Pennsylvania Grassroots Organizer

~ The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional non-profit conservation organization working solely to save the Bay. ~

Established in 1967, CBF has a staff of approximately 185 employees working in offices in Annapolis Maryland; Richmond and VA Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C., and in 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water polices, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.

CBF's headquarters office in Annapolis, MD is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world's first U.S. Green Build Council's LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened The Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, VA. The Brock Center is one of the most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings in the world.

CBF has an annual budget of approximately $21 million and is supported by more than 200,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF please visit our website. 

Position Overview  

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a PA Grassroots Organizer. The position will be based in CBF's PA State Office in Harrisburg, but there will be expected travel to nearby South Central Pennsylvania counties regularly. This is a one-year term position. 

Context of Position 

Grassroots Organizers will work to mobilize Pennsylvania communities to take action on the issue of water quality and the broader Chesapeake Bay watershed cleanup effort. They will activate hundreds of new volunteers, while building a core group of 20-30 volunteer leaders who will participate in community organizing in their community.

Organizers will work as part of a growing team of organizers in Pennsylvania, working with the Outreach & Advocacy Manager to hit and exceed monthly and long-term targets. This is a full time junior level position. Campaign hours can run 40 hours per week, including flexed time on evenings and weekends. 

Responsibilities  

Essential functions include: 

• Identify Supporters: Through petitioning and other methods of outreach, organizers will identify community members who are motivated by issues of environmental protection and watershed health to recruit as volunteers.
• Recruit Volunteers: Grassroots Organizers will work to mobilize 10 new volunteers every week, spending up 15 hours on the phone each week doing outreach to supporters and recruiting them to come to community events and actions.
• Plan and Run Events: Organizers will plan the events and actions in which their volunteers participate. Examples of events that Organizers might run are letter-writing events, phone banking, volunteer canvassing, petitioning at farmer's markets, happy hours for supporters, etc.
• Develop Leaders: Organizers will identify top-level volunteers and teach them organizing skills so that that they can expand CBF's organizing capacity in their community. These leaders will learn how to recruit volunteers, train people to write letters and do petitioning, etc.
• Record Keeping: Organizers will keep great records about the supporters they identify, the leaders they develop, the actions they plan and execute, and other information that could be useful for future organizing efforts
• Build Partnerships: Organizers will identify and engage environmental and non-environmental partner organizations with shared interests to build coalition support for local clean water campaigns. 

Qualifications  

Professional Experience & Qualifications 

• Strong communication and motivational skills, work ethic, and passion for environmental and community welfare issues are essential.
• Candidates must be able to work within a team, have proven leadership ability and experience handling a lot of responsibility.
• Strong self-direction and the ability to take initiative are also necessary qualifications.
• Previous organizing experience is a plus.
• Other qualifications that will be strongly taken into consideration include experience with public speaking to diverse crowds and communities on advocacy issues, working with farming communities, bipartisan campaign experience, and experience working in the field.
• Candidates who have worked with a Voter Activation Network including cutting walk turf/lists, working with phone tool/pulling phone lists and data entry will be favored. Bachelor's degree required. 

Compensation: CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred annuity plan. 

To Apply 

Please use the email address belpw to send cover letter, resume, and salary history and requirements no later than August 3, 2015 to:

Human Resources/FY16-04-PAGO
Chesapeake Bay Foundation

~ The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~