Regional Organizer

The Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC) is a Las Cruces-based, grassroots
organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the unique natural heritage of the
Southwestern borderlands.

The goal of this position is to mobilize public support as part of SWECs campaigns
to protect Otero Mesa and the Rio Grande, with time split evenly between the two
campaigns. This is a full-time position reporting to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities:

1. Under the direction of the Executive Director and in coordination with the
   Otero Mesa Coalition, develop and implement a plan to mobilize public
   support in New Mexico and west Texas to stop oil and gas development on
   Otero Mesa by such methods as:
   • presentations to community groups and decision makers
   • letter writing and petition drives
   • tabling at public events and in public areas
   • obtaining resolutions of support from key groups
   • outreach and collaboration with nontraditional allies, e.g. Native
     Americans, Mexico, landowners, churches, El Paso Water Utilities,
     etc.
   • street theater and other free media events
   • letters to editor
   • cultivating media contacts, serving as SWEC media contact on Otero
     Mesa, writing press releases, organizing press conferences, arranging
     interviews and generally facilitating favorable media coverage
   • editorial board visits
   • producing content for brochures, website, reports, fact sheets and
     other campaign materials.

2. Under the direction of the Executive Director, design and implement a
   volunteer adopt-a-lease program to monitor and document compliance with
   lease stipulations and coarse ecological changes associated with oil and gas
   development.
3. Under the direction of the Executive Director, implement outreach and
   organizing tasks undertaken by SWEC as part of the Alliance for Rio
   Grande Heritage. In 2003, these include:
   • mobilize public support for an-Alliance approved restoration
   • alternative in IBWCs Canalization Project environmental impact
     statement, according to the Alliances outreach plan, using similar
     methods as in #1 above;
   • Implement a program to solicit voluntary donations of annual water
     allotments from certain types of customers (small tract users and
     flat-raters) within Elephant Butte Irrigation District and El Paso
     County Water Improvement District #1.
4. Serve as SWEC representative to Alliance on regional campaign issues.
5. Perform other duties as directed by the Executive Director.

Requirements:

• Passionate commitment to biodiversity protection.
• Concurrence with SWEC goals and tactics.
• Ability to express oneself well verbally and in writing.
• An outgoing and organized personality.
• Ability to relate well with diverse kinds of people and persuade others to
  take action.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and carry them all to
  completion.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
• Willingness to work as part of a team.
• Must have own transportation (mileage will be reimbursed).

Compensation and Commitment:

This is a professional salaried position, $22,000 - $32,000 annual salary, depending
on qualifications, plus benefits. A one-year commitment to the job is preferred.

Application Instructions:

Please send a cover letter, rsum, writing sample (800 words, maximum), and
three references to:

Kevin Bixby
Southwest Environmental Center
275 N Downtown Mall
Las Cruces NM 88001-1213