Community Organizer

“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” - Dolores Huerta, community organizer

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Northern Plains Resource Council seeks a Community Organizer who will develop the leadership of regular Montanans to organize and build power on energy, environmental, and agriculture issues. This role will also organize at least one of Northern Plains’ local chapters. In this role, you won’t be tied to a desk, you’ll meet lots of people, and you’ll make change happen at the grassroots level.

WHO WE ARE

Northern Plains is a grassroots organization of people from the plains and mountains, cities and towns. We are everyday Montanans who love where we live. We stand up, shoulder-to-shoulder, to protect this place we all call home.

We believe that true prosperity begins with healthy land, water, and air. We believe that our families, farms, ranches, schools, businesses, governments, and communities thrive when we are good stewards of these resources. We believe that if we look beyond our fences, listen to one another, and keep our minds open, we will find creative solutions to secure a clean, healthful environment for all.

We are working toward a future where we live in harmony with nature, where our economy serves the people rather than the people serving the economy, where neighbors work side-by-side to build a world that lives up to our ideals of fairness, inclusion, and justice.

For over 50 years, Northern Plains Resource Council has helped Montanans organize to protect water quality, family farms and ranches, and our unique quality of life.

LOCATION: This position is based in Billings, Montana. We particularly welcome or encourage applicants who have connections to or roots in Red Lodge, Billings, or eastern Montana. This is an in-person position for individuals based in Billings but comes with flexible working arrangements.

We are a team of hard-working, dedicated individuals who honor and promote a healthy work/life balance. Our LEED Platinum certified office in Billings is full of natural light, outbursts of laughter, and is frequently visited by our furry, four-legged friends.

You will be directly supervised by the Director of Organizing and work with members from all over the state.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Develop the organizing skills, leadership, and commitment of members and leaders across our base;
• Work with members and leaders to build and execute strategic campaigns on issues they choose;
• Serve as the lead organizer for one of Northern Plains’ local chapters;
• Build and maintain your understanding of your assigned statewide issue in Montana (for example, your assigned issue might be agriculture, soil health, oil and gas, clean energy, etc.);
• Participate in grassroots fundraising efforts;
• Plan effective meetings, organizing actions, and events;
• Communicate clearly, orally and in writing;
• Recruit new members to Northern Plains;
• Uphold our member-led model of grassroots and democratic decision-making.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are committed to building the power of regular people through member-led, grassroots community organizing;
• You are committed to or comfortable with Northern Plains’ issues and values;
• You have strong communication skills;
• You have strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to get along well with people from a wide range of backgrounds and personalities;
• You have a highly motivated, proactive work style with excellent organizational skills and follow through;
• You’re capable of working collaboratively with teams of both staff and member leaders;
• You have the flexibility to travel and be away overnight;
• You embrace Northern Plains’ mission.

We understand that the right candidate may have experience in different areas. If you don’t meet all the requirements above but have an interest in learning, we still encourage you to apply.

Also helpful:

• You have connections to, roots in, or a deep commitment to Montana;
• You have a relationship to, familiarity with, or interest in agriculture;
• You have a relationship to, familiarity with, or interest in environmental issues;
• You have familiarity with broader movements for social, economic, and environmental justice

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Our compensation philosophy and transparent salary structure flows from our belief that our people are the most important part of our organization. We offer thriving wages, ample benefits, and opportunities for growth and development.

The salary for this position starts at $46,000. We offer options for fully and partially employer-paid health insurance, 20 days of paid vacation plus 13 paid holidays (including the week from Christmas Eve through New Year), 12 days of paid sick and personal leave, and 8 weeks of paid parental leave with the option to extend utilizing other leave types. In addition, we offer a retirement plan, an employer paid cell phone plan, and a sabbatical program.

This is a full-time, permanent position and is represented by Teamsters Local 190 and its terms and conditions are subject to negotiation between Northern Plains and the Union.