Careers

Pittsburgh United is seeking an experienced, creative, and dedicated leader for the Environmental Justice Coalition Organizer position. With more than a dozen

active coalition partners, the Environmental Justice Table at Pittsburgh United is poised to take on the region’s critical climate challenges through the Our Water

Campaign and new environmental and climate justice work. Top priorities for this position include maintaining and growing strong coalitional relationships, moving partners to action on shared EJ priorities, and bringing together the individuals, leaders, and organizations necessary to launch the next phase of the Our Water/ Environmental Justice Campaign.

This is an exciting and dynamic job in a stable but growing coalition, with opportunities for advancement and leadership. The successful candidate will be

a self-starter with a strong work ethic and focus on the value of relationships, coalition, racial equity, and building power for climate justice through effective

organizing. The Environmental Coalition Organizer works in a fast-paced environment that requires strategic thinking and a knack for “connecting the dots.” We are looking for a team player who shares our vision of a community and economy that work for all of us and a commitment to working together in coalition where we can accomplish more together than we can on our own.

To apply: Please email a cover letter and resume to info@pittsburghunited.org Include the Subject Line: Environmental Justice Coalition Organizer. In your cover letter, please describe how your experience, skills, and interests align with this position and the organization’s mission. Preferred application deadline is 4/26/23. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and considered as soon as they are received, until the position is filled.

Pittsburgh United is an affirmative action employer. People of color, LGBTQIA people, and women are strongly encouraged to apply. We believe that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law. Pittsburgh United’s office is accessible, however, Pittsburgh United staff are currently working a hybrid situation but in person work is at the discretion of the organization’s needs.All employees of Pittsburgh United are fully vaccinated as a condition of employment.

The Position

The Environmental Justice Coalition Organizer is responsible for organizing and leading the Our Water Campaign and related climate justice work at Pittsburgh United. Primary responsibilities include:

Organizing and Coalition Management:

Build and maintain strong and effective relationships with Pittsburgh United members, existing campaign partners, new campaign partners, allies, community members, elected officials, stakeholders, and leaders in the Environmental/Climate Justice Space;

Conduct frequent meetings and check ins with partners and allies;

Support and develop the leadership of Pittsburgh United members and coalition partners

Campaign Planning and Execution:

Lead the development of strategic campaigns;

Develop the capacity of table partners to participate effectively in campaigns;

Plan and execute meetings, events, actions, or other strategic activities that further the goals of the campaigns;

Monitor and/or participate in governmental and public meetings and processes related to Pittsburgh United’s housing justice campaigns, including lobbying and testifying on behalf of the campaign

Communications:

Work with the digital organizer and communications team to promote events, resources, and actions;

Act as a spokesperson for the campaign;

Develop table partners to act as spokespeople;

Speak at events to highlight the campaign where appropriate;

Maintain various campaign lists and data systems to facilitate campaign outreach

Fundraising and Administration: In coordination with the Executive Director, identify funding opportunities and build relationships with funders/program officers; Participate in grant writing and reporting where appropriate;

Maintain organized digital and physical campaign records;

Maintain timesheets and calendar, especially for lobbying activities

Compensation and Job Design

This is a permanent, full time position in the PA Workers United bargaining unit and reports to the Organizing Director. The organization is currently working a hybrid situation, and the position will be located in Pittsburgh, PA when the organization transitions fully back to in-person work. The work schedule can at times be greater than 40 hours per week and includes some evening and weekend meetings and events, as necessary. It is not a strictly 9am-5pm position. Travel is occasionally required around the Pittsburgh region or to state/national conferences related to environmental justice.

Compensation will be based on skills and experience, with an approximate salary range of

$43,000-$55,000 per year. Our comprehensive benefits package includes employer-paid health, dental,

and vision insurance, 401k, communication and transportation benefits, and paid holidays, vacation, and

sick days.

Qualifications

● Experience with coalition organizing, base building, and leading a team in campaign work

● Experience implementing a successful campaign plan, strategic campaign development/planning

experience preferred

● Personal or professional experience with and passion for environmental justice, lived experience +

● Strong interpersonal skills, including racial equity skills, and ability to work with a diverse array of

individuals, communities, and sectors

● Ability to challenge people to take risks in order to make change

● Exceptional communication skills

● Ability to receive and integrate performance based feedback into ongoing work plans as well as the ability to provide relevant and timely feedback to peers in a constructive manner

● Commitment to justice as well as understanding race, class, gender and other equity issues as part of the work as well

as the impact these structural issues have on our collective work

● Exceptional planning and time management skills and ability to prioritize competing, complex priorities

About the Organization

15 years of building power….

Who We Are

Pittsburgh United is a coalition of community, labor, faith, and environmental organizations committed to advancing the vision of a community and economy that work for all people. We aspire to create a community where all workers are able to care for themselves and raise their families, sharing in the prosperity generated by economic growth and development.

What We Do

Pittsburgh United’s Our EJ/ Water Campaign fights for safe, affordable, publicly controlled water and green solutions to make our region more resilient to climate change. The campaign has successfully fought water privatization while winning hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in new water affordability programs, winter moratoria on shut-offs, full lead line replacements, and large scale green infrastructure. The Housing Justice Table organizes with tenants and community groups to preserve and expand affordable housing options in our community and fight against displacement with people who have always called Pittsburgh home. The Housing Justice table won the first ever citywide affordable housing policy – the Housing Opportunity Trust Fund – and sustainable funding of $10 million annually. The Worker Organizing Table works with unions and community organizations to fight for livable wages and good benefits for working people and their families. We’ve supported the Fight for $15 and passed Paid Sick Days legislation in Pittsburgh. We’ve fought alongside hospital workers, janitors, grocery store workers, and steelworkers to form their unions and improve their contracts.

We also work across a regional footprint in Western PA – spanning from State College to Erie to Greensburg – with our affiliated organization Pennsylvania United. Since 2017, PA United has been rebuilding progressive organizing infrastructure in communities that have experienced historic disinvestment from both economic opportunities and organizing resources. This work has resulted in member-led chapters in key swing counties in Western PA, where we are building a multi-racial,

poor and working class movement for long-term change. We are constantly developing organizing, education, advocacy, and communications strategies to fight and

win progressive campaigns that ensure sustainable communities, raise standards for low-wage workers, advance racial equity and harness economic development and public investment for community benefit.

Join us in building a better Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania for everyone.

The Moment

The Pittsburgh region is at a crossroads. Though Pittsburgh United’s campaigns have made significant strides toward safe, affordable, public water and large-scale investments in green infrastructure, there is still more work to do to ensure environmental justice and climate equity. With a new mayoral administration beginning in 2022 and federal recovery funds for local governments and infrastructure investment, Pittsburgh has an incredible opportunity to make major investments that will bring massive community benefits to people in this region while creating a more equitable and resilient city.

To learn more about our affiliated organization, Pennsylvania United, visit paunited.org