Job Description

Location: Remote within Nevada/Eastern Sierras

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of togetherness. 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 inequity, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our democracy. 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 is comprised of staff across the country and a network of volunteer leaders and local chapters that support our grassroots engagement. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with two labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Toiyabe Chapter includes roughly 40,000 activists across Nevada, the Lake Tahoe Basin, and the Eastern Sierra in California. Our chapter includes 4 regional groups, and numerous teams that work on specific advocacy issues.

We advocate for protection of our public lands, we engage with elected environmental champions for legislative progress, and we work to pursue 100% renewable energy, community solar, and better electric vehicle infrastructure. We collaborate within numerous coalitions including the Nevada Justice coalition; we started the Nevada Rail Coalition in 2020 to promote rail development; and we work with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. The director carries out the policies, priorities, and objectives of the Executive Committee for the assigned areas of chapter programs and operations. These assigned areas include but are not limited to: conservation and legislative programs, fundraising, volunteer development and member services, budgeting and financial management, and media relations. The director manages other chapter staff. The director represents the Toiyabe Chapter and the Sierra Club to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, donors, allies, other organizations, and the public. 

Evening and weekend work is required. There is the possibility of occasional travel throughout Nevada, the Lake Tahoe Basin, and in Inyo and Mono counties in California for advocacy events, team/group meetings, legislative work, and other as needed/requested. A valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record, and proof of insurance are required.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

1. Collaborates with the Executive Committee and chapter teams to develop short and long term strategic, programmatic, and financial goals and objectives. Regularly reports to the Executive Committee on progress toward annual goals and budget.
2. Responsible for the Chapter’s fundraising strategy. Plans, develops, and implements the chapter’s budget and development strategy to meet the funding needs of the chapter by identifying new donor and membership markets, collaboration with the chapter treasurer, directing/guiding the grant.
3. Supports the Chapter legislative lobbying program, including coordination with allies and frontline communities, and chapter staff and volunteer leaders, regarding Sierra Club positions on legislation. Consults with the Legislative Committee throughout the legislative session to address and adapt policy positions.
4. Based on identified issues, recommends action, policies, or guidelines for review by the Executive Committee. Develops and maintains procedures to monitor the effectiveness of programs. Conducts routine research on specific issues related to Sierra Club positions and advocacy work.
5. Hires and manages chapter staff including writing and conducting performance evaluations, taking personnel actions as appropriate, ensuring the chapter is in compliance with Sierra Club employment policies and practices including the Progressive Workers Union contract, and reviewing staff time reports to ensure the reporting of this information is accurate and timely in accordance with Sierra Club policies.
6. Responsible, in partnership with Comms specialist, for the Chapter’s public communications in coordination with relevant staff and volunteer leaders. This includes regular contacts with the media to maximize the Chapter’s public visibility and credibility. Ensures that an adequate number of knowledgeable and representative spokespersons are available to address the public and the media. Ensures that the Chapter’s digital communications strategy is effective.
7. Builds strong relationships for ongoing work together with key leaders statewide. This includes Chapter and group leadership, key statewide public officials and their staff, candidates for office, and a diverse range of organizational and frontline community leaders. Represents the Chapter with public officials and community leaders when appropriate.
8. Fosters positive working relationships within the chapter among teams, groups, and volunteers and supports the Executive Committee in recruiting, onboarding and developing volunteer leadership with diversity of age, race, gender and geography.
9. With the support of the Deputy Regional Field Director, coordinates with national Sierra Club headquarters and campaign staff to ensure cohesion between the chapter and national staff; that chapter strategies and policy positions are in compliance with national requirements; and that national campaign staff understand the impacts of their decisions on the chapter’s region/area of influence.
10. Periodically attends chapter team and group meetings, keeps up to date on progress within the chapter, and attends events on behalf of the chapter.

The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

• Background in Environmental Campaigning: Understanding of issue areas of environmental conservation related to chapter programs and advocacy campaigns.
• Funder Engagement: Demonstrated experience of successful fundraising and donor engagement.
• Growing and Supporting Volunteer Leadership: Values and respects volunteer leadership and has significant experience in grassroots organizing, training, and motivating volunteers, coalition building, and lobbying.  
• Strong Communication Skills: Demonstrated written and oral communication skills as well as experience with public speaking.
• Leading on Equity. Model effective equity analysis and practice and have a track record of operationalizing equity, and have embedded justice and equity throughout team/department policies, structures, culture, and programs. 

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following experience, skills and competencies:

• Knowledge and experience with elements of environmental, political and communications
• Knowledge of Nevada and Eastern Sierras environmental conservation efforts
• Experience and knowledge of state and federal legislative processes; relationships with media, elected officials, lobbyists.
• Budget experience. financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting.
• Staff management experience including interpersonal and/or organizational conflict resolution.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $108,000 commensurate with experience.

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 is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Sierra Club employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

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 Human Resources 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 diversity.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Conservation. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 100,000 and above.

Apply for this Job