Lead Organizer (Houston/Austin, TX)

About Texas Campaign for the Environment Fund (TCE Fund) & TCE

TCE Fund’s mission is to engage people and communities through face-to-face public education, grassroots organizing and action-oriented research for a cleaner and healthier Texas. TCE is the state’s leading canvass-based environmental advocacy group, directly influencing public policy through community-based lobbying. Both organizations lead local, statewide and national issue campaigns to fight pollution, especially fossil fuel facilities that harm communities and worsen climate pollution. TCE Fund and TCE promote clean economy solutions such as Zero Waste and renewable energy.

Position Summary

The Lead Organizer is responsible for building power through community organizing and advocacy campaigns in the local area. Specific job responsibilities will include community organizing and engagement, government relations, public speaking engagements, coalition work, and supporting canvass staff development. The lead organizer will regularly meet with directors and other staff to collaborate on messaging, campaign strategy, and organizational best practices.

TCE Fund strives to live by the organizational values of intentionality, justice, respect, teamwork, and vision. All employees, as well as the organization as a whole, use these values to guide the work that we take on, as well as how we go about doing that work. These values are used in our organizational strategic planning and our individual performance evaluations.

Major Functions and Responsibilities

• Campaign Support - Work with senior TCE staff to support the development and execution of issue campaign messaging, strategy, and management.
• Support Canvass Staff Development - Regularly interface with TCE field canvass staff to support their engagement in the campaign beyond field canvassing. Identify leadership capacity from field canvassers and train candidates for additional organizing skills and responsibilities.
• Organizing and Community Engagement - Engage supporters to participate in volunteer efforts such as reaching out to others in the community, participating in public meetings or demonstrations. Work with local activists to develop leadership, public speaking, advocacy and organizing training for area residents. Identify, educate and mobilize pro-environment voters.
• Government Relations - Organize activists to put pressure on public officials (via lobbying, educating, and mobilizing voters and other tactics) to make important decisions that affect positive outcomes. Participate in public hearings and give testimony.
• Coalition Building - Collaborate with allies and volunteers to build coalitions on shared campaign objectives. Actively engage in meetings by way of facilitation, agenda setting, and volunteering to initiate and complete projects and tasks. Maintain active relationships with external partners to help leverage more power with decision makers.
• External Communications - Collaborate with allies and TCE Fund staff to execute traditional and social media strategies to build power and shape the public narrative on our campaigns.

Qualifications

• At least one year of proven experience in grassroots community organizing, with a preference for environmental and/or social justice work.
• Understanding of advocacy and organizing skills.
• Outstanding verbal, public speaking, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated competency working with diverse audiences, including but not limited to elected officials, community leaders, coalition partners, and the general public.
• Proficiency with MS Office and Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) Other proficiencies such as constituent relations management software, digital advocacy tools, project management platforms, graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite and Canva), and/or voter databases are preferred but not required.
• Ability to quickly analyze and synthesize complex information.
• A keen eye for good design and presentation of public-facing campaign materials.
• Available to occasionally travel throughout the state with some less frequent trips out of state.
• Additional experience in canvassing, online organizing, political campaigns, and/or direct action would also be welcome.
• Spanish speaking and writing skills are a plus.

Personal Characteristics

• A commitment to advancing the overarching goal of environmental and social justice.
• An energetic person who can handle and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities; a self-starter and finisher.
• A team player who inspires collaboration and operates decisively; is flexible and well-organized.
• Strong critical thinker and planner.
• Emotionally mature and self-confident.
• Experience in Austin/Houston is strongly preferred.
• TCE will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination of anyone who is to be hired for this position. Reasonable accommodations for documented exemptions may be considered.

Compensation

Annual salary range $35,000-$45,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits package includes insurance coverage (medical/dental/vision, including an HSA account with employer contribution), paid time off and flex/comp time, paid holidays, retirement plan with employer matching contribution, and transportation benefit.

Location

Greater Houston, TX and Austin, TX Texas (occasional travel may be required in the future). Hybrid position reporting to TCE offices in those cities.

Applications are being accepted until the position is filled.

TCE is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. TCE encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, and record of arrest or conviction.