Chapter Political Director

Job Title: Chapter Political Director Department: Florida Chapter Location: Remote within FL Reports to: Chapter Director

Context:At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees. 

The Political Director plans, organizes, and implements the Chapter’s state political and electoral plan and works with the legislative staff to mobilize grassroots advocacy and strategic activism to support the Chapter’s legislative priorities. 

Scope: The Political Director builds the Chapter’s power/influence, in cooperation with the volunteer leadership, through delivery of electoral and legislative grassroots advocacy efforts. Recruits, organizes and supports volunteer efforts, maintains political contacts, makes strategic recommendations related to political endorsements. Raises funds for Sierra Club Florida campaigns on state ballot measures and to support or oppose state and local candidates for elected office.

Job Activities include but are not limited to:

• Strategic Campaigns. Plans, coordinates, supports and implements the Chapter’s political program as approved by the chapter leadership including candidate recruitment, endorsements, fundraising and conducting election campaign activities. Assists in the formulation of strategic grassroots campaign and coalition activities in support of Sierra Club Florida’s political priorities at the state and federal levels and coordinates with the Sierra Club national political team as needed. Travel is required for staff meetings, volunteer group meetings, statewide political functions, and other meetings and events deemed relevant to the duties of the job both in and out of state.
• Volunteer Recruitment and Leadership Development. Trains, informs, and motivates volunteers and other chapter staff to enable them to activate others in efforts to influence legislative and regulatory decisions and in the political process. Participates in the development of educational/ informational materials in regard to the Club’s political and legislative grassroots efforts. Manages the Chapter’s political intern program.
• Communication & Policy Messaging. Works with Sierra Club staff and volunteers to develop a consistent, clear state policy, legislative and political message that is being communicated to the public. Communicates with the media to state the Sierra Club's view on specific state political matters including endorsements and campaign efforts.
• Fundraising & Compliance. Assists in fundraising for the Chapter’s political programs. Ensures compliance with Sierra Club policy and federal and state laws related to election activities including management and administration of the Chapter’s state Political Action Committee (PAC). Ensures compliance with all state and federal lobbying and political campaign laws and all reporting requirements.
• Advances Sierra Club Florida’s Equity Goals. Supports implementation of the chapter’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Seeks and creates opportunities to work with BIPOC organizations, elected officials, and candidates to broaden the work of the Club to help more frontline communities through political and policy work.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

• Experience and skill with NGP VAN, Salesforce, or other similar voter information software: Successful candidates must have experience and competency using Microsoft Office applications, Google drive, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, websites, and constituent database management applications such as the Voter Activation Network (VAN) and Salesforce.
• Ability and willingness to conduct strategic outreach: Successful candidates will show a strong desire to engage in collaboration, conduct outreach, and build networks throughout the organization and the state.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written: Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and clearly both verbally and in writing.
• Experience working with political tools and tactics: Strong candidates will have experience using political tools such as polling, virtual phone banking, open source event hosting, social media, fundraising, and power mapping.
• Committed to evolution: You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting and additive: You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

• Knowledge of the Florida political landscape. The strongest candidates will have a deep knowledge and understanding of Florida’s unique political landscape.
• Experience working with the press. The strongest candidates will have extensive experience working with members of the media in advocacy and political contexts. The ideal candidate will have experience working with both national and Florida-specific media outlets.
• Experience and understanding of compliance with local, state and federal election laws.  The ideal candidate will have experience and a deep understanding of the rules, laws, and guidelines as it relates to political work in Florida, both advocacy and electoral.
• Spanish as a first or second language.