Organizer (Remote, preference for Ohio or Southern states)

The Green Workers Alliance (GWA) is a project of PowerSwitch Action. We are organizing utility-scale solar installers and wind turbine technicians nationally using an online-to-offline model as we campaign to defend jobs in the renewable industry and raise job standards in the field. With more than 1,800 members, we are mobilizing workers for more and better renewable energy jobs, building an organization with diverse member leadership, and elevating workers' voices in the fight to save clean energy projects.

We are seeking an organizer to help grow our membership, develop leaders, and work on issue campaigns. Work will consist of a mix of online and field organizing. The position is remote, with preference for candidates based in Ohio or the South, particularly Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

With a workforce that is constantly on the road, much of our work is online and on the phone, but with regular opportunities for members to participate in in-person activities such as hearings, conferences, actions with allied groups, and press conferences.

A typical day might consist of online outreach to members we find on Facebook, calls to members and leaders, meeting with allies online or in person, and helping prepare a member for a media appearance. On the road, it could involve visiting workers near their workplace or homes, participating in rallies or actions with members, or bringing together leaders to plan strategy.

We are currently looking to expand our work in both Ohio and the South. Current work in Ohio includes mobilizing members to support solar projects and working with allies on a campaign pushing utilities to use more renewable energy and lower rates. We expect similar work in Southern states.

This position will grow GWA’s small but mighty staff to a team of four. In addition, several GWA members participate in paid fellowships each year.

GWA’s Lead Organizer will be the immediate supervisor for this position. In addition to one-on-one meetings, our staff team meets online twice a week and in-person at least twice a year. There will also be regular online side-by-side work with the lead organizer and potentially others.

This is a remote position. Candidates can be located anywhere in the U.S. There is a preference for candidates who live or are willing to relocate to Ohio or to the South. This includes Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Within this region, we are particularly interested in candidates in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

General Responsibilities

• Build membership through a combination of online, phone, and in-person work.
• Mobilize, turn out, and engage membership.
• Develop the organizing skills of members.
• Identify, recruit, train, and develop leaders.
• Develop various communication systems to effectively reach members and workers in the field, including digital tactics.

Specific Responsibilities (Some of these depend on the candidate hired)

• Working with wind tech members to grow our membership base in the industry and run an issue campaign in the field.
• Helping develop our utility campaign. This will involve working with GWA’s director, who currently holds many of the key relationships with allied groups. A key goal is to increase GWA members’ involvement in this campaign.
• Working with allies, including community, labor, and environmental groups. There will be a particular focus on allies in the chosen applicant’s state or region.

Qualifications

This role is ideal for an organizer with three or more years of experience, which could include organizing work while working in the renewable sector or related construction field. This is not an entry-level role. More important than the years of experience, the ideal candidate possesses the following skills and competencies:

Fundamental organizing skills: Proven ability to inspire and motivate others to take action and meet ambitious goals. Able to develop others through coaching, training, and feedback. Knows when/how to delegate. Experience organizing diverse workforces and the ability to organize workers/people with different views/backgrounds. Proven ability to overcome organizing obstacles. Understands and embraces the role of the organizer: Grow membership and develop leaders through building relationships, education, advancing issue campaigns, and other tactics. Track record of successful digital organizing.

Highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented: Able to stay motivated and inspire others around you. Strong sense of ownership over goals. Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize what’s most important. Able to work on their own (remotely) and hit goals. Has a track record of leaving things better than they found them.

Commitment to GWA work: Understands the role of GWA and how it differs from other organizations, such as unions or environmental groups. Is passionate about labor and climate issues.

Requirements

• Willingness to work occasional long and irregular hours, such as nights and weekends, as needed.
• Ability to travel up to 6-8 days a month, on average. This will involve organizing tours and traveling to meetings with GWA leaders and staff.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Access to reliable internet.
• Spanish fluency is preferred, but not required.

We offer generous benefits, including:

• 401(k) with 5% employer contribution.
• 100% of health, dental, and vision premiums for employees and their family members (spouse/domestic partner and children).
• Life insurance for employees.
• Flexible Spending Account: Employees may contribute up to $5,000 a year for childcare expenses and up to $2,500 a year for medical expenses (no employer contribution).
• 12 days of vacation, increasing with tenure up to 20 days.
• 12 days of sick leave per year.
• 6 week sabbatical for full-time employees after five years of employment.

Spanish fluency is preferred, but not required.