Political Intern_Missouri
Job Title: Political Intern
Department: Missouri Chapter
Location: flexible, MO (prefer St. Louis or Kansas City)
Reports to: Chapter Director
Duration: 30 hours/ week May 27-August 2, 2024, potential to extend up to 6 months
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 Political Intern position is for individuals wanting to learn more about the electoral process, the political landscape in Missouri, the building blocks of grassroots organizing, and working in the environmental field. The Political Intern will support the work of Missouri Chapter staff and Chapter Political Committee to support pro-environmental candidates running for local office. The Political Intern will support community engagement, turnout, and data collection for the Chapter’s political priorities for the 2024 election. The Political Intern will receive training in evidence-based practices for Grassroots Organizing and electoral engagement. The Political Intern will also learn the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing and best practices for equitable organizing.
Job activities include but are not limited to:
- Learn Evidence-Based Methods. Perform readings and assignments to learn about the Midwest Academy for Grassroots Organizing, electoral engagement, environmental Justice, and environmental issues impacting Missouri.
- Get Out the Vote for Pro-Environmental Candidates. Identify and train volunteers and community members to support Sierra Club, Missouri Chapter endorsed candidates. Participate in electoral tactics like door knocking, phone banking, and community meetings. Connect candidates with volunteers in their area. Create social media and earned media documents to educate Sierra Club members and the community about endorsed candidates.
- Data Collection. Help volunteers appropriately collect data from conversations and submit the data to Chapter Staff.
- Build Leadership. Assist Chapter staff in turnout for political efforts, hosting community events, and training volunteers. Represent Sierra Club’s views and priorities to community members by participating in meetings, tabling, and speaking publicly. Assist in contacting Sierra Club members, supporters, and community partners via phonebanking, email, canvassing, and tabling.
The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:
- Strong oral communication skills. You are open and honest. You are a good listener. You can share stories about yourself and why you care about these issues.
- Ability to work with diverse staff, volunteers, and the public. You get along well with a lot of different types of people. You are curious. You want to speak to people about issues that are important to them.
- Proficient computer skills. You are familiar with basic word processing and spreadsheet systems.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends. You can work when community members are available.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice. You are committed to self-transformation and just relationships. You understand that privilege exists and the impact of inequity on communities.
The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following experience, skills and competencies:
- Experience with Google Suite, MiniVAN.
- Knowledge of environmental justice issues, fossil fuels/ coal, or climate justice.
- Previous experience with canvassing or deep listening.
- Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice and deep community engagement.
- Previous community engagement in St. Louis, MO.
Compensation & Benefits
The pay range for this position is $18/hour.
This is a category 99 non-exempt, non-represented, temporary position.
Sierra Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Sierra Club employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club People Department in consultation with the employee’s manager. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition. The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce belonging.
To Apply
Please submit your resume to Gretchen.WaddellBarwick@sierraclub.org.
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.
We are accepting applications until Monday May 23, 2024.
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