Climate Justice Campaign Director

~ People’s Action Institute (501c3) and People’s Action (501c4) are sister national progressive organizations supporting the mobilization and leadership of the grassroots in support of an agenda that reflects people over profits. ~

People’s Action/Institute builds the power of poor and working people, in rural, suburban, and urban areas to win change through issue campaigns and elections. With offices in Washington, DC and Chicago, IL and staff scattered around the country, we support and further state-based and national movements for progressive policies on the environment, decarceration, health care, economic security, housing, education, and more.

People’s Action/ Institute member groups have a track record of leadership in coordinating field mobilization and advocacy in advancing policies for a 100% Just Transition – e.g. playing frontline leadership roles in fights for cutting edge legislation like the IL for the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) and the recently passed the NY Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA, not exactly what our groups were pushing for in terms of justice, but still some of the boldest climate change legislation out there!).

Our member organizations across the country have been at the forefront of educating and mobilizing people around critical environmental and climate fights, fighting for those hit hardest by the crises to be at the forefront of crafting solutions and benefiting from transitions.

Position Overview

People’s Action/ Institute is accepting candidates for the position of Climate Justice Campaign Director. We're seeking a motivated leader who can drive forward our work to advance our People and Planet First campaign work at the state and national levels.

This work includes fights for 100% Just and Clean Energy for All at the state and national levels, No More Sacrifice Zones (an effort to prevent industrial and fossil fuel dumping and extraction sites from targeting low-income and communities of color and ensure compensation in places historically sacrificed) in partnership with the Center for Health & Environmental Justice (CHEJ), and for our frontline groups’ integration into the fight(s) for a Green New Deal.

Job Responsibilities

• Drive our national engagement on climate. Own the project of advancing People’s Action’s contribution to climate & environmental fights nationally, including the Green New Deal. Create strong national partnerships that build our power to advance our strategy as well as provide support for state groups.
• Support the creation of razor-sharp state campaigns. Use your deep campaign, power analysis, issue-cutting skills to help affiliate member group staff create and execute razor sharp campaign strategies at the state level around 100% Just & Clean Energy for All. There should be clarity in the organization and across the network about who our targets are, who are partners are and how we’re going to win. This is about building a culture of campaigning that electrifies and focuses people. [Note! People’s Action Institute has provided resources to 9 different state level campaigns.]
• Create flashpoint moments for public and direct action to elevate issues. Work with member groups to amplify state campaign moments and take advantage and/ or craft national campaign moments to elevate our issues, perspectives, and agenda in the broader arena.
• Utilize the building of independent political power. Together with our network and allies, we are building toward bold progressive governing power in cities and states. This focus should be baked in to all of our programmatic work. As the People & Planet First Campaign Director you should be thinking about how independent political power is advanced through the issue work as well as how the political work advances the issue work.
• Build and develop strong coalitions and partnerships. Serve as our point person in national coalitions around climate & the environment and in developing partnerships that can benefit the work at the state and national level, including other organizing networks, advocacy groups, think tanks, and labor unions.
• Coordinate the work internally. Work with other organizational department directors (such as the Movement Politics, Power Building, Communications and Finance Directors) to ensure smooth and seamless implementation of the campaign work and the maximization of our capacities towards winning.
• Capture and communicate our unique story. Diligently work to get our narrative, messaging, and story out to the press along with our communications team to help shift public consciousness while also ensuring our groups get credit for their contribution to this effort.

Other job responsibilities include:

• Supervision of the Lead Organizer on the People & Planet First campaign team; support for a newly Organizer to be hired by CHEJ.
• Field management/ support of particular member groups in the network.
• Fundraising/ financial management for the campaign budget along with the fundraising team.
• Tracking of field clips, communications activities, and more for reporting and evaluation purposes.
• Attend and support organizational conferences, events, and meetings as needed and requested.

Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understand the scope of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties or responsibilities associated with the position. This position reports to the national Campaigns Director and can be based anywhere in the U.S.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate should have the following experience and qualifications:

• Strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside the organization.
• A minimum of seven years’ experience working with community, labor and/ or electoral organizations.
• Similar level of experience coalition building and facilitating diverse groups, with a strong track record of building and managing teams/ collaborations.
• Experience running statewide or national level campaigns with multiple partners.
• Understanding, experience, and familiarity with state and national political landscapes and legislative processes.
• Experience balancing long-term power building with rapid response action needs.
• Previous experience organizing around climate/ energy/ environment issues is ideal, but not required.
• Experience writing and managing grants and other donor relationships.
• Strong interpersonal, writing, and organizational skills.
• Effective at multitasking with a wide range of skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 2-3 times per month.

Compensation

• The salary range for this position is $75k-$85k, depending on years of experience.
• The People’s Action benefits package includes a very good family medical, dental & vision insurance plan, 403b plan with 3% employer contribution after 6 months, and paid time off in December in addition to paid vacation.

Note: Preference given to candidates that submit before October 13th, 2019. Ideally, we would start someone in the position as soon as January 6, 2020.

People’s Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer; women, people of color, persons with disabilities and LGBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.