Data Center Reform Coordinator

About PEC

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) conserves and restores the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.

Your Role

The explosive growth of the data center industry represents a major challenge in Virginia. Their cumulative impacts on air, land and water, climate goal attainment and overall quality of life are likely to be substantial. In response to this challenge, the Piedmont Environmental Council is hiring a campaign coordinator to help organize and advance advocacy for better data center planning, siting and regulation.

The campaign coordinator will organize outreach and engagement, build collaboration between local, regional and statewide groups (including the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition), respond to inquiries, and further advance the data center reform campaign.

The campaign coordinator will report to PEC’s Director of Land Use, and work closely with PEC’s Senior Energy & Climate Policy Analyst, Co-Directors of Outreach and Communications, and local field representatives. This is a full time campaign-focused position based in PEC’s Warrenton office.

Areas of Responsibility

The campaign coordinator will be responsible for developing communication and outreach pieces, monitoring news and progress of local community campaigns, organizing meetings of the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition, facilitating the sharing of information between partners and within PEC, responding to inquiries, and more. Essential functions include:

• Tracking current news, webinars, and industry publications, and meetings related to data center development and energy infrastructure deployment and distributing relevant information with partner organizations in the Data Center Reform Coalition.
• Working with PEC staff and key stakeholders to draft and implement a winning legislative platform and communications strategy, including messaging, bill language, and identification of bill patrons and supporters.
• Developing and updating communication and outreach materials, advocacy petitions, web content, and information tools with land use and communication staff to increase public awareness and understanding of the issue.
• Responding to requests for information and assistance from residents, partners, press, and public officials.
• Organizing the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition meetings and providing follow-up summaries and facilitating and improving communication between partners.
• Mobilizing campaign support through outreach events, fundraising, canvassing, phonebanking, volunteer recruitment, outreach and local media relations.
• Testifying in Richmond occasionally in support of legislative priorities related to the data center reform campaign during General Assembly sessions.
• Keeping the PEC management, staff, and Board of Directors informed on campaign progress.

Geographic Focus

In this position, the employee may work in PEC’s headquarters office in Warrenton, VA, or in a hybrid manner to be decided jointly with their supervisor. This position requires frequent travel to locations within Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier counties with occasional travel to Richmond.

Required Qualifications

Outstanding candidates will share a commitment to PEC’s mission and will bring the following experience and attributes:

• Minimum three years of outreach, communication, political organizing, and/or environment, climate, or energy policy-related experience;
• Strong work ethic and commitment to PEC’s core values, mission and vision.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) principles.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, both written and oral, including the ability to write, edit and proofread materials;
• Confidence speaking in and interfacing with the public, legislators, and the press;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and G Suite (Google Apps);
• Ability to organize, coordinate and manage diverse activities and deadlines;
• Excellent networking, relationship-building and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work well with a diverse constituency, including elected officials, nonprofit representatives, neighborhood associations, and individual citizens with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives;
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment with minimal supervision;
• Ability to work some weekends and evenings;
• Reliable transportation, as this position requires travel to locations and events throughout PEC’s nine-county region and occasionally in Richmond.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, energy or climate policy, public policy, community advocacy, communication, or other relevant field;
• Five years or more of outreach, communication, and/or policy-related experience;
• Working knowledge of environmental and/or climate policy in Virginia
• Working knowledge of energy and transmission policy, planning in Virginia
• Well-versed in AP style and editorial rules.
• Experience in creating content for social media advocacy campaigns;
• Experience building and spearheading a coalition or campaign on environmental, community, and/or climate advocacy with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience lobbying or advocating in the Virginia General Assembly
• Experience working in press relations

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This position will be completed in both an office environment and the outdoors. Office work requires extended sitting or standing and the use of a computer, keyboard, and mouse. Fieldwork for events may be performed outdoors in various weather conditions and may be physically demanding. Occasional lifting of materials up to 40 lbs is required.

Benefits

PEC offers an outstanding and robust benefits package including:

• Two health plans (83% employer paid premium for employee only plan, 80% employer paid for added dependents)
• Short- & Long-Term Disability*
• Group Term Life*
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity insurances*
• HSA account (with employer match up to $750 per year)
• FSA accounts (health & dependent)
• 403(b) pension plan with employer contribution after 1 year of service with 100% vesting from day one
• 10 paid holidays
• 2 floating holidays
• PTO leave – 24 days per year, accrued each pay period
• 1 day per year of paid leave to volunteer at another non-profit or charitable cause
• Salary continuation leave for employee or family illness – from 2 to 8 weeks fully paid leave eligibility every 24 months, depending on length of service
• Paid bereavement, jury duty and military service training leave
• Travel expense reimbursement
• Hybrid work environment and flexible work schedules
• Cell Phone Reimbursement, up to $75 per month
• Professional development support
• Payment for relevant licenses & professional membership fees.
• Indicates that this insurance premium is 100% paid by PEC for the employee’s coverage.