Job Title: Temporary Chapter Systems Assistant
Department: Field
Location: Remote
Reports To: Deputy Field Director
Duration: 16 weeks, approximately 25 hours/week
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 700 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.
Scope: Provide project coordination and administrative support to Sierra Club’s Field Department, and chapters to ensure projects, initiatives, and workflows are developed and implemented efficiently, effectively, and equitably. Works in concert with the Field Director and Deputy Field Director to ensure projects are planned and executed successfully. Provides project coordination support towards the planning and development of special projects, policies, procedures, and in person gatherings: supports collaborative planning process; develops and implements stakeholder engagement and internal communications; oversees task management and workflows to ensure project progress and effective implementation; coordinates relationships required to deliver on goals.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Administrative and Project Support. Coordinates and executes Departmental, regional, and chapter projects. Tracks internal and external milestones, timelines, and deliverables to ensure functional momentum of projects and initiatives. Assists chapters and senior managers with full budget cycle considerations and processes; navigates confidential and sensitive matters involving potential staffing changes, information requests, and more. Schedules and coordinates meetings with stakeholders to identify and define project requirements, scope and objectives, measures project performance and makes adjustments as needed. Initiates background checks as assigned.
- Regional support. Schedules calls and supports Field Director and Deputy to organize agendas and documents, takes notes, tracks action items, and follow up. Manages information sharing and documentation in alignment with parameters of the project at hand and maintains consistency across the structure. Assists Field Director in budget tracking in partnership with Finance. Supports planning and coordinating of special events and team meetings as requested. Including the creation of agendas, coordinating logistics, preparing materials, taking notes, and tracking follow-up items as needed.
- Departmental Communications. Coordinates communication and information flow among Field Department Leadership, Regional managers, and staff as assigned, including handling sensitive information. Drafts correspondence and assists with proofreading of materials like staff and volunteer communications or memos. Works closely with Field Director and Deputy to develop and maintain internal dashboards and other communication tools. Coordinates the development of internal department resources, including surveys, correspondence, memos and briefing materials.
- Event Coordination. Coordinates the planning and on site coordination of special events and team meetings as requested. Creates agendas, coordinates contracts and vendor payments, tracks budget expenses, prepares materials, takes notes, and tracks follow-up items as needed.
The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:
Experience seeing projects through the full life cycle; proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline.
Excellent writing and editing skills. Strong verbal communication skills, including the ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
Exceptional organizational skills, sound judgment, initiative, and follow through. Proven ability to work and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
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 experience, skills and competencies:
Demonstrated success working in comparable program support, project management, or operations roles.
The competency to create scalable systems and procedures for a variety of tasks and projects, and evolve them to meet changing needs of stakeholders.
Strong emotional Intelligence and demonstrated ability to create rapport and inspire trust.
Familiarity with organizational considerations in the non-profit space; interest in environmental movement-building and conservation issues.
To Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
Skills Required
- Experience seeing projects through the full life cycle and completing projects to scope, budget, and timeline.
- Excellent writing and editing skills.
- Strong verbal communication skills, including ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
- Exceptional organizational skills, sound judgment, initiative, and follow-through; ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to continuously deepening understanding of systems of oppression and examining one’s relationship to privilege and power.
- Uplifting, constructive approach with a can-do attitude, sense of humor, and authentic kindness.
- Demonstrated success in program support, project management, or operations roles.
- Ability to create scalable systems and procedures and evolve them to meet stakeholder needs.
- Strong emotional intelligence and ability to build rapport and inspire trust.
- Familiarity with nonprofit organizational considerations and interest in environmental movement-building and conservation.
What We Do
The Sierra Club is the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. For over 130 years, it has worked to promote clean energy, safeguard community health, protect wildlife, and preserve wild places. Through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action, the organization mobilizes millions of members and supporters to defend the right to a healthy world and address the climate crisis.
