Community Organizer (candidates can be based anywhere in Connecticut)

Slingshot is searching for an experienced organizer to work side-by-side with communities in Connecticut who are on the frontlines of climate and environmental injustice.

Our team brings a combined 50+ years of community organizing experience to working against environmental health threats in the region. We bring leaders together to build powerful statewide and regional networks, strengthening the environmental movement and laying the foundation for lasting change.

As Slingshot’s Connecticut Organizer, you will be a part of a new and growing organization, building the go-to hub for environmental health and justice organizing in the Northeast. You will be a part of transformational work, taking on some of the worst polluters in the region and building community power.

You will anchor our work in Connecticut, deepening our relationships with community groups, partners, and funders, as well as supporting grassroots campaigns.

What you’ll do:

• Community organizing workshops and leadership development: You will craft and facilitate group workshops on core organizing skills like campaign planning, messaging, and fundraising. You will also connect individually with community leaders for one-one-one coaching, relationship building, and side-by-side work. Currently, we are holding workshops and meetings both virtually and in-person, depending on the needs of our groups.
• Campaign development and strategy: You will build relationships with leaders in most impacted communities, identifying the most profound local environmental threats and working together to find solutions. You will research and develop creative strategies to protect health and environment, particularly in Black, Indigenous, and poor communities and communities of color.
• Communications and organizational visibility: In collaboration with the communications lead, you will work to increase Slingshot’s media presence through local events, press releases, campaign materials, and online organizing.
• Fundraising: Guided by the development team, you will cultivate relationships with local foundations and help write grant applications. You will identify and deepen connections with Connecticut grassroots donors, and participate in other fundraising tactics such as door-to-door canvassing, letter-writing, and house parties.
• Organizational development: You will be a part of implementing our strategic three-year plan, building out our organizational structures, and joining our staff-wide process to center racial and class equity. You will be part of a vibrant organizing team, contributing to each other’s growth and development.

What you’ll need:

Key qualifications:

• At least three years of related work experience, such as community organizing or grassroots campaign coordination, with a passion for organizing with people as means for change;
• Experience living in or working with people in frontline communities, especially people of color, Indigenous communities, immigrants, and low-income people;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills–you enjoy spending time with people and building new relationships;
• Strategic thinking and effective facilitation skills;
• Experience with leadership development, preferably training and developing leaders in a grassroots organizing setting;
• Experience with campaign planning and development;
• A passion for racial, economic, and environmental justice and a strong commitment to working for a just, inclusive, and better world;
• Flexibility- you’re excited to be a part of a growing organization;
• Interest in sharing responsibility as part of a non-hierarchical staff structure;
• A driver’s license, preferably with a car you are willing to drive for work;

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in environmental health, justice, or climate work;
• Experience with coalition building and working with allies, media engagement, and/or grassroots fundraising;
• Additional language skills in addition to English, such as Spanish, is a big plus

Structure and team at Slingshot: Slingshot practices shared leadership and consensus decision making. This position will be part of the ongoing development of equitable leadership structures. We are a team that shows up for each other every day. We're close-knit, highly communicative, and understanding. We maintain meaningful connection through weekly staff calls, peer-to-peer support, and in-person retreats. And though we are passionate, committed, and hard-working, we also want our team members to take the rest they need to thrive.

Supervision: This position reports to our Organizing Director and involves collaboration and reporting to other staff members based on project management. This position does not have any supervision responsibilities.

Location: We are looking to hire an organizer who ideally has ties to our geographic area. Candidates must be located in or willing to relocate anywhere in Connecticut. People of color, indigenous people, immigrants, LGBTQ+, gender non-conforming folks and women, and those from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Much of our work is remote, but the role does involve travel to be in person with community groups. You should expect car travel to parts of Connecticut 3-4 times per month.

Salary and benefits: Slingshot offers an extensive benefits plan and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. The salary for the Organizer is $60,000-68,000, depending on experience, with a benefits package which includes medical and dental coverage, a retirement savings plan, vacation, sick time, holidays, and Fridays off during the summer. We recognize the value of work-life balance and also strive to create opportunities for growth for all employees through professional development.

To apply: Please visit https://www.slingshot.org/careers and click on the job description to complete our short application and submit a resume. Please include where you heard about the job. You do not need to submit a cover letter, so please skip that field. The application deadline is Tuesday, June 30th, but please submit your application as soon as possible. Slingshot is partnering with Rooted Edge Consulting on this search.

Slingshot is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Slingshot considers the health and safety of its staff members and their families, our guests, our visitors, and the community at large to be a top priority. All offers to work, intern, or volunteer with Slingshot are conditioned on the candidate complying with our mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Slingshot is fiscally sponsored by Conservation Law Foundation.

Slingshot offers an extensive benefits plan and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. The salary for the Organizer role is $60,000-68,000, depending on experience, with a benefits package which includes medical and dental coverage, a retirement savings plan, vacation, sick time, holidays, and Fridays off during the summer. We recognize the value of work-life balance and also strive to create opportunities for growth for all employees through professional development.

Additional language skills in addition to English, such as Spanish, is a big plus.