Overview
The Climate Jobs National Resource Center (CJNRC) is a labor-led organization at the forefront of the fight to combat the climate crisis and reverse racial and economic inequality. CJNRC supports a growing network of union-led, state-based climate jobs coalitions organizing to build a clean energy economy at the scale climate science demands, create good union jobs, and sustain more equitable communities. The coalitions we support are at the cutting edge of both workers’ rights and climate action, two defining issues of our time. The coalitions have helped pass the nation’s leading climate policies, won the strongest labor and equity standards for renewable energy in the country, and built winning campaigns for high-road climate investments and good union jobs that will shape the future of the US economy.
CJNRC is hiring a Michigan Field Campaigner to build a labor-led coalition —representing 600,000 union workers— in Michigan to make our public schools healthier, safer, and carbon free. The Field Campaigner will report to the CJNRC Deputy Director of Strategic Campaigns. The campaign will prioritize schools most in need of investment but ultimately reach all of Michigan’s 3,500 public schools. The goal is to partner with environmental allies and community and parent organizations to upgrade our public schools to improve student performance and teacher satisfaction while combating climate change, creating good union jobs, addressing inequality, and saving school districts money. More specifically, the goal of the campaign is to:
• Renovate and repair leaky, unhealthy, inefficient schools, including addressing air and water issues and retrofitting them with solar panels to reduce emissions
• Embed climate education in the curriculum at all school levels, pre-K through college
• Establish high-quality career technical education programs in high schools and community colleges connecting the new energy economy with work-based learning and pre apprenticeship programs
• Create good union jobs and build more equitable communities
• Save school districts’ money by reducing tax dollars used for energy, heating, and cooling
• Protect the natural environment & resources
Responsibilities:
• Work with union leaders to build and execute a campaign to win healthy and carbon free schools and secure federal funding and other financing for local implementation
• Build a Michigan Climate Jobs union committee organizing to leverage its strengths to support grassroots engagement targeted at federal, state, and local elected officials
• Work closely with local unions to plan and coordinate campaign activity
• Build and manage grassroots and community stakeholder support for healthy and carbon free schools
• Coordinate on communications strategy, including social media, press outreach, and digital advertising
• Work with local elected and appointed leaders alongside parents and community organizations on issues related to funding for healthy and carbon free schools
• Plan, coordinate and attend event and direct actions
• Report progress toward goals at weekly meetings with leaders
Qualifications:
● The Field Campaigner does not need to have prior experience with decarbonization policy or technologies
● A strong commitment to progressive social change, racial justice, and familiarity with the labor movement and issues, particularly in Michigan
● Either based in Michigan or willing to travel to in-person meetings and events in Michigan regularly
● At least two years of experience as an organizer or campaigner for unions, political campaigns, advocacy organizations, or grassroots community organizations
● Strong critical thinking skills
● Ability to work effectively in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments
● Demonstrated commitment to community and/or labor organizing
● Ability to work independently
● Effective time management skills, including prioritizing and managing multiple tasks, with light supervision
Working conditions:
This is a full-time position for a fixed term of up to one year. Long hours will be required on occasion. The position will require some travel. CJNRC will follow public health guidance related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Compensation: The salary range for this position is $75,000-$90,000. CJNRC offers an excellent benefits package that includes employer-paid medical and dental plans for full-time staff and their qualified dependents, life insurance, a dependent care assistance program, and generous time off.
To Apply:
SEND RESUME and COVER LETTER as a single document to: hiring@cjnrc.org with the subject line “MI Field Campaigner”. Priority may be given to applications received by January 26, 2023.
This position is open until filled; however, the posting/acceptance of applications may close at any time. Job descriptions do not cover or contain a comprehensive listing of every activity or responsibility that is required.
CJNRC is committed to equal opportunity, and encourages applicants of all ages, races, sexual orientations, genders, national origins, ethnicities, religions, and veteran status. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and experiences related to our core organizational values and objectives to apply.