Appalachian Program Coordinator

Appalachian Program Coordinator (30 hours per week)

Appalachian Leaders Network and Western Leaders Network organize local, tribal, and state elected and appointed officials to amplify their voices across the Ohio River Valley and Interior West on pressing climate, conservation, and democracy issues to obtain policies beneficial to our regions and constituents.

Founded in 2017,Western Leaders Network (WLN) harnesses the power of local, tribal, and state elected and appointed officials to address the climate crisis, advance conservation initiatives, and protect democracy. Building upon the success of WLN, Appalachian Leaders Network (ALN) launched in 2023 as a program of WLN to bring together officials in the Ohio River Valley – Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia:

• To build a network of leaders who are informed of and conversant about emerging climate, conservation, and democracy issues, as well as effective public policy initiatives.
• To make an impact at the local, tribal, state, and national levels on issues that affect our natural resources, public health, and democracy.
• To promote initiatives that can help transition natural resource extraction-dependent communities to diversified, more resilient economies; and
• To inspire a new generation of leaders.

ALN works at the intersection of the environment and democracy on the principle that addressing the climate crisis is achieved through strong democratic institutions and leadership. When democratic institutions weaken, environmental progress becomes more difficult, and sometimes impossible. And, protecting our environment builds safe and healthy communities where all people can fully participate in our democracy and have a voice in shaping a sustainable and just future.

Our Approach – Protecting Our Environment Through Strengthening Democracy:

We recognize that strengthening democracy and protecting the environment require similar skills and resources: building coalitions, communicating strategically, countering false narratives, navigating political pressure, fostering peer support, and understanding how leaders can effectively use their unique power and influence to advance the public good. Whether fighting for clean water or fair elections, the work is fundamentally about public trust, community engagement, and shared resilience.

Position Description:

The Appalachian Program Coordinator is a part-time (30 hours per week) position responsible for expanding and deepening ALN's work throughout the Ohio River Valley region. While the immediate priority is implementing expanded democracy programming, this position will work across both environmental and democracy issue areas.

This position will work closely with ALN's network of 300+ elected and appointed officials to build peer support systems, facilitate strategic capacity building, and advocate for a strong democracy and environmental protections across rural and urban communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The Coordinator will focus on cultivating relationships with regional partners and providing direct support to local leaders navigating threats to both democracy and the environment.

This position requires someone deeply connected to the Appalachian region who understands the unique challenges facing local officials in rural communities impacted by extractive industries, can build authentic bipartisan relationships across political divides, and sees the interconnection between environmental protection and democratic governance.

The Appalachian Program Coordinator reports to the Executive Director and works collaboratively with the Senior Program Director.

Duties:

Network Building & Engagement

• Recruit, engage, and build relationships with local elected and appointed officials across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
• Organize peer networks, programs, communications, and events that connect leaders across geographic and ideological lines
• Identify and cultivate regional champions and advisory council members
• Represent ALN at conferences and events to expand reach

Democracy Programming (Primary Focus)

• Oversee and engage network leaders in ALN’s democracy programming, including advocacy efforts to protect election workers, expand voter rights, support free and fair elections, and counter election mis/dis/malinformation.
• Organize trainings and virtual briefings on timely democracy topics, such as securing consistent election funding and coordinating with state agencies to run free and fair elections.
• Organize peer support networks, facilitate cross-jurisdictional knowledge-sharing, and provide strategic support to county clerks, election administrators, and other officials navigating political pressure and threats.
• Develop practical resources, toolkits, public testimony, opinion editorials, press statements, newsletters, sign-on letters, and other communications and advocacy materials.

Climate & Conservation Programming (Supporting Role)

• Oversee and engage network leaders in ALN’s climate and conservation programming, including advocacy efforts for pollution regulation, clean energy development and just transition, clean air and water initiatives, and building local climate resilience.
• Develop practical resources, toolkits, public testimony, opinion editorials, press statements, newsletters, sign-on letters, and other communications and advocacy materials.

Partnership Development & Program Management

• Build and maintain relationships with regional partner organizations and identify opportunities for collaboration
• Track program metrics and prepare funder reports
• Participate in strategic planning and the development of grant proposals

Requirements:

• Deep connection to and understanding of the environmental issues, politics, and culture of the Appalachian region, particularly the Ohio River Valley and its history with extractive industries
• 3+ years of experience in community organizing, political campaigns, government, or nonprofit program management related to democracy, climate, conservation, or civic engagement
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic, bipartisan relationships and work across political divides
• Strong understanding of local government structures, election administration, and democratic processes
• Understanding of climate change, energy transition, and environmental challenges facing Appalachian communities
• Ability to articulate the connections between environmental protection and democratic governance
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Self-directed and efficient with demonstrated ability to work independently in a remote environment
• Ability to travel within the Ohio River Valley region as needed (approximately 4-6 trips per year)
• Personal commitment to strengthening democracy and protecting the environment through supporting local leaders

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as an elected or appointed official, or in a position supporting elected officials
• Existing relationships with local leaders in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and/or West Virginia
• Knowledge of rural community challenges, election administration, and democracy-related issues, or climate/environmental justice work in Appalachia
• Connections to regional media
• Experience working with bipartisan coalitions

Benefits:

WLN is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to staff diversity and cultivating and preserving an equity-based work environment. We welcome qualified people of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. For more information about WLN and to review our DEI statement, visit our website at www.westernleaders.org.

This is a part-time (30 hours per week), exempt position. The salary range for this position is $52,500 - $60,000 annually, based on 30 hours per week and experience, and with generous benefits including:

• Employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees
• Generous paid time off
• 12 paid holidays
• Parental leave
• Professional development opportunities
• Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan with employer contribution

Location:

This position must be based in Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia in order to facilitate in-person relationship-building and regional convenings. This is a remote position with flexibility for home-based work, combined with regular travel throughout the three-state region for meetings, events, and relationship-building.

Anticipated Start Date: February 2026

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to liane@appalachianleaders.org. In your cover letter, please describe:

• Your connection to and understanding of the Appalachian region
• Your background in organizing/working with nonprofits
• Your experience building relationships with elected/appointed officials or working in local government
• Your understanding of the connections between environmental protection and democratic governance
• Your approach to working across political divides on issues of democracy and/or the environment
• Why this position aligns with your professional goals and values

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will remain open until filled.

Generous benefits include:

• Employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees
• Generous paid time off
• 12 paid holidays
• Parental leave
• Professional development opportunities
• Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan with employer contribution