Position Summary:

Does the idea of supporting your local community to build a strong regional economy for farming, fishing, recreation, clean energy, and port and tribal businesses inspire you? How about doing so while making abundant, harvestable salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River Basin a reality?

Washington Conservation Voters (WCV) is seeking a community organizer to work in the Tri-Cities area to organize and activate the community for our work with the Our Northwest Opportunity campaign. This person will facilitate and organize in the Tri-Cities area advocating for policies that incentivize clean energy, salmon restoration, and fulfillment of tribal treaty rights. This community organizer will work in close collaboration with WCV, existing community groups, external partner groups, as well as reach out to other local leaders, including community of color led organizations and labor groups.

This position is a temporary part-time employee and will report to the WCV Field Director. This position will be working remotely from the Tri-Cities area. Our teams have access to a variety of online tools and systems that support remote work and supervision. We anticipate this job will involve some travel (up to 30% of time) to different parts of the greater Tri-Cities area.

Organizational Summaries: WCV engages in ongoing efforts related to statewide salmon recovery and clean energy, while working to elect environmental champions to public office. The organization maintains strategic relationships with elected officials, Tribal and other government officials, and key constituencies such as labor. We are actively working towards advancing comprehensive solutions on lower Snake River dam issues in the greater Tri-Cities area. WCV is involved with Our Northwest Opportunity campaign, an existing network of dozens of organizations who share the goals of a strong regional economy, abundant and harvestable salmon and steelhead populations, fulfillment of our federal treaty responsibilities with tribes, and a reliable, affordable, clean electric power system in the Columbia River Basin.

Washington Conservation Voters (WCV)(c4) ensures Washington’s decision makers keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant. Over the last 35 years, we have elected environmental champions, held our elected leaders to the highest standard, and built statewide momentum for environmental campaigns through innovative voter outreach efforts and community organizing. WCV is committed to making sure all people in Washington State have a healthy environment and a strong, sustainable economy.

Compensation and Benefits:

This temporary position will be compensated at $20/hour for 20 hours a week. This position has an immediate start date upon hiring and is currently funded for four months with the goal to extend the position through the end of the year conditional upon securing additional funding. The position is eligible for healthcare benefits, pro-rated vacation and sick leave, and will be reimbursed for travel costs, and up to $50/month cell phone reimbursement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop a work plan for engaging in the Tri-Cities region, consulting with Latino Community Fund, Progreso Latino, Black Lives Matter, and other organizations as appropriate. Identify community groups, opportunities for engagement, and timeline for meetings.
  • Authentically engage and collaborate with the LatinX community, Latino Community Fund, Progreso Latino, Black Lives Matter, environmental justice groups, and other communities of color to build a stronger constituency base within the Our Northwest Opportunity campaign.
  • Work with key staff and external partners to coordinate with emerging, locally based Tri-Cities environmental justice campaigns for community members to follow as appropriate.
  • Engage with stakeholders such as, but not limited to fishing interests, salmon recovery groups, local granges/grange halls/agriculture community (could include small farmers and wineries), clean energy advocates, and climate-related coalitions, who are vested in and impacted by Lower Snake River dam issues to formulate and advance community solutions through conversations and collaboration.
  • Support on-the-ground community education and organizing by local partners that builds community skills, tools, and resources for long-term sustainability.
  • Engage in community voter registration and voter mobilization work to help people who are already registered to vote have the tools they need to vote successfully.

Required Skills/Experience:

  • Have a strong understanding of the political and cultural relevance within the community of Snake River Dam issues.
  • Strong commitment and application of racial equity and environmental justice principles.
  • Experience working in collaborative group settings or in coalitions.
  • Willingness to learn and be trained on new concepts surrounding environmental justice work.
  • Written and spoken Spanish language proficiency.
  • Demonstrated cultural competence and ethics working with LatinX communities.
  • Understand Tribal Treaty Rights and apply issues of sovereignty.
  • At least two years of organizing or related experience implementing successful grassroots advocacy or electoral campaigns. Campus or community organizing of any kind can meet this requirement.
  • Demonstrated ability in community and public outreach and communications.
  • Ability to take initiative, develop ideas and turn them into action.
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and with a team in a dynamic environment.
  • A valid driver’s license and ability to travel to different parts of the greater Tri-Cities and surrounding areas as needed.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

  • Lived experiences in the Tri-Cities area.
  • Familiarity with relevant issues on this work such as energy, agriculture, transportation, and fishing.
  • Familiarity with the Our Northwest Opportunity campaign.
  • Knowledge of local, state, or federal environmental policy and decision-making processes.

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and a resume here: https://www.tfaforms.com/4896197. No phone calls or mailed applications please. This position is open until filled.