East Harris County Organizer – Public Citizen’s Texas Office

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION: The East Harris County Organizer will report to the Texas office director and work alongside Public Citizen’s Houston-Based Organizer and Researcher and local coalition partners to develop and implement campaigns to advance local environmental action in East Harris County.

This work will serve to educate community members about impacts to their health and wellbeing and empower them to become advocates for their own health and safety; bring accountability to Port Houston, in terms of governance and pollution emissions reductions; and advocate regional climate action.

Responsibilities: The Organizer’s responsibilities include:

• Developing educational and advocacy campaigns to build community power to advance environmental justice,
• Contributing to regional campaign strategy,
• Participating in local coalitions,
• Speaking publicly on behalf of Public Citizen (e.g. at Harris County Commissioner’s Court, Port Houston Port Commission, in meetings with elected officials and staff),
• Creating factsheets and fliers on relevant topics,
• Cultivating relationships with community groups, other organizations, and individuals in Harris County,
• Contributing to event planning, media efforts such as press conferences, blogs, and social media, and
• Engaging with communities near the Houston Ship Channel impacted by economic and health disparities and environmental injustice.
• Other duties as assigned.

This is a grant-contingent position based in Houston/East Harris County, Texas. Some travel including to our Texas headquarters in Austin is required.

Qualifications:

Education: College degree preferred but not required. Candidates without a degree should have significant professional experience in organizing.

Knowledge: Familiarity with organizing strategy, social justice, Texas/Houston politics, climate change, renewable energy and air pollution.

Skills: Spanish fluency preferred but not required. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Basic competence with Microsoft Office suite and social media preferred.

Work Experience: At least two years’ experience organizing. Experience organizing in East Harris County strongly preferred. Nonprofit experience beneficial but not required.

Capabilities: Self-motivated, works well with a wide range of people in a fast-paced environment, works well independently and as part of a team, manages multiple projects and work under pressure, adapts to changing situations daily; desire to learn about and advance progressive causes.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Competitive salary between $56,807 to $82,200 is dependent on relevant experience and qualifications and generous benefits package. Public Citizen staff are represented by SEIU Local 500 and our salaries are set according to our collective bargaining agreement. Public Citizen does not negotiate salaries. This is a grant contingent position.

We offer a competitive salary and great benefits which include:

• Great medical and dental coverage, including full coverage for children
• Three weeks paid vacation for new employees, plus five personal days
• 401K plan with a 5% contribution from PC after one year of employment
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
• Sabbatical after 10 years of employment
• Student loan reimbursement program

TO APPLY:

Send a letter of interest, resume, and two writing samples to ashelley@citizen.org. Please put “East Harris County Organizer” in the subject of your email.

Public Citizen is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, LGBT candidates are encouraged to apply.

About Public Citizen:

Public Citizen is a national, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent the public interest in Congress, the executive branch and the courts. We fight for openness and democratic accountability in government; for social and economic justice in globalization and trade policies; for clean, safe and sustainable energy; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; for safe, effective and affordable medicines and health care and for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts. We have six divisions based in our Washington, D.C. offices and an office in Texas.

The mission of Public Citizen’s Texas office is to empower citizens to be effective advocates for the environment and against corporate and governmental irresponsibility. Since 1984, the Texas state office has worked to combat global climate change, promote the use of clean renewable energy, reduce the use of coal, and get environmental policies enforced to reduce air and water pollution. We work with numerous partner groups, including other national nonprofits and local organizations. Public Citizen has achieved important victories in Texas on energy efficiency, renewable energy and air quality issues over the past 31 years. Among our victories, we were involved in legislation that led to Texas’ wind boom; we helped draft energy efficiency legislation that led to Texas being the first in the nation to have an efficiency portfolio standard; we helped pass Texas building energy codes in 2001 and we have developed programs to reduce toxic and diesel emissions.

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