Job Description

Fossil Free California is hiring a full-time Campaigns Organizer or Senior Campaigns Organizer. The successful candidate will work with two other Fossil Free California staff and our many coalition partners to help build support for fossil fuel divestment of CalPERS and CalSTRS among unions, municipalities, and the legislature.

That means facilitating and working closely with volunteers in our public pension divestment campaign teams, collaborating with staff and allies, developing relationships with union members and leadership, supporting volunteers in reaching out to their cities and unions, collaborating on strategy development for legislative and grassroots campaigns, and responding to rapid response moments. The Campaigns Organizer will leverage best practices in both digital and in-person organizing. Our ideal candidate will be passionate about divestment and climate justice. They will be a strategic thinker with experience organizing both online and offline in union, grassroots, and legislative contexts.

This position is a 12-month contract position with full health benefits which is eligible after 12 months for hire as permanent staff.

About Us

Fossil Free California runs grassroots campaigns targeting the nations’ two largest pension funds, both based in California – CalSTRS (California State Teachers Retirement System) and CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System). In addition, Fossil Free California supports key California climate justice campaigns to phase out fossil fuels towards California’s just, abundant future. In 2023, Fossil Free California is ramping up its pressure on the state pensions to divest through expanded union engagement, mass grassroots mobilization, and legislation (currently SB 252).

We operate with a collaborative model where volunteer-led teams work side-by-side with a limited staff to carry out campaign goals. We are committed to anti-racist practices. We often work in partnership with allied groups, ranging from youth climate organizations to large nonprofits. This position works closely with two other staff members – the Coordinating Director and the Communications and Engagement Lead – as well as with the volunteer teams.

About You

You’re a flexible and personable self-starter with excellent interpersonal and digital communication skills and a positive “can-do” attitude. You’re passionate about climate justice, and excited about collaborating with a team of committed volunteers and experienced campaigners on a variety of projects. You’re energized by working with a multi-generational group of people with diverse professional backgrounds and personal experience. You’re eager to engage grassroots organizing, fundraising, and coalition-building as high-leverage ways to address the climate crisis, and to create a just transition to a low-carbon economy. You are a quick study, with a good strategic sense, a positive attitude, tech-forward, and the ability to work well with a wide range of people. You are committed to anti-oppressive practices in your interpersonal communication and in how you think about campaign work. You are familiar with digital and in-person organizing best practices. You know how to take initiative, how to ask for help when you need it, and how to follow through to ensure that tasks don’t fall through the cracks.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and develop volunteer organizers to propel divestment support in unions, cities, and the legislature;
• Oversee the California SB 252 Fossil Fuel Divestment Coalition by facilitating strategy conversations, developing coalition structures, and maintaining clear communication and documentation among members about next steps with the support of the Coordinating Director;
• Create and manage digital organizing tools such as petitions, letter campaigns, and mass emails using Bonterra/EveryAction;
• Build relationships with unions, organizations, cities, and key individuals to cultivate broader support for the divestment bill;
• In close collaboration with union members, strategize on building union support for divestment;
• Write grants and grant reports, organize individual donor fundraisers, and support in the expansion of FFCA’s fundraising in collaboration with the board, staff, and volunteers;
• Co-organize lobby days, workshops on union support, participation in legislative hearings, and invitations to speak to key decision-makers;
• Maintain clear records of participants, coalition members, and supporters for activation in key moments; utilize digital tools for documentation and for moving members up our ladders of engagement;
• Manage the digital tools and in-person connections to make phone and text-banking successful for key campaign activation moments;
• Represent FFCA in external environmental justice and climate finance coalitions such as VISION, Last Chance Alliance, and the Climate-Safe Pension Network; share back key takeaways and action point with FFCA staff and relevant volunteers;
• At key moments, support Communications Team with high-priority projects, which could include narrative strategy, website, social media, or CRM email sendouts.

Senior Campaigns Organizer Required Skills & Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in leading political, environmental or social justice campaigns;
• 5 years of experience with digital organizing to recruit and engage members on a campaign.
• Required: 2+ years of experience working for or in close relationship with unions

Campaigns Organizer Required Skills & Qualifications

• 2-5 years of experience in leading political, environmental or social justice campaigns;
• 1+ year of experience with digital organizing to recruit and engage members on a campaign.
• Strongly preferred: 2+ years of experience working for or in close relationship with unions.

Required Skills & Qualifications – Either position

• Commitment to continual personal growth in anti-racism and social inclusion including the willingness to receive and address criticism;
• Experience working collaboratively with volunteers, including recruitment, planning, training, meeting facilitation, one-on-ones, and coaching;
• Ability to use/recommend appropriate digital tools for small groups vs. mass organizing;
• Deep understanding of organizing and digital best practices, as well as an analysis on how to make our organizing more effective;
• Facility with digital tools including: CRM software (such as Bonterra/EveryAction, Action Network, or Salesforce or similar), Hootsuite, Google Suite, Slack, WordPress, etc;
• A passion for climate justice, community, and empowering others to become activists;
• Experience with intersectional advocacy work on issues of race, class, and gender;
• Top-notch oral, written, and presentation skills – including storytelling and narrative creation, and the ability to listen and target communication to specific interests of varied audiences;
• Strong project management skills – including setting the goals and timeline, breaking a project down into subprojects and/or tasks, and ensuring that the project stays on track;
• Comfortable working in a primarily virtual and collaborative team environment where creativity, strategy, and follow-through are core values; Strong task management a must;
• A resilient and flexible team player who is a fast learner, can handle a fast paced, high pressure, highly collaborative team culture;
• Enthusiasm to learn and willingness to take on new and varied tasks.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with local/state government policy making, experience interacting with elected officials, giving public comment, and tracking ordinances, resolutions, and amendments;
• In-depth understanding of the oil and gas industry, environmental law or policy, and/or climate campaigning;
• Connections to progressive political spaces, including volunteer & professional networks;
• Connections with unions and political leaders in California;
• Proven ability to maintain a healthy work/life balance in fast-paced, high pressure working environments;
• Proficiency with additional technology or design software is a bonus;
• Proficiency in Spanish is a bonus.

How to Apply

Everyone Welcome:

Fossil Free California is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes staff and volunteers from diverse backgrounds. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

How to Apply:

Please send a resume, cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position, and a link to a LinkedIn profile (if you have one) to [email protected], with “Campaigns Organizer” in the subject line. Please include your pronouns. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

First Round of Applications will be Reviewed: September 20, 2023; rolling until filled

Start Date: November 1, 2023

Compensation – Campaign Organizer: $60,000-$65,000 + full health benefits

Compensation – Senior Campaigns Organizer:  $70,000-$75,000 + full health benefits

Location: Must be in California; Remote – with some in-person events

Job Categories: Environmental. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: divestment, enviornmental justice, and policy. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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