Program Coordinator
Missoula, MT / Remote
Chapter – Montana Chapter /
Regular - Full Time /
Remote
Job Title: Wildlife & Lands Program Coordinator
Department: Montana Chapter Sierra Club
Location: Remote, near Missoula, MT. This position requires an ability to travel.
Reports To: Montana Chapter Director
Supervises: n/a
Duration: 37.5 hours/week (full-time)
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 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.
The Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club represents all Sierra Club members and local residents in Big Sky Country, with over 3,000 members and 10,000 supporters from across Montana. Our office is slated to reopen, post covid, in downtown Missoula on the lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. With only three permanent staff members, our chapter has both the close-knit feel of a small grassroots nonprofit and the powerful feel of being connected to and supported by Sierra Club staff, volunteers, and resources from across the nation. Our volunteer-driven campaigns are helping move Montana cities, utilities, and school districts toward 100% clean energy, advance regional efforts to protect endangered species and public lands and build a clean and equitable energy future in the Northwest.
Scope: The Wildlife & Lands Program Coordinator will support Montana Sierra Club’s efforts to build a grassroots movement in Montana by coordinating our wildlife- and lands-related work state-wide. This full-time position (37.5 hrs/wk) will represent Montana Sierra Club in local, state, tribal and regional coalitions around grizzly bear and wolf recovery efforts, along with land protection and connectivity initiatives. This position will then coordinate with other Chapter and National Sierra Club staff and volunteers to implement action tactics around those topics. Through this work, the Coordinator will build and maintain relationships with Indigenous-led organizations and Tribes in the region to support their critical voice and leadership on these issues. The Coordinator will also work, as needed, with Tribal Directors to support grant program initiatives that foster wildlife and lands resiliency and sustainability. The Coordinator will also build and maintain relationships with other environmental nonprofits and community groups in the region to collaborate on this work. This position requires working frequent evenings and weekends for volunteer meetings and community events. This is a remote (home office) position based in the Missoula area that requires an ability to travel regularly across the state to meet with volunteers and partners.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Issue tracking & internal communication. Keep track of the latest news and action opportunities around grizzly bears, wolf recovery and other relevant threatened and endangered species in the region, along with public lands protection. Read emails, documents, and news articles and participate in meetings where information is shared about these efforts. Clearly relay important information to the rest of the Sierra Club team via email, documents, and meetings to collectively implement action tactics.
- Coalition & partner collaboration. Participate in regular wildlife- and lands-related coalition meetings (both in-person and virtual) on behalf of Montana Sierra Club. Build and maintain genuine relationships with Indigenous organizations, Tribes, and other community groups to collaborate on these issues.
- Public outreach & mobilizations. Collaborate with the Chapter and National staff to develop mass communication, press, and digital organizing strategies to educate and engage large numbers of people to understand, connect with, and take action for our wildlife and lands campaign goals. Help draft petitions, comment forms, and press releases. Speak with reporters and support volunteers and other community members to share their stories. Collaborate with the Chapter and National Organizers to plan and run community engagement events, including rallies, webinars, socials, outings, and turnout for public hearings.
- Other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies or a combination of related, transferable skills:
- Collaborative social change advocacy. You have experience working with community members toward a shared goal, particularly applying pressure on a decision-maker through an escalation of advocacy tactics. You are known for being a collaborative team player in community efforts to create change. You build authentic relationships across lines of difference, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, gender identity, citizenship status, or other identities.
- Attentive, empathetic leadership. You are enthusiastic about meeting and engaging with people. You empathize with the communities you work with. You are able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. You listen closely to understand needs or concerns and take steps based on that input. You get back to people in a timely manner and you follow through on commitments. You take pride in providing clear, helpful information.
- Clear, precise, compassionate communication. You come across as genuine. You say what you mean. You speak clearly on behalf of an organization and advocate for/with community members. You communicate well with others, including sharing context and asking questions to understand others’ perspectives. Entrepreneurial and resourceful. You consistently overcome challenges and leverage resources to creatively solve problems. You propose solutions to issues without much guidance (but aren't afraid to ask questions). You proactively ask for help, anticipate problems, and course-correct where needed. You are able to work independently, but always within a framework of teamwork, collaboration, and clear communication with others.
- Indigenous community relationships & Climate Justice analysis. You have experience working with Indigenous communities and are able to articulate and demonstrate how to respectfully build relationships, engage, and collaborate with Indigenous community members and tribal governments, particularly around environmental issues. You have an understanding of how climate change disproportionately impacts communities of color, Indigenous communities, and low-income communities; the climate solutions and leadership being demonstrated in those communities; and interest in and/or experience with developing inclusive campaigns at the intersection of environmental action and social justice.
- Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
- Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.
The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:
- Knowledge of grizzly and wolf recovery issues
- Knowledge of public lands protection issues
- Excellent written communication skills
- Willingness to learn various tech applications (Salesforce, Canva, Marketing cloud, etc.)
- Policy advocacy experience
- Coalition-building experience
- Power building experience
- Experience recruiting, deploying and retaining volunteers
- Writing and managing federal and foundation grants
- Relationships with Indigenous organizations and Tribes in Montana
- Relationships with other progressive/community groups in Montana
- Ability to travel across the state needed. Valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record, and proof of auto insurance required.
$65,473 - $65,473 a year
Compensation and Benefits
The salary for this full-time (37.5 hrs/wk) position is $65,473 annually.
This position is represented by a collective bargaining unit and is subject to the terms and conditions of the contract between Sierra Club and Progressive Workers Union.
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 5 non-exempt, represented 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.
To Apply
This position does not have an undergraduate education requirement. If you choose to include your education history, please remove your schools from your resume. You may leave your degree (e.g., “B.A. Philosophy”), but please remove any undergraduate and graduate school names.
This anonymous process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments and mitigating bias in the decision making process.
Lastly, we are intentionally not asking for a cover letter, so please do not send one in with your application.
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
