Job Title: Program and Operations Coordinator
Department: Campaigns Unit
Location: Oakland, DC, or Remote
Reports To: Associate Director, Campaign Operations
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 Program and Operations Coordinator performs a broad range of operational and project functions that enhance the efficiency and advance the mission of the Campaigns Unit. Primary responsibilities of this role include fulfilling operational duties for the campaign and its staff, managing systems and projects to streamline campaign and cross-departmental work, and providing administrative support to the senior Campaigns leadership. The Program and Operations Coordinator is a collaborative and equity-driven individual who is committed to modeling and centering organizational belonging in their work.
Job activities include but are not limited to:Financial Management: Responsible for clear and effective management ofoperational and financial needs for the Campaigns team. Performs a broad range of operational functions for assigned Campaigns portfolio, including processing and tracking campaign expenses, reimbursements, invoices, external re-grants, contract agreements, and Chapter-National agreements for assigned campaign portfolio. Closely monitors campaign budget spending in partnership with campaign directors and Finance team. Coordinates and administers vendor relations, ensuring vendors and other third parties follow Sierra Club established policies, procedures and contracting requirements. Identifies opportunities for process improvement and collaboratively solves problems. Campaign Operations Management: Utilizing a solutions-orientation approach, applies Sierra Club’s standard operating procedures to individualized needs of individuals, teams, and departments. Acts as a liaison between the campaigns and Operations and Finance Departments, supporting staff to navigate operational policies, procedures, and deadlines, and rolls out organizational policy changes to campaign staff. Monitors and elevates unique needs of assigned portfolio in order to make recommendations to management for evaluation and improvement of organizational policy, procedure and practice. Manages the planning and execution of in-person and virtual departmental events and meetings, including volunteer fly-ins and mobilizations, in compliance with relevant organizational policies. Creates, manages, and distributes meeting materials, and maintains records.Project Management: Collaborates on Campaigns Unit project management efforts in with Campaign leadership to strengthen campaign and cross-departmental cohesiveness, efficiency, and advancement of campaign goals, either assigned by leadership or independently identified. Proactively and regularly identifies strategic opportunities for process improvement and problem-solves with relevant internal and external stakeholders. Routinely manages project deliverables and timelines, collaborates with colleagues to achieve results, and manages communication and roll-out of projects to appropriate audiences. Facilitates campaign hiring processes with campaign directors, and supports onboarding and orientation for new staff. Develops, monitors, and tracks organizational and departmental planning and reporting needs, including with the Advancement department to ensure sufficient campaign information is provided for donor reporting requirements. Information Management and Communications: Organizes and manages Campaigns Unit information and resources for assigned portfolio including organizational charts, staff directories, google groups, listservs, and shared drives, and maintains records. Plans and runs webinars in partnership with campaign leadership. Identifies, organizes, and shares training opportunities for Campaigns staff. Develops, plans, and distributes departmental communications on behalf of campaign leadership. Demonstratesexceptional professionalism while interfacing with colleagues and external stakeholders. Executive Support: Partners with Campaigns Unit senior leadership to ensure administrative needs are adequately met and problem-solves, as needed. Supports leaders and managers in assigned portfolios, demonstrating consistent professionalism with sensitive and confidential administrative needs related to personnel actions and communications. This includes but is not limited to, searching for and producing emails and other documents in management’s confidential files to support management’s defense of grievances or other challenges to personnel actions. Maintains robust and complex schedules, manages meeting arrangements, arranges travel, assists with hiring processes, and supports timekeeping and expense submissions. Makes strategic prioritization decisions when faced with competing requests. Tracks outstanding tasks and projects for senior leadership, including urgent and high priority requests.
Overtime and work outside normal hours:The standard Sierra Club work week is 37.5 hours. This job requires occasional overtime or evening/weekend hours due to special deadlines, projects, other staff absences, or emergencies. This position may require out-of-town travel up to 4 times a year. The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience, and competencies:Highly organized and detail-oriented. You regularly manage competing priorities, and stay on track independently to meet and exceed expectations for deadlines and deliverables. You have excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders. Project Management Experience. You have demonstrated success leading large, complex projects that require cross-functional collaboration inside organizations, campaigns, or teams. You proactively make recommendations to improve systems and workflow.Excellent written and verbal communication skills. You interact cooperatively and effectively with a wide range of constituents including staff, volunteers, and external partners. You communicate with equity and inclusion in mind, demonstrate exceptional professionalism, and work well with individuals across a diverse range of identities. You are comfortable using Google Suite and Microsoft Office tools.Confidentiality and discretion. You have demonstrated the ability to handle confidential matters, including those pertaining to personnel and budget decisions, with appropriate care, diplomacy, and integrity. You show discretion and comfort with working in a dynamic environment. Resourceful problem solver. You bring a solutions-oriented attitude to all of your work. You creatively solve problems, and you proactively ask for help from your colleagues. You take initiative to collaboratively improve systems and processes.Reliable, dependable, and takes initiative. You independently follow through on commitments and responsibilities. Colleagues can depend on you to complete projects and meet deadlines. You identify and act on new opportunities and provide creative, timely problem-solving.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 candidate will also demonstrate the following experience, skills, and competencies:Event planning experience. You have experience successfully planning and running virtual and in-person meetings and events, including logistical planning, budget tracking, and collaborating with a larger planning team. You have experience successfully planning and running virtual and in-person meetings and events.Technology Skills. You have strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, Google Suite, and are a quick learner of new applications and programs. Experience with Monday.com and/or other project management tools Google Sites is a plus. You’re comfortable teaching and sharing your expertise with others. 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.
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