Field Organizer - Conservation Colorado - Denver, CO
Hannah Fuhlendorf
Field Organizer
Location: Denver, CO
Deadline for submission: July 31, 2018
Work Schedule: Full-time non-exempt, overtime eligible position.
Conservation Colorado is seeking a full-time Field Organizer to assist with our organizing on the Front Range, focused primarily in Adams County. This person will actively seek out and cultivate relationships with members of the public and partner groups to achieve conservation wins in Colorado on primarily climate and energy issues, as well as public lands protections and water issues.
The ideal candidate will have a commitment to engage and inspire the public to advocate for themselves and their communities on conservation issues. She or he will work to build relationships with a diverse array of people and will demonstrate an ability to excel in a fast-paced, multi-issue environment. This position offers an excellent opportunity to work on environmental issues in Colorado, gain community organizing and campaign experience, work on priority election campaigns across the Front Range, and build relationships with elected officials, policy makers, business leaders, and the public to create positive change.
About Conservation Colorado
Conservation Colorado works to protect Colorado’s environment and quality of life by mobilizing people and electing conservation‐minded policy makers. We work closely with policy leaders, citizen activists, businesses and other allies, and have built a reputation as one of the leading conservation advocacy organizations in the region. This coming year we will be tackling everything from working to ensure our state has enough water for future generations, looking for ways to increase the state’s use of renewable energy, defend our public lands from attacks by the Trump administration, and electing pro-conservation champions to the state Legislature and governorship.
Conservation Colorado’s work to protect and advocate for the environment reflects the organization’s commitment to racial, social and environmental justice. Engaging communities of color among other key constituencies for the environment is an organizational priority. Within the organization, we aim to create a workplace culture and policies and practices that demonstrate how we value equity and inclusion.
Job Responsibilities
The Field Organizer, who is based in Denver and reports to the Front Range Field Manager, is responsible for the following:
● Recruiting and mobilizing a strong base of volunteers and activists to engage with their local, state, and federal decision makers on conservation issues via phone calls, town hall participation, electoral engagement, email activism, letters to the editor, lobby days, and more;
● Working with activists and volunteers through events - one on ones, small group meetings, or large community trainings - to develop activists’ skill sets and knowledge on conservation issues;
● Developing strong working relationships with conservation partners and other allies;
● Seeking out and elevating voices from communities who are disproportionately impacted by anti-conservation policies, particularly low-income communities and communities of color;
● Talking to diverse audiences on challenging subjects;
● Generating earned media demonstrating public support for our issues through proactive press strategies;
● Engaging in Conservation Colorado’s electoral activities including phone banking, canvassing, and recruiting and training volunteers;
● Acting as a spokesperson on local, statewide and federal conservation issues;
● Developing and implementing fundraising strategies tailored to local communities.
● Participating in achieving other organizational priorities as the need arises, including helping with fundraising efforts.
Qualifications
We’re seeking a strategic thinker & problem solver who is results-focused, highly-driven,
possesses outstanding interpersonal communication skills, and is organized and meticulous. The person
who will best succeed in this role:
● Be proactive and excited about mobilizing the public to engage in political and issue-area campaigns;
● Demonstrate strong written, verbal communication, and public speaking skills;
● A demonstrated ability of maintaining grace under pressure and setting and achieving goals in a fast-paced, ever changing environment;
● Ability to interact and engage easily and naturally with anyone, regardless of their background, knowledge of our issues, or agreement with our views;
● Have experience organizing events and recruiting and managing volunteers;
● Be comfortable discussing local, state, and federal conservation issues with the media, business owners, local elected officials, partner organizations, and a diverse array of community members;
● Demonstrate creativity and critical thinking when brainstorming and problem-solving;
● A genuine belief that empowered individuals are agents of change for their own communities;
● Share our commitment to increasing racial diversity in our organization, integrating justice and equity into the work we do and ensuring an inclusive organizational culture.
Spanish/English bilingual is a skill we value, but it is not a requirement. The position requires a willingness to work some evening and weekend hours.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation depends on experience and is highly competitive. We provide high-quality, zero-deductible health insurance and a strong benefits package that includes a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with match, at least 28 days of paid time off in your first year, and parental leave and a sabbatical program. This job offers an opportunity to engage people to find solutions to some of the most important environmental issues in Colorado and work with a great team that is committed to a better, more equitable future. It will be challenging, inspiring, and sometimes frustrating, but you’ll be making a big difference.
We are committed to building a more diverse and inclusive organization and conservation movement to fully represent and engage all Coloradans and to build as powerful a movement as we can. Recruiting staff that better reflects Colorado is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, race, ethnicity, geographies, political affiliation, and all other identities represented in Colorado or protected by law.
If this job truly speaks to you, please send a cover letter that explains why (not the same cover letter you use everywhere!) and resume by July 31st to Aly Ferrufino-Coqueugniot, Front Range Field Manager, with the subject line, “Front Range Field Organizer” at jo...@conservationco.org. No phone calls please. Please include where you saw the ad in your letter.