Oregon Chapter Director
Type: Hybrid
Category: Full-time
Solution Areas: Adaptation & Resilience
Regions: State Wide Portland Metro Area
More information
Title: Chapter Director
Department: Oregon Chapter
Location: Portland, OR (preferred) or remote within Oregon
Reports To: Deputy Regional Field Director
Supervises: Oregon Chapter staff
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 800 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: The Chapter Director helps develop and carry out the policies, priorities, and objectives of the Sierra Club in Oregon. Programmatic and operations work is done in close partnership with a volunteer Executive Committee and staff. These activities include but are not limited to conservation, political and legislative programs, equity and inclusion, fundraising, volunteer development, member services, administration, budgeting and financial management, media relations, and staff management. The director represents the Chapter and the Sierra Club to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, donors, allies, other organizations, and the public. Evening and weekend work is often required.
Job activities include:
- Fundraising (38%): Leads the Chapter’s fundraising with support from the Chapter’s fundraising committee and staff. Annually creates fundraising goals, updates the Chapter’s fundraising plan, and tracks progress through the fiscal year. A significant portion of their fundraising time will be focused on developing relationships and soliciting high net worth individuals for contributions. The Sierra Club’s fundraising tactics include significant work with direct mail.
- Staff and volunteer recruitment and management (35%): Leads staff in assigned operational or program areas. Reviews staff performance using solicited input from the Executive Committee, Chapter Chair, and/or others as appropriate. Reviews staff time reports and ensures that these reports are completed in an accurate and timely manner and ensures the Chapter is in compliance with Sierra Club’s employment policies and practices. Manages represented and non-represented state-based staff to meet state-based goals. Oversees the recruitment and building of volunteer teams based on programmatic and operational priorities. Ensures pathways for volunteer leadership development. Oversees strategic organizing plan to ensure membership base and volunteers are engaged and effective.
- Strategic Planning and Assessment (10%): Facilitates, contributes to, and prioritizes the development of the Chapter’s short- and long-term strategic, programmatic, and financial goals. All planning activity takes place in coordination with the Executive Committee, relevant Chapter leaders, and the Deputy Regional Field Director. Coordinates with the Executive Committee to implement organizational effectiveness and ensures a mutually respectful and generative process.
- Oversees the implementation of media and public relations (5%): Oversees and implements strategies and effective digital strategy with the Communication staffer and volunteers.
- Engages in outreach and coalition-building (5%): Ensures the Chapter and its leaders participate in meetings, task forces, and events with other aligned organizations. Builds strong relationships with the Chapter’s entities, state and regional community leaders, coalitions, other organizations, elected officials, governmental agencies, etc. Represents the Chapter when appropriate.
- Attends Chapter meetings and regional coordination meetings (3%) as needed. Oversees Chapter Committees and Issue Chairs in the planning and implementation of core conservation efforts and programs.
- Budgeting (2%): With the Chapter Executive Committee and Treasurer, develops a budget and tracks the Chapter’s financial performance throughout the fiscal year. Responsible for ensuring staff are expensing their time and other expenses appropriately.
- Organizational Compliance (2%): Oversees Chapter compliance. Ensures compliance with Sierra Club policies, with legal requirements for use of Sierra Club resources among staff, and with Sierra Club’s employment policies and practices. Supports volunteer leaders in ensuring compliance in the broader Sierra Club program. Ensures compliance with all applicable laws (local, state, and national) pertaining to chapter operations.
See the full Chapter Director job listing for additional details.
