The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Pennsylvania Grassroots Specialist to be based at its Pennsylvania State Office located in Harrisburg, PA.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.
CBF has a staff of approximately 190 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.
CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CBF has an annual budget of approximately $26 million and is supported by 300,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Pennsylvania Grassroots Specialist plays a core role in developing an engaged and informed network of community residents, businesses, and organizations along with CBF’s members and volunteers who are positioned to advocate for CBF priorities at the local, county, state, and federal levels.
Working in close collaboration with an interdepartmental team from CBF’s Pennsylvania, Federal, headquarters, and state offices, this position will be focused on cultivating a robust group of advocates from communities and organization. Primary focus will be on veterans, hunting & fishing enthusiasts, and agricultural producers in strategic locations. Engagement with Local faith-based entities, healthcare professionals, and small businesses will also be cultivated as opportunities arise.
Salary Range: $40,000 – $45,000 (negotiable)
Essential functions include:
1.Recruit advocates in targeted geographic areas to be informed on local, county, state and
federal clean water issues and act to further organizational priorities.
a. Establish, grow, and maintain influential relationships and partnerships in priority communities.
b. Develop and provide events and activities for active learning and participation with CBF and partners.
c. Cultivate potential volunteers and advocates by tabling at strategic conferences, festivals, and community events, volunteer tree plantings, etc.
2. Inform and expand advocate network through development and implementation of programs
and initiatives.
a. Develop and implement projects and programming to engage priority audiences.
b. Through close collaboration with CBF’s PA Watershed Restoration Program and Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, cultivate landowners, volunteers, and partners towards advocacy efforts.
c. Facilitate efforts to inform advocates and members on the form, function, and importance of local, county, state, and federal government.
d. Collaborate with CBF Education on develop program to engage with collegiate students, faculty, and staff to advance the Making History Campaign in PA and CBF’s mission.
e. Through close collaboration with CBF’s PA Watershed Restoration Program and Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, engage landowners, volunteers, and partners.
f. Support the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and PA Water outreach and volunteer needs through engage landowners, volunteers, and partners.
g. Host CBF Discovery and Decision-Maker Experience for members and advocates.
3. Activate advocate network to respond to local, county, state, and federal clean water issues and
legislative priorities.
a. Develop, guide, and coordinate efforts, including the volunteer and advocate education, engagement, training, and mobilization efforts in support of local, county, state, and federal legislative issues.
b. Develop and oversee community event organizing, workshop development, bi-monthly learning series, volunteer events, and projects.
c. Collaborate and coordinate with affiliate CBF Communications staff for all message development, creative needs, social media efforts, digital communications, media relations management and events.
4. Provide support for the Pennsylvania Grassroots program.
a. Manage and maintain volunteer and advocate records in constituent management software.
b. Work with Pennsylvania Grassroots Manager and other affiliate staff to develop strategic and annual plans and execute on tactics and strategies as outlined in the plans.
c. Support other departments in the PA office with their outreach needs.
PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Successful candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of experience that includes a variety of grassroots/community organizing, volunteer cultivation and training, partner engagement and cultivation, and experience in veteran, hunting & fishing, agricultural, and faith-based communities. Additionally, the successful candidate should have or obtain and maintain Wilderness First Responder and American Canoe Association Level 2 certification.
To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website. This position is Open Until Filled.
CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred retirement plan.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.
To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:
· Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
· Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
· Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
· Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.
CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
