Outreach Coordinator

Outreach Coordinator

Permanent

Western States

Union of Concerned Scientists

Remote - will be working PST hours

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes

Our Organization

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent nonprofit that puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. We envision a peaceful, healthy, and just world where science serves people and the planet by guiding policy decisions, reducing risks, and improving lives.

For over five decades, we have been working as scientists, engineers, economists, advocates, and everyday people to create and advocate for innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet's most pressing problems-from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting disinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war. Values informing our work include:

• Science in the service of people and the planet.

• Justice and Equity for people of all races and incomes-now, and for future generations.
• Courage to take principled, science-based stands in the public arena.
• Integrity to always examine evidence critically, openly, and honestly.
• Democracy to promote a voice for all in government decisions.
• Action inspiring and mobilizing people to build a healthier, safer, and more just world.

UCS's Western States Program

Outreach Coordinators work as a member of a multi-disciplinary program team, coordinating all aspects of outreach and engagement to advance UCS's goals through implementing strategic tactics. As a member of the Western States team, the Outreach Coordinator conceives, develops and implements outreach plans and projects.

The Position

Outreach plans and activities involve three focus areas in support of UCS Program campaigns:

• Project Management and Coordination: Providing input and delivering outcomes in response to active and emerging campaign opportunities; structuring timelines and coordinating campaign efforts; managing administration for contracts and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for campaign work, scheduling and coordinating activities.
• Engagement: Cultivating relationships with grassroots and grasstop organizations, the scientific community - UCS's Science Network, other networks, coalitions, and community-based organizations, and targeted policymakers.
• Organizing: Providing the tools and support to build relationships with Science Network members and community-based organizations to develop and support their activism.

UCS employees center all their work on UCS's core values of racial equity and environmental justice. They work collaboratively to ensure the effective operations of the program/department, center anti-racism and equity in internal and external work, and foster a welcoming, inclusive, and transparent environment where all staff can thrive and grow.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:

The percentage of time in each category, as well as the constituent base for outreach, may vary based on the team and campaign strategies. The categories are integrated and often work fluidly. Some Outreach Coordinators may work with one partnership group only or may work with several constituents, to be decided by the team and campaign needs.

Project Management & Coordination

• Project manage all work efforts to ensure transparency and coordination with the entire campaign team; this includes time-line management, coordination of activities, periodic updates and reporting, partnering with Campaign staff team and aligning efforts.

• Maintain up-to-date related databases, documents, and resources.
• Share learning with team members, campaign and science colleagues; produce periodic engagement reports (at key assessment intervals in the campaign cycle) to help inform outreach strategies.
• Stay up to date on policy issues and the environment related to the assigned team: web-based research, articles, briefings, webinars, and events. Partner with the team's scientists and analysts to understand their research findings. Build learning into relevant work, including rapid response, media, blogs, and supporter engagement.
• Participate in program and project meetings, cross-organizational meetings, and planning and strategy sessions to help inform, collaborate, and develop responsible areas of work.
• Help facilitate, in partnership with team colleagues, organization membership, fund-raising, visibility, and policy goals.

Assessment and Learning

Understand and value accurate data for the assessment, learning, tracking, and reporting of UCS's impact; routinely track the impact of your work to share with internal and external stakeholders; maintain and safeguard confidential UCS supporter and ally data.

• In conjunction with Program Operations, Database Operations, and Strategic Data Systems and Insights (SDSI) teams, support your program's efforts to ensure data is captured effectively so that reporting and evaluation is accurate, up to date, and efficient.
• Act as point of contact for Program Operations, Database Operations, Development, Communications, and the Science Network team regarding questions related to evaluation and measurement.
• Collaborate with Communications, Science Network, Program Operations, and Database Operations teams to address reporting gaps and areas for system improvement related to supporter activity and partner tracking.
• In coordination with the Program, Policy, and Advocacy team, Program Operations, and the Database Operations team, ensure metrics tracking is compatible with database processes. Analyze data reports to determine the efficacy of strategies and tactics and make recommendations for future work and lessons learned.

Engagement

UCS employees in external-facing roles are required to maintain awareness of the role as a representative of UCS, ensure activities and statements enhance the organization's reputation and credentials among press, public, and private sectors, promote UCS, advance organizational objectives, and enhance funding opportunities.

• Cultivate relationships with key allies/partners to inform and engage in campaign strategies and to meaningfully incorporate equity and justice-aligned voices and principles in campaigns. Such allies/partners include scientists, engineers, BIPOC community leaders, and labor, religious, business, and environmental justice groups.
• Design and implement corporate outreach efforts aligned with campaign strategy.
• Partner with policy and government affairs staff to understand legislative and regulatory priorities and coordinate efforts.
• Connect scientists, analysts, and their work to the Science Network and other external scientists and organizations representing BIPOC and marginalized communities to inform UCS products.
• Work with coalition members to develop coordinated outreach strategies and activities, exchange information, and share resources.
• Partner with the Communications Department to coordinate strategic, traditional, and social media activities, online resources, web content, and blogs to publicize campaign tactics, including the promotion of major UCS analytic and communications products. Help develop and publish fact sheets and other material for campaign outreach purposes.
• Write, edit, and distribute online action alerts to enhance presence, power, and influence.

Organizing

• Organize members of the Science Network by building relationships and providing them with the training, information, and tools needed for their effective activism.
• Conceptualize and implement tactics to connect activities and experts with opportunities to influence policy decisions aligned with UCS's campaign goals.
• Utilize web-based organizing tools for creative online and offline action. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of online activist technologies and social media.

Other Duties As Assigned

Up to 20% of any individual job may contain work that is not specifically listed in this document. This may reflect temporary assignments, individual professional development opportunities (e.g., learning a new set of skills, participating in a professional growth experience), and/or a requirement to serve in an organizational citizenship capacity (e.g., participating in JEDI activities, pitching in/volunteering for extra work, covering for a colleague on leave).

• Support and participate in UCS's internal efforts to create an anti-racist and inclusive work environment. Contribute to creating a culture in which all staff on the team are safe, respected, and heeded, and BIPOC people thrive.

People Management Authority

No formal supervision of staff. May involve serving as part of an interview panel when looking to recruit new staff.

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

• BA degree in a relevant field.
• 4+ years of work experience (which could include academic-related work experience), in the field of social change advocacy, working with grasstops and/or grassroots activists, and supporting the coordination and development of social campaigns and outreach events.
• Demonstrated success with online and offline mobilization tools. Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills, internally and with external stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds.
• Proficiency in software technology for writing, emails, other forms of communications, project management, etc.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at one time and demonstrate adaptability skills to pivot and respond to fast-changing campaign needs.
• Demonstrated success in multi-faceted communications needs based on differing audiences - professional/scientific, lay audiences.
• Good strong self-awareness, humility, and emotional intelligence.
• Knowledge and familiarity with racial equity and inclusion principles and how race and other identities intersect in the work, particularly in scientific, policy-making, and environmental communities. Must be comfortable talking about identities such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, and its present-day implications.
• Bi-lingual or conversationally fluent in Spanish is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time.
• Continuously operate a computer and must have the ability to control a mouse and keyboard.
• Communicate in verbal and written formats with internal staff and external constituents.

Work Schedule

Regular PST business hours. Occasional work outside of standard hours for events, travel, or time-sensitive matters required.

Travel Requirements

Moderate regional travel is required. Travel will be for 2x per year program retreats, there may be a planned lobby day with travel to Sacramento and potential for other conferences and/or outreach efforts.

UCS is an equal opportunity employer actively seeking to diversify its staff. We're dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy. We're also committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely diverse backgrounds can thrive. We believe the inclusion of culturally diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and environmental outcomes for all, including historically disenfranchised communities.

Details

This is a full-time remote position. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary is $76,541.06. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment. *CA Resident Only, we offer a 12% salary differential*

Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org.

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

More about the team:

Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment which is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.

To Apply: We know there are great candidates who won't check all these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven't considered. If that's you, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Please upload a cover letter and resume. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls, please.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

Covid Mandate for New Hires:

For in office roles, UCS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees are considered fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC. All new hires who will be reporting to an office location must provide notice of their vaccination status and vaccination documentation, on or before their first day of work. For all others, UCS strongly encourages full vaccinations among its employees, up to and including booster shots, even if working remotely.

All new employees must comply with the mandatory vaccination requirements outlined in UCS policies as soon as practicable. The Union of Concerned Scientists will notify candidates for employment of the requirements of this policy before the start of employment.

Deadline: Until filled.