Position: Vermont Conservation Voters Organizing Fellow
Status: One year contract position
Location: Flexible (within VT)
Schedule and Compensation: full-time position with total salary and benefits package of $45,000
Reports to: Executive Director
About Vermont Conservation Voters
Founded in 1982, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) is a non-partisan, non-profit, statewide, environmental organization working to elect environmentally-friendly candidates to public office. We endorse candidates for public office who have a track record of supporting our environmental values. Via political action committees, we help elect endorsed candidates using a range of strategies including financial support, mail, canvassing, and coordinating phone banks. We advocate for strong environmental laws and hold elected officials accountable for the decisions they make affecting our air, water, wildlife, land, communities, and health.
Summary
VCV is seeking a passionate and dedicated organizing fellow to support our elections work, volunteer management, and membership outreach. This role provides a unique opportunity to connect with Vermont voters about the important issues facing our state and help elect pro-environment champions that will advocate for better protections for our environment and the health of our communities. This position will be focused on both elections and issue based organizing throughout the year
Responsibilities
Job responsibilities include:
- Conduct direct, issue-oriented voter and member outreach through canvassing, phone banking, and events
- Collaborate with our elections and policy teams to organize and run community events
- Build and maintain relationships with volunteers and assist with volunteer recruitment
- Communicate VCV’s values and priorities through coalition building efforts, including identifying and strengthening relationships with other Vermont nonprofits, businesses, and leaders who can be effective electoral and issue campaign partners
- Manage voter contact database using NGP VAN software
- Implement creative strategies for organizing and campaign efforts, including sending weekly elections information and other VCV updates to members
Qualifications
- Interest in or awareness of environmental issues in Vermont, including basic knowledge of VCV’s priority issue areas: climate action, clean water, toxic chemical reforms, healthy forests, and sustainable communities
- Demonstrated commitment to advocating on behalf of Vermont’s people, communities, and environment
- Have excellent communication and organizational skills, with strong attention to detail
- Must be able to successfully work as part of a team, and work well independently
- Should be friendly and able to maintain professionalism when interacting with those with conflicting views
- Must have the ability to multitask and meet deadlines
- Experience with NGP VAN software preferred but not required
- Have availability to travel around Vermont, and work some nights and weekends
- Possess a driver’s license
- Have experience with at least several of the following:
- Event planning;
- Canvassing and/or phone banking;
- Public speaking and giving presentations;
- Working with an advocacy organization or political campaign
This is a paid, full time position with the possibility of being extended for the right candidate if resources allow. All offers for employment are conditioned on the candidate complying with VCV’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. Position will remain open until filled. To apply, email a letter of interest, resume, and three references to Shelden Goodwin at sgoodwin@vermontconservationvoters.org with the subject line “VCV Organizing Fellowship.”
We recognize that formal education is not the only pathway to gaining relevant experience, and so we invite any combination of academic, professional, and life experience. VCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates whose identities have been historically underrepresented in the environmental movement, including people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian or Pacific Islander, or people of color; people from marginalized economic backgrounds; and people living with disabilities.