Environment Texas is seeking a Deputy Director to play a key role in our work to expand the state parks system, stop pollution from the petrochemical industry, transition to 100% clean energy and more.
If you want to save the world, Texas is the place to do it. We are a big polluter (Texas’ Permian Basin is one of the world’s largest and dirtiest oil fields; if Texas was a country, we’d rank 8th in the world for global warming pollution) but we also produce more renewable energy than any other state. While our politicians too often have their heads in the sand (or their hands in the pockets of the polluters), the people of Texans support bold action to protect our parks, stop pollution, and invest in climate solutions. We just need to mobilize this support to win.
Environment Texas is the group to do this. We’re a policy and action group with thousands of supporters across the state. Our mission is to protect clean air and water, parks and wildlife, and a livable climate. Since 2006, we’ve won dozens of campaigns to protect Texas’ environment, including, in just the last year:
- Convincing the Austin Independent School District to commit to 100% electric school buses
- Winning a victory in the Houston Independent School District to protect kids from lead in drinking water by installing filtered hydration stations throughout the district
- Successfully advocating before the Austin City Council to adopt green infrastructure requirements on new development to reduce runoff pollution
Our priorities for the next two years include:
- Getting the Texas Legislature to invest $1 billion to acquire more land for the state parks system.
- Holding Exxon accountable for thousands of violations of the Clean Air Act at its Baytown refinery and chemical plant complex.
- Stopping the build-out of new chemical plants, pipelines, LNG terminals and other fossil fuel infrastructure.
- Expediting Texas’ transition to 100% renewable energy, including by getting the state to take full advantage of enormous federal funding made available by the historic Inflation Reduction Act.
REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
As the Deputy Director, you’ll work closely with our leadership team to run campaigns that protect Texas’ environment. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Program Development and Strategy: Help develop programs and campaigns around relevant policies, including researching the issue, creating viable policy solutions, and proposing a winning political strategy.
- Advocacy and Coalition-building: Represent Environment Texas in meetings, hearings and other forums. Meet directly with decision makers in government, corporations and academia and make our case. Develop strong and collaborative relationships with state agencies, partner organizations, coalitions, legislators and legislative staff, and other stakeholders to advance shared goals.
- Communications: Write reports, fact sheets, news releases, blogs, op-eds, and other forms of communication to get our message in the media and heard by decision-makers and the public. Serve as the public spokesperson for our campaigns through media events, press releases, editorial board meetings and other outreach with a goal of building name recognition for the organization, educating the public about our issues, and building and demonstrating support for our positions.
- Fundraising: Raise money from charitable foundations and individual donors to support our work.
We’re also building a team:
- You will be part of a Texas-based team of advocates and campaign staff to advance our policy goals. The Deputy Director may serve as mentor or supervisor to less experienced staff.
- Participate in recruitment and make hiring recommendations for the state office team.
This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance.
QUALIFICATIONS
You are:
- Passionate about the environment, solving the climate crisis and using the power of grassroots organizing to win campaigns.
- A campaign advocate or grassroots organizer with at least 2 years of advocacy or grassroots organizing experience. Advanced degrees may count toward experience
- An effective communicator with excellent writing and verbal skills. Experience getting traditional and digital media coverage in previous work is a plus.
- Creative and effective at solving complex problems, a strategic thinker who can take advantage of new opportunities,
- A people person and good listener with a track record of successful access-building.
- Well-organized and able to work on multiple legislative and administrative proposals.
Additional helpful experience:
- Experience in the state legislature or other government office, or with an environmental or public health advocacy organization is a plus but not required.
- Fundraising experience, particularly in grant-seeking from charitable foundations.
LOCATION
Texas — any city. This is currently a remote position with a virtual office setup. Travel will be necessary to attend regular staff meetings, in-state events and the Texas state legislature in Austin throughout the year. You should also expect to do some travel outside of Texas to national events, trainings and conferences.
COMPENSATION
The starting annual compensation range is $36,000-$60,000 and depends on relevant experience and education. Candidates on the low end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range.
Environment Texas offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package may include medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, needs-based student loan assistance, 401(k) plan with employer match, commuter benefit program, paid time off, parental leave and long-term disability insurance.
Environment Texas is a part of Environment America, which has 30 state offices and a federal office in Washington, DC. You’ll join a great team of dozens of organizers, advocates, lawyers, researchers, policy analysts, communicators and others with a record of winning hundreds of new laws and other policies that are making a real difference in people’s lives.
Environment Texas has an excellent training program. Our experienced trainers are experts in policy, campaign planning, fundraising and working with the media.
Why work for Environment America? Here are ten reasons: https://environmentamerica.org/why-work-with-us/
Environment Texas and Environment America are part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit https://environmentamerica.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.
Environment Texas is an equal opportunity employer.
COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boostered. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.