Washington Conservation Action is a statewide environmental advocacy organization that advances environmental policies and pushes for actions that equitably address climate pollution, restore Puget Sound, sustain our state’s forests, and protect our democracy. For Washington to remain a national leader on environmental issues, we need environmental champions in elected office and to hold our leaders accountable. To keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant, we are committed to supporting Native candidates, candidates of color, and environmental leaders seeking election.
We develop, advocate, and defend policies that ensure environmental progress and justice by centering and amplifying the voices of the most impacted communities. Washington Conservation Action is a 501(c4) organization. Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is our 501(c3) partner organization. Together, we advance a shared a vision for a Washington state where nature and people live in balance for the flourishing of all.
Washington Conservation Action is based in a LEED-certified building in downtown Seattle with a view of Elliott Bay. Our team of nearly 40 works in a flexible hybrid model, with staff in the office two days a week for collaboration and celebration. All staff members have access to tools and systems to support hybrid work. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a difference. We are committed to a diverse, socially just, and welcoming work environment. People of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work and are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes Warm Springs, Oregon.
Summary
Washington Conservation Action (WCA) is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative organizer to help us establish and grow our 2024 Call 4 Climate Action Campaign to engage voters. This position will be key to building enthusiasm for the environment in Washington state’s 2024 election. The Civic Engagement Organizer is responsible for recruiting and mobilizing volunteers for WCA’s Call 4 Climate Action Campaign, connecting with registered voters in Washington state at events, and identifying voters and volunteers who care about environmental justice and climate. Beyond 2024, they will support WCA’s grassroots advocacy, coalition-building efforts, political organizing and mobilizing efforts.
The ideal candidate will be excited by the opportunity to engage community members and voters to support pro-environmental justice policies and candidates, is motivated to set and meet goals, and enjoys public speaking and teaching others. The Civic Engagement Organizer is part of the Field & Native Vote Team and reports to the Field Director. This Organizer will work on individual projects and as part of a close-knit field team, working closely with our Political and Civic Engagement team, other staff, interns, volunteers, and often in partnership with other organizations.
Responsibilities
The Civic Engagement Organizer works to implement and innovate strategies that involve community members, volunteers, and voters in voting, policy efforts, grassroots organizing, and issue campaigns. They play a key role in launching our 2024 Call 4 Climate Action Campaign and volunteer program to help get out the vote for climate in Washington state. The position involves being on the phone most afternoons and evenings, three or four days a week, on a regular (but flexible) schedule, supporting volunteers representing us at events, as well as training volunteers to make calls and running regular phone and text banks. The position will focus on our Call 4 Climate Action Campaign through early November 2024, then will evolve to support our volunteer program coordination after the 2024 election cycle. The Civic Engagement Organizer brings leadership, project management skills, and organizing capacity to our work.
Field Work and Volunteer Coordination 50%
- Engages supporters, activists, and interested folks from the community to participate in grassroots actions in support of our work; can include volunteer recruitment and management of phonebanks, text banks, doorbell days, town halls, virtual events, tabling etc.
- Strengthens and expands WCA’s supporter base, grows our volunteer network, and prioritizes organizing practices built on relationships and trust
- Engages WCA members and voters on the phone, encouraging them to participate in political activism by recruiting them to join phone banks, text banks, and doorbell days throughout the election season
- Conducts ‘Get out the Vote’ calls encouraging members and voters to turn in their ballots
- Identifies and supports high level volunteers and looks for ways to deepen their engagement in our work
- Speaks clearly and stays on script, while being conversational and friendly with voters across the political spectrum and in a variety of circumstances
- Supports fieldwork and strengthening relationships with diverse coalition partners including organized labor, BIPOC led organizations, and Tribes
Data Management & Tracking 20%
- Runs weekly phone banks and text banks, including scheduling and training volunteers, and capturing information like stories, statistics, and lessons learned and reporting back after each event
- Works with the Political and Civic Engagement Team to get voter contact lists, shares feedback on list performance, and collaborates with partner organizations on voter data as needed
- Ensures that data for members and voter contact history is comprehensively and accurately captured in appropriate databases in order to support our campaign and organizational efforts
Organizational: 30%
- Supervises at least one intern per cohort (typically three per year)
- Ensures principles of tribal sovereignty, racial and social equity are infused in our fieldwork
- Serves on a Racial Equity work group and helps advance our Racial Equity Action Plan
- Ensures that activist data is comprehensively and accurately captured in appropriate databases (Salesforce and Voter Activation Network)
- Assist with organizational events as needed, including recruitment, and in-person attendance and support
Required Skills
- At least two years of organizing and implementing successful grassroots advocacy or electoral campaigns. Campus or community organizing of any kind can meet this requirement
- Commitment to environmental protection and principles of tribal sovereignty and racial, social, and economic justice
- At least one electoral cycle of experience supervising volunteers, interns, or staff
- Demonstrated ability in education or outreach and communications
- Excellent communication skills by phone and in person; can shrug off cold responses easily while maintaining a professional and considerate demeanor
- Comfort with computers and ability to pick up new technology and teach it to others
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with competing time demands
- Positive attitude and has fun while working efficiently
- Discretion and integrity to work with and maintain confidentiality of sensitive personal information
- Ability to maintain a flexible schedule that will include some evening and weekend work
- Ability to take initiative, develop ideas, and turn them into action
- Ability to work effectively both independently and with a team in a dynamic environment
- A valid driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one, and ability to travel to different parts of Washington as needed, up to 20% of your work time
- Lives in Washington state or willing to move at your own expense
Desirable Skills
- Previous experience engaging voters or customers by phone in a professional setting
- Knowledge of the Voter Activation Network (VAN) or Votebuilder, Salesforce, or similar database platforms and field tools
- Understanding of social networking tools like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/threads
- Experience working with other constituencies like organized labor, business, faith, communities of color, or others
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
This job requires frequent sitting. Must be able to conduct business in English, though fluency in other languages is welcomed. For remote work, employees must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work during scheduled work hours. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform functions essential to the duties of the position. Washington Conservation Action and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is a unionized employer represented by Communications Workers of America Local 7800. This is a represented position.
Location Information
This position is hybrid with a minimum of 40% of time in the Seattle office. A hybrid remote agreement is required.
COVID-19
The organization follows all requirements of local health authorities. We are currently working in a hybrid remote work model with staff working from home in addition to in-office time for collaboration and celebration. We maintain strict safety protocols while in our office. All staff who come to the office must be fully immunized against COVID-19.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full time, non-exempt position with a salary of $59,000. We also offer a generous benefits package including medical and dental insurance, 401k plan and organizational match of up to 3% of your annual salary, a flexible spending account, four weeks of paid vacation to start, sick leave, thirteen paid holidays per year, an unlimited ORCA transit pass if you are in the ORCA service region, $1000 per year for professional development and if you work for five consecutive years you are eligible for a two-month paid sabbatical. We welcome new and diverse people to a great team who together shape environmental protection in Washington.
To apply
Please submit a cover letter and a resume here. No phone calls or mailed applications please. This position is open until filled.
WCAEF and WCA are equal opportunity employers committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. WEC does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, people with disabilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply.