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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: CLIMATE & HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER

THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) is a 40-year-old, physician-led advocacy organization working to create a healthy, just, peaceful, and sustainable world. We take on the gravest current threats to human health and survival - nuclear weapons, economic inequity, and a climate crisis driven by dependence on fossil fuels. Through its three issue-based programs, WPSR leverages the credible and trusted voice of healthcare professionals to educate the public, influence decision-makers, and promote public policies that support our mission -- including local, state-level, and national action to address the climate crisis. 

The Climate Program Manager represents WPSR in leading nationally renowned movements in Washington State to promote climate justice and a just transition off of fossil fuels. As a longstanding member of effective coalitions that drive equitable climate action in the Pacific Northwest, WPSR plays a unique role in representing the public health perspective in climate advocacy. The Climate Program Manager engages WPSR members in grassroots advocacy and engages grasstops leaders from the healthcare community to advocate for policy change. This role involves developing and executing campaign strategies to recruit, organize, and mobilize health professionals and organizations on key strategic priorities for climate, health, and justice. It also includes significant liaising and close work with partner organizations and elected officials, including environmental organizations, social justice groups, and healthcare institutions.  

We’re seeking applicants who are ready to commit their time, talent, and passion for climate advocacy and policy, and to use them to organize and mobilize health professionals in the fight against a climate crisis driven by fossil fuels. We look for smarts, initiative, resourcefulness, organizing experience, and an eagerness to learn. We value leadership experience of all kinds, especially organizing, grassroots outreach, communications and media, and public speaking and facilitation. Candidates must have excellent judgment and discretion, stellar interpersonal skills, the ability to oversee multiple initiatives and projects, and a demonstrated commitment to equity, justice and outstanding service to diverse constituents. 

Primary Responsibilities

The Climate Program Manager is responsible for leading and supporting all aspects of WPSR’s climate & health program and task force. This position reports to the Executive Director. Duties include:

Organizing and Membership Development (50%)

  • Engage and organizing members of the healthcare community across the state to act and advocate on behalf of the program’s policy priorities

  • Recruit health professionals to join WPSR as members of the organization and program Task Force.  

  • Co-chair the WPSR Climate and Health Task Force (usually with a health professional member of the Board of Directors) and facilitate and support the activities of Task Force members, and other program volunteers. 

  • Organize and facilitate monthly Task Force meetings. Ensure robust attendance and engagement of task force members. 

  • Mobilize and manage the task force to operationalize the yearly strategic plan and meet target deliverables and outcomes. 

  • Coordinating events that support the education and advocacy work of existing and prospective climate and health advocates. These include but are not limited to informational events, advocacy trainings, and providing ongoing advocacy opportunities for health professionals so they are prepared to educate others about climate change as a health crisis, and advocate for relevant policy solutions. 

Policy & Partnerships (25%)

  • Manage WPSR’s climate policy portfolio and developing yearly strategic campaign plans for climate and health policy priorities. 

  • Serve as a liaison with partners, including representing WPSR in leadership and field teams of key coalitions: Stand Up to Oil, Shift Zero, the Northwest Energy Coalition, and other climate policy/campaign coalitions 

  • Collaborate with other WPSR programs on campaigns, events, and other opportunities to highlight the intersection of WPSR program issues. 

  • Serve as point of contact with PSR national climate program to collaborate on key national campaigns.

Grants Management and Fundraising (10%)

  • Identify and pursue new program-focused grant opportunities. 

  • Manage program grants (write  LOIs and grant proposals, participate in development of grant budgets, ensure fulfillment of grant deliverables and reporting obligations, and steward institutional funder relationships).

  • Support WPSR’s general fundraising efforts related to sustaining the program and organization, including stewardship of relationships with program-interested members and donors. 

  • Assist with occasional organization-wide events, including annual WPSR fundraising dinner

Communications (10%)

  • Lead the Climate & Health Program’s public communications and media efforts, including writing press releases, supporting WPSR members to publish articles, and liaising with reporters

  • Keep WPSR members informed about important climate-related news, research, and opportunities for action, through frequent and regular ongoing communications including email, social media, website content, and other channels. 

  • Research, write, and distribute information about climate change and health

  • Prepare monthly board reports on program activities and progress on yearly strategic plan and grant deliverables.

  • Speak on behalf of WPSR and the program at events, including WPSR and partner organization events, public hearings, and community forums

  • Communicate with elected officials to advocate for WPSR’s climate priorities

Other Duties (5%)

  • Contribute to organizational operations and development initiatives on an ongoing basis. 


Required Qualifications

  • Passionate about climate action and the power of collaborative grassroots activism to win policy change

  • At least 2 years of community organizing experience (examples could include a political campaign, campus organizing, etc.) 

  • Demonstrated experience recruiting, working with, and supporting volunteers

  • Strong communication, facilitation, and writing skills

  • Familiarity with legislative and political processes in Washington, including state-level policymaking and local government processes 

  • Team player, excited about working in coalition with others and being a part of effective and diverse groups 

  • Works well independently and exhibits initiative, resourcefulness, and drive 

  • Strong listening and relationship-building values and skills

  • Prioritizes a lens of racial, economic, and gender equity, and is confident in communicating about diversity, equity, and inclusion issues

  • Positive and collaborative attitude and an ability to navigate ambiguity, disagreement, and differences of opinion with professionalism and a commitment to being a steward of, and ambassador for, WPSR’s mission.  

Preferred Qualifications

  • Familiarity with climate change and clean energy policy, especially in Washington

  • Demonstrated experience managing organizational communications and social media (ex. sending email action alerts, managing Facebook accounts, press releases, etc.) 

  • Grant writing and experience liaising with foundations and individual donors

  • Experience with implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or plans

  • Experience representing an organization in a coalition advocating for policy change

  • Skilled in managing volunteer teams

  • Eager and willing to support the success of co-workers, colleagues, and the overall mission and needs of the organization

  • Bachelor’s, Master’s or other advanced degree in a relevant subject area

Compensation
The salary range for this full-time, non-exempt position starts at $58,000, depending on qualifications and relevant experience.

Benefits
WPSR offers all full-time employees a generous fully paid health care and dental plan, access to a pre-tax 401(k) withholding option with a 1% employer match, flexible spending, and dependent care withholding options. Paid leave starts at 2 weeks per year, plus 10 paid holidays and sick leave, and increases to 3 weeks after 1 year of continuous service, and to 4 weeks after 4 years. We proudly offer a highly collegial, collaborative, and inclusive work culture, with significant flexibility and strong support for work-life balance. 

Deadline
Target start date for this position is XXXX. Complete applications submitted with a thoughtful cover letter will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

How to Apply:
Applications must be submitted online. No phone calls, please.

We seek to recruit and retain talented applicants from a diverse candidate pool. We especially welcome applicants who support our organization’s core values: science, sustainability, compassion, peace, justice, and equity. WPSR provides equal employment opportunities with no discrimination against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.

To learn more about our organization, please visit www.wpsr.org.
Thank you for your interest!