Position Summary
Washington Conservation Action (WCA) is seeking an organized and collaborative community organizer to help us establish and grow our on-the-ground field operations in Yakima. This person is responsible for supporting Washington Conservation Action’s grassroots advocacy, coalition-building efforts, political organizing and mobilizing efforts in Central Washington, in particular with the Latino and Spanish speaking community. The ideal candidate will be excited by the opportunity to engage community members and voters to support pro-environmental justice policies and candidates at the state and local level. Members of our Field Team work on individual projects and as part of a close-knit field team. They support the program staff and often work in partnership with other organizations. The Yakima Community Organizer reports to the Field Director.

Responsibilities
The Yakima Community Organizer works on the Field Team to develop and implement strategies that involve community members, volunteers, and voters in policy efforts, grassroots organizing, and issue campaigns. They play a key role in advancing c4 electoral efforts by supporting endorsed candidate campaigns, recruiting volunteers to get out the vote, and growing people-power in central Washington, including with the Latino and Spanish speaking population. Additionally, the Yakima Community Organizer will co-manages the Field Internship program, from recruitment and training to incorporating interns into our organizational work . They bring leadership, project management skills, organizing capacity and expertise to our work.

Specific Duties Include:
Field Work: 50%

• Strengthens and expands WCA’s Central Washington supporter base, grows our volunteer network, and prioritizes organizing practices built on relationships and trust.
• Engages supporters, activists, and interested folks from the community to participate in grassroots actions in support of our work; can include recruitment and management of phone-banks, doorbell days, town halls, virtual events, tabling etc.
• Conducts outreach to Spanish speaking partners, community members, and volunteers and supports with Spanish language communications as needed.
• Supports fieldwork with diverse coalition partners including labor and community of color led organizations, strengthening relationships with the potential of working on multi-year coalitions like the Environmental Priorities Coalition.
• Supports WCA’s electoral campaigns and endorsed candidates’ campaigns for office by recruiting a grassroots base to help with voter contact in their districts.

Internship Program: 30%

• Co-manages the Field internship program with another Field Organizer by creating job announcements and leading Field Organizers in the recruitment and selection process.
• Co-leads intern on-boarding, training and professional development planning and execution.
• Acts as a resource for other staff in supporting and managing their interns.
• Supervises at least one intern per cohort (typically two per year).

Organizational: 20%

• Ensures principles of tribal sovereignty, racial and social equity are infused in our fieldwork.
• Serves on a Racial Equity work group and helps advance our Racial Equity Action Plan.
• Ensures that activist data is comprehensively and accurately captured in appropriate databases (Salesforce and Voter Activation Network).
• Assist with fundraising and other organizational events as needed, including recruitment, and providing live support.

Required Skills

• At least two years of organizing and implementing successful grassroots advocacy or electoral campaigns. Campus or community organizing of any kind can meet this requirement.
• Bilingual Spanish/English speaker.
• Commitment to environmental protection and principles of tribal sovereignty, racial, social, and economic justice.
• At least one year of experience supervising volunteers, interns, or staff.
• Demonstrated ability in education or outreach and communications.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule that will include some evening and weekend work.
• 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, or the ability to obtain one, and ability to travel to different parts of Washington as needed, up to 40% of your work time.
• Lives in central Washington state or willing to move.

Desirable Skills

• Knowledge of the Voter Activation Network (VAN) or Votebuilder, Salesforce, or similar database platforms and field tools.
• Understanding of social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter.
• Experience working with other constituencies like labor, business, faith, communities of color, or others.

Compensation and Benefits
This is a permanent, full time, non-exempt position with a salary range of $49,000 to $55,000, depending on experience. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including 100% employer paid premiums for medical and dental insurance, a 401k plan and organizational match of up to 3% of your annual salary, a Flexible Spending Account, three weeks of paid vacation time, an additional pool of sick leave, four wellness days per year and twelve paid holidays per year. If you work for seven consecutive years you are eligible for a two-month paid sabbatical. We welcome new and diverse people to a great team who together shape environmental protection in Washington.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands
This is a regular full-time, non-exempt position and is expected to work a standard work week of 40 hours. Some weeks may require additional hours to meet deadlines. Washington Conservation Action is a unionized employer represented by Communications Workers of America Local 7800. This is a represented position.

The position involves office work and frequent sitting at a desk, using a computer and/or phone for long periods of time. Must be able to conduct business in English and Spanish. For remote work, employees must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work during scheduled work hours. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform functions essential to the duties of the position.

While performing the canvassing duties of this job, the employee is regularly expected to be on their feet and/or walking. The individual will be interacting with community members in public settings and will adhere to all regulations and organizational protocols related to COVID-19 safety. While canvassing in the neighborhood, there is a potential for interacting with unpredictable community members and inclement weather.

We are currently working in a hybrid environment, but this position is primarily remote, within central Washington state, prioritizing folks who live in or near Yakima. Our teams have access to a variety of online tools and systems that support remote work and supervision. We anticipate this job will involve occasional travel (up to 40% of time) to community events, in-person meetings or staff retreats, monthly meetings in Seattle, and requires a valid drivers’ license and regular access to a vehicle. You will be reimbursed for approved travel costs—mileage reimbursement is done at the federal mileage reimbursement rate.

About our Organization
Washington Conservation Action is a statewide environmental advocacy organization that advances environmental policies and pushes for actions that equitably address climate pollution, restore Puget Sound, sustain our state’s forests, and protect our democracy. For Washington to remain a national leader on environmental issues, we need environmental champions in elected office and to hold our leaders accountable. To keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant, we are committed to supporting Native candidates, candidates of color, and environmental leaders seeking election.

In January, Washington Conservation Voters and Washington Environmental council unified under a shared brand—Washington Conservation Action. This evolution as organizations builds on our 50 years of work and history of bringing people together to solve Washington’s most critical environmental issues. We develop, advocate, and defend policies that ensure environmental progress and justice by centering and amplifying the voices of the most impacted communities. Washington Conservation Action is a 501(c4) organization. Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is our 501(c3) partner organization. Together, we advance a shared a vision for a Washington state where nature and people live in balance for the flourishing of all.

We offer competitive salaries, good benefits, and the opportunity to make a difference. We are committed to a representative, socially just, and welcoming work environment – people of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work and are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs, Oregon.

COVID-19
The organization follows all requirements of local health authorities. We are currently working in hybrid remote mode with most staff coming to the office voluntarily. We maintain strict safety protocols while in our office. All staff who come to the office must be fully immunized against COVID-19.

To Apply
Please submit a cover letter addressed to the Hiring Committee and a resume here.  No phone calls or mailed applications please. This position is open until filled.