, and to the media. Maintains positive relationships with strategic partners, coalitions, members of the media, grassroots leaders, elected officials, and government officials when strategic and aligns with Oregon Chapter priorities. As needed, serves as Sierra Club spokesperson to media outlets and promotes volunteer and partner organization media exposure. 
• 6. Mobilization and Event Planning. Coordinates with coalition partners and outside interest groups to plan volunteer activities supporting Sierra Club’s priorities. Attends chapter, group, and committee meetings to plan and coordinate events for members and supporters to take action on priority campaigns as well as outings to explore public lands and win hearts and minds towards our conservation goals.
• 7. Build and Participate on Teams: Participates effectively in teams to further the Chapter's goals. Builds and maintains high functioning teams that advance specific state level campaigns while expanding the Chapter organization. Trains and develops volunteer leaders who are skillful at facilitating effective, healthy teams. Supports a community of care with colleagues and collaborators and recognizes the need for self care in order to sustain ourselves and our work.

• Seasonal Activities: Heavier seasonal workloads may occur as a result of project deadlines, staff absences and vacancies, and during peak activity periods. Frequent weekend and/or evening work required.

• Organizing Experience: Experience as a field organizer and/or leading community organizing campaigns. Prior experience and/or demonstrated ability in training, motivating, and coaching volunteers.  Experience designing and implementing tactics as part of a larger campaign strategy.
• Effective Communication: Highly developed verbal, written and digital communication skills, with a focus on communicating effectively across different groups, internally and externally. Reliable communicator that regularly follows up with volunteer leaders. Ability to convey Sierra Club priorities while speaking to groups of volunteers, partners, public officials, and the media.
• Data Practices: Experience 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.
• Team Building: Demonstrated leadership experience working within a team structure. Ability to build vision, trust, and mutual accountability with team members. Experience working closely with volunteers as colleagues.
• 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.
• Tech Tools: Experience using a variety of online/virtual tools such as Zoom, G-Suite, peer-to-peer texting, and Mobilize as well as ability to learn new technology tools to support organizing and campaign goals.

• Knowledge of Oregon environmental issues and the related political, policy, and regulatory landscape, and either expertise or an ability to develop expertise in state energy, climate justice, and/or conservation areas.
• Project management and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to create rapport and inspire trust. Open to feedback and the ability to learn new skills.

To Apply:

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.

Applications will be accepted through October 16, 2024.