Soil Health Organizer

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

Northern Plains Resource Council seeks a Soil Health Organizer who will organize farmers, ranchers, and Northern Plains members to build power on soil health and related ag issues. This role also organizes Northern Plains’ local chapter in Carbon County, Carbon County Resource Council. 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 also welcome applicants who are based in and prefer to remain in Carbon County, 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 soil health and other issues impacting agricultural producers;
• Serve as the lead organizer for Carbon County Resource Council, Northern Plains’ chapter in Carbon County;
• Work with members and leaders in Carbon County to build power locally and advance strategic campaigns on issues impacting Carbon County residents;
• Build strong relationships with producers, businesses, and governmental agencies to identify ongoing and emerging needs of producers and connect across sectors;
• 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 have a relationship to, familiarity with, or interest in soil health or agriculture;
• Commitment to building the power of regular people through member-led, grassroots community organizing;
• Commitment to or comfort with Northern Plains’ issues and values;
• Strong communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to get along well with people from a wide range of backgrounds and personalities;
• Highly motivated, proactive work style with excellent organizational skills and follow through;
• Ability to work collaboratively with teams of both staff and member leaders;
• Ability to travel and be away overnight;
• Embraces 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:

• Familiarity with environmental issues;
• Familiarity with broader movements for social, economic, and environmental justice