Job description
Job Title: Chapter Organizing Manager
Department: SF Bay Chapter
Location: Oakland, CA or remote within Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin or San Francisco Counties
Reports To: Chapter Director
Supervises: Up to three Chapter Organizers
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 800 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.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Develops and implements campaign strategies for priority programs and projects in accordance with the chapter policy and national campaigns, including managing shared project funding through national campaigns.
- Works with staff and Chapter leadership in the development of campaign objectives and priorities of the Chapter, including designing and implementing new programs as needed.
- Identifies opportunities for partnerships with local and EJ groups in chapter campaigns. Serves as a liaison with other agencies and community stakeholders; receives inquiries and provides information to chapter entities, members and community regarding a wide variety of Sierra Club and Bay Area topics
- Recruits, manages and trains volunteers and enables their role in the effectiveness of the chapter. Sets volunteer culture and proactively engages in generative conflict mediation when necessary.
- Makes presentations to community, political, and governmental bodies regarding chapter campaign efforts.
- Works with Communications staff and volunteers in the development and execution of media, narrative, and public outreach communications and strategies to enhance the Chapter’s visibility and recognition, and to ensure that the message of the Chapter is accurately represented by the media. Represents the Sierra Club to government officials, the media, allies, and the public.
- Advocates the Sierra Club position on proposed legislation involving campaigns and programs; holds collaborative and trusting relationships with elected officials, business leaders, governmental agencies, and other non-profit organizations.
- Works on task forces, committees, etc. representing the Chapter’s objective or mission as determined by Chapter Director.
- Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of chapter projects and activities that center equity and our core values.
- Miscellaneous duties as assigned.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Policy advocacy and lobbying. Demonstrated experience advancing priorities through regional regulatory agency rule-making and electoral campaigns. Demonstrated experience building relationships with elected officials, boards, and agencies. Experience supporting organizers and volunteers in allocating resources for priority targeted campaigns and in developing organizing strategies to reach political program objectives. Assures compliance with election laws and regulations.
- Community organizing and outreach. Experience with grassroots organizing and coalition building, including experience organizing with working class communities, with a focus on prioritizing accessibility and inclusion.
- Interpersonal & communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage, inspire, and maintain strong transformational partnerships around shared values, purpose, and goals. Emotional intelligence and resilience, ability to engage in courageous conversations, particularly across identities, and tend to impact. Thrives in a feedback environment, both giving and receiving feedback.
- Effective managerial skills. Experience managing, supporting, and mentoring staff to succeed in their work and develop professionally. Demonstrated ability giving and receiving feedback and mentoring individuals. Track record of developing just relationships with direct reports and peers.
- Strategic approach and initiative. Provide thought leadership, regularly generating ideas that will advance the vision and goals of the campaign; ability to navigate an ever-changing landscape and effectively problem-solve while keeping the big picture in mind, while demonstrating initiative, proactively creating and pursuing opportunities to advance campaign goals.
- Project management & collaboration. Extensive experience with project management, from conception through implementation. Ability to plan and facilitate meetings and to navigate group dynamics and conflict. Highly collaborative and motivated by team work, with the ability to work independently and generate unique contributions to collective work, with flexibility to meet the needs of an ever-changing landscape.
- Operationalizing equity. Demonstrated understanding of how group dynamics impact supervisory relationships, organizational culture, partnerships, campaigns, and coalition work. History of decision-making that is consistent, intentional, and committed to creating equitable outcomes at all levels. Experience leading high-performing and leaderful teams across group identities, and comfort intervening when challenging group dynamics play out, in ways that build understanding, trust, and deeper self-awareness of team members.
The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Experience working with coalitions in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Experience working directly with local governments and agencies.
- Electoral campaign experience.
- Experience running canvassing or phone banking programs.
- Persuasive communicator.
- Strong work ethic and dependability.
$90,000 - $90,000 a year
Compensation and Benefits
The salary for this position is $90,000 annually.
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 4, exempt, non-represented, supervisory position.
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.
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
