Pacific Northwest Field Organizer – Endangered Species Coalition
Position title: Pacific Northwest Field Organizer
Commitment: Full-time (40 hrs. week)
Reports to: National Field Campaign Director
Effective date: September 1st or until filled
About Endangered Species Coalition
The Endangered Species Coalition’s mission is to stop the human-caused extinction of our nation’s at-risk species, to protect and restore their habitats, and to guide these fragile populations along the road to recovery.
We work to safeguard and strengthen the Endangered Species Act, a law that enables every citizen to act on behalf of threatened and endangered wildlife – animals, fish, plants, and insects – and the wild places they call home.
We use grassroots mobilization, education, and targeted campaigns to enable every American to participate in actions that impact the democratic political process.
We are a national network of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, business and community organizations – and more than 150,000 individual activists and supporters – all dedicated to protecting our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining wild places.
General description of position: The Endangered Species Coalition is seeking a Pacific Northwest Organizer to help run and win local and national campaigns to defend endangered species and our nation’s endangered species program.
The Pacific Northwest Field Organizer will engage with the Coalition’s state member groups, partners, activists, and volunteers in the campaign’s events and activities in Washington and Oregon states. Campaign activities include formulating strategies and corresponding plans, grassroots and grasstops organizing, public education, media relations, and fundraising. The Pacific Northwest Field Organizer manages multiple campaigns including work to support Southern Resident Orca and Salmon, coordination and engagement of Washington State member groups working on wolves. Responding to endangered species issues in Oregon, and engaging the Washington and Oregon State Congressional delegation.
Represent ESC with state member groups and others and work on both national and state level Endangered Species and Endangered Species Act issues.
The successful candidate will be high-energy, proactive, strategic, and a big-picture thinker, who can conceive and execute campaign strategies and tactics from beginning to end. In other words, a self-starter, action-taker and independent worker. We need someone who can inspire and lead ESC’s member groups to protect endangered species. Good judgment and passion for wildlife is a must, and a sense of humor is a plus.
Primary Tasks and Areas of Responsibility
•Track Pacific Northwest endangered species issues.
•Identify gaps and needs for local endangered species conservation and develop grassroots campaigns to address.
•Organize local and state level groups to work on ESA issues of concern — build coalitions with groups as necessary.
•Move forward ESC’s Southern Resident Orca Campaign
•Work to support multiple Washington and Oregon state coalitions working on wolves.
•Help develop and manage policy on ESA related issues
•Attend relevant agency meetings on issues identified in work plan.
•Support ESC national campaigns and projects: Top 10, Endangered Species Day, Stop Extinction Challenge, Orca/Salmon, Wolf, and other Vanishing Species.
•Develop opportunities to engage and involve local ESC activists and volunteers on state issues.
•Build relationships with relevant elected officials and their staff, as well as local reporters.
•Attend all relevant ESC conference calls.
Knowledge, skills and abilities required: Requires a significant level of knowledge of state and federal issues, as well as relationships with people working on T&E species issues and with leaders of member groups in state. A successful applicant will have experience navigating intricate political dynamics. Ability to use and create word, pdf and excel spreadsheets also needed.
Work Experience: One to three years’ experience in advocacy campaigning, preferably with experience in grassroots organizing. Wildlife conservation experience a plus. Experience leading campaigns, meeting with decision makers, and working and managing coalitions, members, activists, and volunteers. Experience in local or national politics and policy is a plus.
Skills: Excellent oral and written communications skills. Strong interpersonal skills, strong facilitator skills, and demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills. Good time-management, personal organization, and prioritization skills. Very high comfort level speaking on the phone and effectively communicating by email.
Capabilities: Proven ability to identify conservation needs and gaps in the region, and develop tactics to influence and organize around them. Ability to build and maintain strong interpersonal relationships. Ability to negotiate in sensitive situations and to elicit trust from individuals and organizations. Ability to work independently and to collaborate effectively with other ESC staff and member groups on various projects and campaigns. Ability to think strategically and use good judgment. Ability to communicate effectively with the public, reporters, and with people of diverse backgrounds. Functional competency with basic MS software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google products (Gmail, Drive, Calendar).
Some travel required.
Knowledge: Familiar with legislative process, particularly with environmental laws. Experience in environmental issue advocacy, environmental policy and/or grassroots organizing, or progressive policy campaigns. Experience with/knowledge of endangered species protections a plus. A commitment to wildlife.
Education and experience desired: Education and Experience: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in political science, environmental science, or a related field. Experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute. Interpersonal relationship building and strong communication skills are a must.
Salary range: Full time; 35,000 – 40,000
How to Apply: Email cover letter explaining how your experiences and skills match this position, your resume, along with contact and relationship information for three references to jobs@endangered.org. Please note Pacific Northwest field organizer in the subject line. This position will remain open until filled.
Endangered Species Coalition is committed and invested in diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability in any of our policies or programs.
Start Date: As soon as possible
Application Deadline: None
Position Location: Washington state (Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle) or Oregon (Portland)
Salary Range: $35,000 – 40,000 Full-time (40 hrs. week)
Education requirements
No requirement
Employment type
Full time
Professional level
None specified