Job Title: Chapter Grassroots Coordinator

Department: North Carolina Chapter

Location: Wilmington, NC or Greenville, NC (Hybrid)

Reports To: State Grassroots Program Manager

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 700 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 Grassroots Coordinator is responsible for recruiting, engaging, and motivating large numbers of volunteers and new participants to take repeated action which will further Sierra Club’s targeted campaign goals. The Grassroots Coordinator supports our existing volunteers, as well as identifies and develops new 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 Grassroots Coordinator works within the Organizing Team to develop and implement priority organizing projects and tasks across the state in furtherance of the organization’s conservation, political, and grassroots building goals. The Grassroots Coordinator 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 organizing team, the Grassroots Manager, and Chapter Director, develop and implement organizing plans across North Carolina–with a particular focus on the eastern area of the state. Build relationships with Environmental and Community Activist organizations across the eastern part of North Carolina, 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, outings, and campaigns 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 their Local Groups, volunteer committees, and the North Carolina Chapter at-large.

Volunteer Recruitment, Leadership Development, and Support. 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. Foster a welcoming, inclusive, empowering volunteer culture 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 and student activists 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 trainings 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.

Coalition-building & partner coordination. Regularly communicate and coordinate with North Carolina Sierra Club’s existing network of elected officials, government officials, partner organizations and their staff members, including environmental/conservation and social justice nonprofits in North Carolina. Help expand that network to include more connections with groups representing BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other traditionally marginalized communities. Build and host inclusive coalitional spaces where these groups/people can build stronger relationships and successfully collaborate to build power and advance shared goals.

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. Works with the Grassroots Manager, Organizing Team, Volunteer Leaders, and Chapter Staff to plan and execute local, state-level, and national-level events and activities–primarily in, though not limited to, the eastern regions of North Carolina.
Build and 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.

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

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 from Wilmington/Greenville, and occasionally visit the Triangle Area.

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

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 North Carolina grassroots environmental justice ecosystem

Experience working in coalition with community partners.

$65,000 - $65,000 a year

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $65,000 annually.

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, representedposition.

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.

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.

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