From Mike Tidwell: CCAN seaking dynamic candidate to fill "state director" position in Richmond, Virginia
Monique Sullivan
Job Announcement: Virginia Director (Richmond)
The Chesapeake Climate Action Network seeks a dynamic candidate to oversee and execute some of the most cutting edge state-based climate campaigns in the country.
About Us
The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the only group in the Chesapeake region of Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. dedicated exclusively to building a powerful grassroots movement to fight climate change. Our mission is to build the kind of movement it will take to put our region on the path to climate stability, while using our proximity to the nation’s capital to inspire action in neighboring states, around the country and around the world.
In Virginia, we are working with an unprecedented alliance - from faith groups to environmental and justice groups to clean water groups to landowners - to lay out a vision for an energy policy that would match the scale of the climate crisis the state is facing.
For thirteen years, we have been dedicated to taking on big fights in Virginia and pushing the envelope of what’s “politically possible,” using every tool inside and outside of the box - from organizing to lobbying to the law. We’ve succeeded in stopping the biggest coal-fired power plant proposed in the state, passed legislation to incentivize solar power, repealed punitive taxes on hybrid cars, and helped keep offshore drilling out of Virginia’s coastal waters.
We are looking for a Virginia Director who can strategically shape and lead campaigns to tackle our biggest challenge: overcoming the stranglehold of the commonwealth’s largest utility, Dominion Virginia Power, over our energy system and democracy. Dominion and its allies in the General Assembly and the Governor’s mansion want to commit Virginia to decades of continued dependence on dirty fossil fuels – including building hundreds of miles of new fracked-gas pipelines – while blocking the rapid shift we need to clean energy. All while the high stakes of the climate fight are already at Virginia’s doorstep.
About the Virginia Director
Our next Virginia Director will have the skills, passion and commitment to take on one of the biggest problems facing our planet in one of the toughest places to win. We are looking for a resilient, creative and strategic problem-solver to join our team.
Qualifications
● 7+ years of experience running campaigns, lobbying and managing staff
● Commitment to the mission of fighting climate change
● Proven ability to be self-driven, while working with a team
● Proven ability to multi-task, while prioritizing measurable results
● Track record of building grassroots power and strong coalitions
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Additional preferences
● Experience working with the media
● Expertise in climate and energy policy
● Experience in Virginia
Major Responsibilities
The Virginia Director will work with a dedicated team of CCAN campaign staff, including our talented field organizers, a proven communications team, and a senior management team with years of experience developing campaigns and advancing policy solutions in Virginia. The Director will lead the planning and execution of successful cutting-edge campaigns in line with our goals. The Director will work with elected officials, opinion leaders, coalition partners, and grassroots constituencies across Virginia, in pursuit of these goals.
● Campaign Development: Develop and manage statewide campaigns that build a diverse and powerful climate movement in Virginia.
● Coalition: Work with climate, justice, environmental, business, military and other allies in Virginia to build a broad and powerful climate movement unlike anything the state has ever seen and win shared climate victories.
● Field: Manage and develop field staff who in turn are working to build a network of volunteers and community partners committed to overcoming the power of Virginia’s top polluters and winning climate victories.
● Lobbying and Policy Development: Act as CCAN’s primary lobbyist in Richmond, building relationships with elected officials and lobbying them to support our policy priorities. Develop and promote new policy solutions to climate change in Virginia.
● Communications: Work with CCAN’s Communications Director to develop and deliver powerful campaign messages that resonate across Virginia.
Salary and Location
Salary is commensurate with experience. We provide a generous benefits package including health care, dental coverage, a 401K and 4 weeks of paid vacation.
This position is based in Richmond, Virginia.
How to Apply
To apply: send your cover letter, resume and a sample of your writing to Monique Sullivan, Field Director, at jo...@chesapeakeclimate.org.
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis but aim to make a final hiring decision by August 1st.
CCAN is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse workforce. We value bringing a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives on staff because it makes us smarter and more effective at what we do and, ultimately, we want our staff and supporters to reflect the communities we organize. We are seeking to recruit individuals from underrepresented groups to apply for this position.