JOB: Director of Climate Justice - Center for Popular Democracy - Location: Washington, DC or Brooklyn, NY preferred, other locations considered
Julia Peter
Director of Climate Justice
Position Location: Washington, DC or Brooklyn, NY preferred, other locations considered
About CPD:
The Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) works to create equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions throughout the country. CPD strengthens our collective capacity to envision and win an innovative pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. CPD is a rapidly-expanding, young, dynamic organization that offers an exciting opportunity to imagine ambitious local and state policy and partner with powerful community-based organizations across the country to win tangible victories that improve the lives of low-wage workers, immigrants, and communities of color.
About the Position:
Without a movement powerful enough to counter the most profitable corporations in history—those of the fossil fuel industry—over the coming years, low-income communities and communities of color will bear the brunt of the greatest man-made disaster the world has ever known. Each day brings a devastating new story of climate change’s disproportionate impact on low-income people, particularly those of color, and this burden will rapidly intensify as time goes on. If these communities are to develop adequate crisis resiliency and if we, as a society, are to change course to mitigate the worst impacts of a changing climate, the social change organizations deeply rooted in climate’s frontline communities must play a central role in urgently building the movement for climate justice.
Modeled on its notable track record of work to advance economic, social, and racial justice, CPD is building a climate justice program area as well – working to support local partner organizations and national allies with the policy, research, campaign, and organizing capacity needed to light an urgent, national fire on climate, forcing action at the scale and at the rate truly needed to address the crisis we face.
We seek an experienced and energetic professional to help lead the development of this critical program area. This position is an exciting opportunity to play a major leadership role in envisioning and building the capacities needed to advance aggressive climate organizing and substantive climate solutions throughout the country.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Envision and build this area of CPD’s work with other key CPD staff and grassroots partners;
- Fundraise to cover and expand this program area’s budget, and to support the aggressive growth of climate organizing in the field;
- Recruit and build, over time, a team of climate policy, research, campaign, and organizing specialists who can provide deep support to the growing climate movement;
- Expand and develop key national, regional, and state-based collaborations with allied organizations on climate justice;
- Guide the overall development and implementation of CPD’s climate justice work to partner organizations in the field;
- Collaborate closely with CPD’s other teams, including the research, organizing, and campaign staff to ensure thoughtful integration with the full array of work of our organization;
- Serve as a main climate representative of the organization in national-level policy and campaign conversations at external meetings, coalition tables, and conferences.
Job Requirements:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and an understanding of challenges facing immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-and moderate-income families;
- A minimum of ten years of experience in social change work;
- Experience with base building community organizations, as well as with labor or other campaigning organizations;
- Substantial experience in and dedication to work focused on climate change;
- Strong fundraising skills and experience;
- Ability to juggle multiple projects at a time and work in a fast-paced environment;
- Demonstrated commitment to excellence and a history of getting things done even in the face of obstacles;
- Excellent writing and communication skills;
- First-rate management skills, with a proven ability to implement a holistic management system in a movement organization context, significant experience supervising large, diverse, advanced teams of organizers, etc.;
- Excellent organizational skills and good attention to detail;
- Self-motivated and a proven ability to work independently;
- Ability to work well with diverse groups and populations;
- Dedication and ability to work flexible hours and to travel frequently.
Generous salary and benefits package, depending on experience.
How to apply
Please submit a cover letter and a resume.
CPD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, women, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.