Northern Minnesota Organizer

WaterLegacy

Title: Northern Minnesota Organizer
Job Type: Hourly contract based on event schedule (including some evening and weekend times)
Location: North/Central Minnesota

Organization:
WaterLegacy is an award-winning Minnesota non-profit working at the cutting edge of advocacy and communications to prevent PolyMet and other sulfide mine pollution and to protect Minnesota clean water, wild rice, and environmental justice. We are a lean, bold grassroots group dedicated to environmental health and justice, serving as allies for Indigenous communities, and protecting Minnesota’s precious water resources for generations to come.

Summary:
Are you energized by empowering people to protect the environment? WaterLegacy is looking for a part-time organizer to support community engagement efforts to protect water, wild rice, and human health from toxic sulfide-ore mining pollution.

As our Northern Minnesota Organizer, you’ll work under the supervision of WaterLegacy’s Community Engagement Director and collaborate with our Advocacy Director and Counsel and board of directors to sustain and develop our relationships with communities at risk from the toxic impacts of proposed sulfide-ore mines in central and northern Minnesota.

You would attend events across northern Minnesota to represent WaterLegacy and distribute science- and law-based information that empowers citizens to engage in self-advocacy. You would also assist and advise us in strengthening alliances and in planning outreach and engagement.

The ideal team member is embedded in the community, passionate about protecting water, wild rice, and human health from toxic sulfide-ore mining pollution, and energized by conversations with community members.

This position is an hourly contract.

Your Major Responsibilities:

  1. Attend local meetings related to proposed sulfide-ore mining projects and share
    information with WaterLegacy.
  2. Assist in planning and staffing for WaterLegacy-led events in northern Minnesota, including logistics, tabling, organizing volunteers, and brainstorming for additional outreach opportunities.
  3. Build alliances and relationships with local community members, citizen groups, partner organizations, and volunteers in the Tamarack, Duluth, Iron Range, and North Shore areas of Minnesota to support engagement and advocacy.
  4. Support and spearhead outreach opportunities in the communities affected by proposed sulfide-ore mines, including assisting with event planning, tabling at events, disseminating flyers, and other needs.
  5. Help educate, engage, and motivate WaterLegacy supporters to sign petitions, letters, make calls, testify at public hearings and engage in direct peaceful actions (in ways that are safe), and track and report results.
  6. Provide outreach, support, and research to assist WaterLegacy in supporting community members and allies preparing for meetings and federal and/or state comment periods.

What WaterLegacy Will Offer You:

  1. An opportunity to connect with people and protect Minnesota’s unique clean waters and ecosystems, along with safeguarding human health and social justice.
  2. Opportunities to use your skills to build and expand opportunities for citizen action to protect Minnesota’s water resources.
  3. Mentoring to hone your writing expertise, strategic thinking, and policy knowledge.
  4. An entrepreneurial challenge where you can help develop plans and build alliances.
  5. A flexible schedule, allowing you flexible hours while fulfilling meaningful work
    requirements.

Required Qualifications:

  1. Outgoing, detail-oriented, strong work ethic, organized, and able to maintain accountability and confidentiality for WaterLegacy and partner organizations.
  2. College degree in relevant field and/or two years of experience in community organizing or communications in a nonprofit setting.
  3. Cross-cultural competency and experience.
  4. Ability to think outside the box, be creative, and take initiative.
  5. Excellent verbal, written, and social engagement communications skills.
  6. Experience working in team settings.
  7. Passion for non-profit mission of protecting clean water and environmental justice.
  8. Proficient in use of communications tools including Microsoft Office applications.
  9. Reliable car, cell phone, and recent model computer.

Desirable Qualifications:

  1. Experience with media relations, fundraising, and/or preparing and delivering educational presentations.
  2. Graphic design or illustration skills.

To find out more about WaterLegacy, please visit our website at: https://waterlegacy.org/

To Apply: Email your personal cover letter, resume, a brief writing sample (e.g. press release, letter, article, or fact sheet) and contacts for three references to Community Engagement Director Sophia Patane with the subject line “Application – WaterLegacy Northern Minnesota Organizer” at sophia@waterlegacy.org

Apply