The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Federal Grassroots Coordinator in the EPR Department to be based at our office in Washington, DC.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.
CBF has a staff of approximately 210 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.
CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CBF has an annual budget of approximately $30 million and is supported by over 300,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
EPR
CBF’s Environmental Protection and Restoration department defends and restores the Chesapeake Bay by protecting the Bay’s natural resources from pollution and other harmful activities by fighting for strong and effective laws and regulations; restoring the Bay’s essential habitats and filtering mechanisms; and involving citizens in CBF’s environmental efforts by recruiting, training, and incorporating them as effective partners and leaders.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Federal Grassroots Coordinator plays a key role in developing an engaged and informed network of members and volunteers to advocate for legislation and regulatory programs that are critical to the success of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint and other organizational priorities. This person will act as a liaison between the federal and internal grassroots team, collaborate on efforts to build a diverse network of advocates, and support CBF’s efforts to raise 1 Million Voices for clean water.
Essential functions include:
- With input from policy staff, develop the grassroots and advocacy strategy to support federal legislation and regulatory programs that are critical to the success of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint and other organizational priorities.
- Working with the internal grassroots team, engage CBF constituents and other members of the environmental community to advocate on federal legislative and regulatory issues that are critical to the success of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint and other organizational priorities.
- Recruit advocates to be informed on federal issues to further organizational priorities.
- Establish a college advocacy program in the DC metro area.
- Establish and grow relationships with partnership organizations.
- Represent CBF at partner tabling events.
- Act as liaison between federal office and state grassroots staff, providing support to priority CBF and partner programs and in strategic locations.
- Plan and host CBF Decision-Maker Experiences.
- Plan and execute special events for CBF advocates, including trainings and lobbying opportunities.
- Collaborate and coordinate with communications staff to develop content for member, partner, and advocate communications including action alerts, blogs, and updates to CBF website.
- Support CBF’s efforts of the Making History Campaign.
- Work with CBF staff on efforts to raise 1 Million Voices for Clean Water.
- Provide input in the development and implementation of the advocacy sections for the Bay Advocacy Institute.
- Serve as a member on the 1 Million Voices strategic team and the Bay Advocacy Institute team.
- Track federal metrics for the 1 Million Voices Campaign in CBF’s organization-wide database.
9. Work to ensure that systems, organizational culture, and practices are aligned with CBF’s mission, values and commitments related to DEIJ.
10. Develop and refine programs and activities to ensure equitable practices and support the development of a diverse and effective team.
11. Ensure an inclusive working environments that supports diverse populations
12. Other duties assigned.
PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Successful candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree and minimum of three years of experience that includes a variety of grassroots organizing, volunteer leadership and training, public speaking. Excellent writing skills required. Knowledge of federal government and environmental issues helpful.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ability to receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships. Ability to recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers. Having flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
Salary Range: $60,000 – $65,000
To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website no later than December 7, 2021.
CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan with matching contribution.
CBF requires that all staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.
To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:
- Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
- Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
- Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
- Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.
CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
