OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon Political Director (open til filled)

Position Title: Political Director

Reports To: Executive Director 

Duration: Regular Position 

Hours: 1.0 Full Time Equivalent (40 hours per week) 

Compensation: $55,000 - $60,000 annually, DOE

Benefits: medical and dental (100% of premium paid), professional development ($1000 annually) Progressive PTO policy, in addition to 3 weeks of office closure each year.

Organization Description: OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon hires movement people - community organizers at heart. Each staff person has the specific skills for key positions which advance our mission, and a shared sense of purpose and duty to our community. OPAL seeks a dedicated and passionate movement leader to join our powerful team of  grassroots organizers, community advocates, and nonprofit professionals. OPAL’s mission is Building Power for Environmental Justice and Civil Rights in our Communities. We organize low-income people and people of color to achieve a safe and healthy environment in the places we live, work, learn, play, and gather. We develop leaders who organize and advocate on issues of environmental and climate justice, and we have a 14 year legacy of winning victories and growing the movement for environmental justice and a just transition.

The Political Director is part of the organization’s senior leadership and will support a growing, seasoned team of member-leaders and paid staff working to win concrete change in environmental justice-related policy in Oregon. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Political Strategy (15%) 

● Leads overall vision and strategy for OPAL’s policy and advocacy campaigns, and identify specific points of alignment with OPAL’s policy work, local base-building, and movement-building to advance OPAL’s priorities.

Environmental Justice Policy Development, Analysis, and Research (20%) 

● Cultivating, aligning, adapting and integrating electoral, legislative and administrative campaigns, goals and strategies effectively into the larger organization, in close partnership with political team and organizing staff; 

● Collaboratively developing policy analysis and concepts in support of OPAL campaigns and strategic priorities with staff, membership and partners; 

● Serving as a lobbyist and principal contact for decision-makers on legislative and administrative advocacy priorities. 

Advocacy and Coalition-Building (20%)

● Managing organization’s role and presence on a variety of short and long-term political coalitions and synchronizing partner campaigns with OPAL work; 

● Represent OPAL on key coalitions

● Develop OPAL’s Policy program to expand our analysis of various community issues

● Develop a staffing and management plan to deepen and develop OPAL’s expertise in key issues. 

Internal Political Education and Alignment (20%) 

● Cultivating, aligning, adapting and integrating electoral, legislative and administrative campaigns, goals and strategies effectively into the larger organization, in close partnership with political team and organizing staff; 

Organizational Leadership (15%) 

●  Work with Co-Directors to keep organization united around annual/quarterly/monthly goals through collective planning, staff meetings and retreats, 

●  Review Annual Budget to ensure responsible stewardship of financial resources

● Supervise and manage full-time staff, providing professional guidance and training to interns and volunteers when necessary. 

Fundraising and Communications  (10%) 

● Envisioning, developing project and program concepts for grant proposals, grant reporting, curriculum development and grassroots fundraising efforts. 

● Support communications staff in messaging and strategy to meet organizational objectives in digital organizing, storytelling, and narrative shift. 

Required Qualifications: The Political Director needs to be highly organized, energetic, capable of motivating and managing staff, volunteers, and data. 

● Experience in policy research and analysis

● Experience in grassroots organizing and advocacy campaigns

● Strong racial and social justice analysis with knowledge of multiracial communities and issues. 

● Experience managing or convening coalitions. 

● Strong project management experience. 

● Ability to think strategically and prioritize. 

● Politically astute and diplomatic 

● Knowledge of Oregon’s policy making and political process. 

● Ability to understand, interpret, and explain complex material. 

● Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to adapt to fast paced environments. 

● Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a team environment. 

● Experience in leadership roles such as management, communication, training, organizing, and coalition building. 

The following are a plus, but not requirements: 

● Experience in c4 candidate endorsements and campaigns 

● Proven success leading grass-roots, electoral, or political campaigns. 

Travel Required

In-state and out-of-state travel is required for this position. if using own vehicle, must possess valid Oregon driver license and provide proof of insurance, or if renting, must possess valid ODL and be insurable. Drivers be able to drive a motor vehicle safely and use a seat belt when in operation. Mileage and travel expenses are reimbursed per OPAL policy. Alternative modes of transportation are encouraged.

To apply:

Send a resume and cover letter as separate PDF attachments to jobs@opalpdx.org with the name of this position in the subject line. To demonstrate that you have read this description thoroughly, in your cover letter we ask you to respond to at least one of the Overarching Goals listed in OPAL’s Strategic Overview, and reference how this goal aligns with your values. Applicants who do not send a cover letter will not be considered. 

OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you have any questions about the requirements of this position, or you need application assistance, please email jobs@opalpdx.org. No calls please.