Deputy Regional Field Director

Title: Deputy Regional Field Director

Department: Field

Location:  This position is primarily based in California. While the location is flexible, candidates must be willing to work PST hours. This position requires the ability to travel.

Reports To: Field Director or Deputy Field Director 

Supervises: Chapter Directors, 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 700 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 Deputy Regional Field Director serves as the main national point of contact and direct support for Chapter teams in the assigned geographic region to address climate disruption, transform the energy economy, protect communities from pollution, ensure access to the outdoors for all, and protect our lands, water, and wildlife. This role works in partnership with

Chapter executive committee chair(s) in the co-leadership model to further the priorities of the Chapter as established by the volunteer leaders, Sierra Club’s permanent organizing infrastructure. The Deputy Regional Field Director manages Chapter Directors and other Chapter staff as assigned. This Senior Management position holds and navigates confidential and sensitive matters with care and expertise. As a senior leader, the DRFD coaches, leads, and manages towards achieving the Sierra Club’s bold Strategic Framework and 2030 goals.

The Deputy Regional Field Director uses strategic vision to leverage the resources available to

strengthen Chapters and support them in tackling the urgent threats to our planet and

communities, and has a proven track-record of managing other leaders towards outcomes. This

role facilitates collaboration throughout the states they are managing and is comfortable

managing internal and external opportunities and challenges.

• Builds strong, high-functioning Chapters: Supports Chapter growth and volunteer

leadership to foster the development of Chapters as the permanent

organizing base of the Sierra Club. Supports Chapter Staff to build strong local

governance practices and management practices. Coordinates with Chapter Director and Chapter Chair (or lead Chapter staff and volunteers) on Chapter strategic planning

towards Sierra Club's 2030 goals and healthy, high-impact Chapters. Ensures

coordination with other Sierra Club staff working within Chapter geographies and/or

towards Chapter growth, governance, and support. Engages and coordinates with peers

within and across regions to bring alignment around approach and best practices.

• Chapter Integration and Manage, Coach, and Lead Chapter Directors: Manages

Directors and staff in the assigned region towards achieving local, state, and national priorities. Manages and coaches the Chapter Director and other Chapter staff as assigned toward the execution of Chapter priorities. Provides coaching on Chapter Governance and Capacity Strength and serves as an expert on Chapter issues.

• Strategy and Outcomes: Coordinates planning with state and regional teams to develop, execute, and evaluate integrated plans to deliver outcomes that measurably advance our overarching organizational and campaign goals centered in equity, justice, and inclusion. Maintains close partnership with the Program Department and Federal team to foster collaboration between Chapters and national campaigns on national campaign outcomes, support to design campaign strategies in alignment with our overarching strategies, and identify and elevate emergent strategic priorities in the region. Supports Chapters to strategize, meet outcomes, and budget towards national and local priorities.

• Support chapter resourcing and capacity building. Partners with Chapter Directors to identify and clarify campaign and capacity needs as strategic priorities. Consults with the Field Regional Management Team, Chapter leaders, and Chapter-facing teams to meet state-based resourcing needs. Ensures organizing capacity needs are identified and met, and supports/facilitates power building, rooted in the Jemez Principles, to meet recruitment, mobilization, and collaboration goals.

• Support Chapter Health. Conducts ongoing documentation & analysis through Chapter health evaluation throughout the year; identifies problems, collaborates with the Field Leadership Team to determine solutions; works in conjunction with the Field Director and Deputy to hold sensitive information in alignment with confidentiality parameters of the Field Department.

• Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy: In coordination with Chapter teams, facilitates representation of Sierra Club in regional coalitions, at regional events, and to the general public. Supports and partners with staff in the region to navigate disagreements with internal and strategic partners. In partnership with Chapter staff and volunteers, engages decision-makers on behalf of Sierra Club.

• Fundraising and Donor Cultivation: Partners with Advancement, Field Regional Management Team, national campaign staff, and Chapter Directors to cultivate donors within the region. Contributes to relevant grant proposals. Prepares reports and storytelling of local victories to further fund development in the region. Aligns fundraising coaching and support with the expectations of the Chapter Fundraising team 

• Performs miscellaneous duties and special projects as assigned by Field Department Leadership.

• Experience as a senior manager or Director in a grassroots advocacy organization. Strong track record of managing and leading teams of staff and volunteer leaders towards shared goals and strategies. Consistently practice leadership development with others, and coach and manage those you work with to do the same. Skillful at giving and receiving feedback and creating cultures of learning, risk-taking, and mutual accountability in staff you manage and teams you lead. 

• Strategy and Impact: Understanding of environmental, climate, and social justice issues and how they relate to each other. Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies and manage leaders to shared goals and outcomes. Track record of leading successful campaigns, delivering impactful victories, and building long-term power. Demonstrated ability to effectively convene multiple stakeholders and mediate competing priorities in the service of collective vision and goals. Flexible and able to strategically assess situations, shifting as needed with focus and ease.

• 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.

• Team Leadership and Management in a Dynamic Landscape: Skillful at leading teams with a diversity of identities and skill sets to contribute at their highest level. Proficient at proactively surfacing and navigating conflict in a generative, equitable way. Strong Emotional intelligence and demonstrated ability to build rapport and inspire trust with individuals and teams. Prior experience and demonstrated ability and effectiveness working with volunteers. Experience working in a fast-paced environment, across geographies, and with different types of volunteer and staff structures, exercising effective judgment in challenging situations and remaining calm under pressure.

• Fundraising and Donor Stewardship. Experience fundraising and cultivating donor relationships. Partner with Advancement on donor reports by contributing content strategically and in a timely manner.

• Organizational Compliance and Fiscal Responsibility. Experience managing large, highly complex teams towards compliance and fiscal responsibility. Experience enforcing and explaining policies and procedures that vary across constituencies. Proven experience ensuring funds are used in a compliant and responsible manner, and that tracking

• Valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record, and proof of auto insurance are required

• Data analysis and assessment in strategic planning. Proven ability to integrate cutting-edge data management and digital tools to inform strategy and track progress.

• Change management. Demonstrated experience in significant change management processes that required building buy-in and leading across a wide range of stakeholders. Track record of successfully moving strategies and projects in complex landscapes.

• Leading in membership-based, federated organizations. Experience and track record of successfully achieving goals in large, complex organizations that include volunteer and staff leadership roles.

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.

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.