Legislative and Political Organizer

Overview

Job Title: Legislative and Political Organizer

Department: Michigan Chapter

Location: Lansing, MI

Reports To: Legislative and Political Director

Manages: N/A

At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or oppress it.

Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

The Legislative and Political Organizer plays a key role in strengthening the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter’s volunteer-driven legislative and political advocacy. Working closely with the Legislative and Political Director, the Organizer focuses on building the grassroots power necessary to advance environmental priorities at the state level. The Organizer, along with the Legislative and Political Director, leads the organization and execution of citizen lobby days, district-level lawmaker meetings, and other grassroots advocacy actions.

They build and support volunteer leadership teams, facilitate training for activists on legislative engagement, and coordinate ongoing volunteer communication and engagement cycles tied to key legislative and electoral campaigns.

This position requires frequent evening and weekend work for volunteer meetings and public events; requires an ability to travel within the state with a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record; and may require occasional out-of-state travel to regional or national meetings.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

• Programmatic Strategy and Implementation. Plans, develops, coordinates, and implements the Chapter’s political and legislative organizing program in collaboration with the legislative and political director, volunteers and key staff. Conducts targeted policy and political research to inform the organization’s position and strategy. Coordinates and measures the success of these campaigns with the political and legislative director and volunteer leaders to ensure progress towards programmatic goals.
• Volunteer & Development Engagement. Identifies, trains, informs, and motivates volunteers to build and sustain grassroots power that centers frontline communities, influences decision makers and achieves campaign victories. Supports political and legislative committees, as well as other volunteer entities, as assigned.
• Internships. Manages the political and legislative internship programs. Delivers impactful and worthwhile experiences to the next generation of environmental leaders.
• Communications. Supports communications and base building by leveraging digital organizing tools and internal and external communication strategies. Communicates the Chapter’s position on issues and the impact of our organizing through fact-sheets, newsletter articles, op-ed, videos, press conferences, media interviews and other mediums as assigned.
• Collaboration & Community Engagement. Builds and sustains strong relationships with internal and external partners, including campaign staff, community leaders, and public officials to shape legislative and political outcomes. Organizes events, trainings, rallies, outings and meetings while moving members and supporters from online action to in-person engagement. Seeks opportunities to advance the Sierra Club’s diversity initiatives through new partnerships and engagement strategies where appropriate.
• Lobbying. Represent the Chapter at the state capital and in-district for assigned issue areas. Build relationships with key organizations and people, including community leaders and public officials, to…