Work with CPR

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is seeking an experienced Organizing Co-Director to lead PAN’s work in California with a regional and national reach. The Organizing Co-Director facilitates collaborative processes within a diverse set of organizations and people working toward building a just, resilient food system through statewide campaigns for policy and practice change. The Organizing Co-Director will need to work well as part of a multiracial, multicultural team and strive for sustainability and long-term wins within the dynamic of fast-paced campaign work. They are committed to supporting communities negatively affected by industrial agriculture to lead the development of a better food and farming system. They are committed to racial justice, and to confronting and dismantling racism and other forms of oppression within the food system and within our movements. 

The Organizing Co-Director will work closely with and complement the work of a key PAN partner, Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR), for which PAN is a founding member and fiscal sponsor. CPR is a statewide coalition of about 200 organizations, working for 25 years on a common mission to reduce pesticide use, especially in highly impacted agricultural communities, through community organizing and policy advocacy. 

Every Organizing Co-Director at PAN holds shared leadership of the Organizing department. This position is full-time and is exempted from overtime pay. 

The Organization 

PAN North America works to create a just, thriving food system, working with those on the frontlines—farmers, farmworkers, families with young children, Native people and rural communities—to tackle the health, economic, and environmental problems created by our industrialized system of food and farming. We are part of a global network that works to reclaim the future of food and farming from corporate interests. Our work in California focuses on building the power of frontline communities to shape our food system. In spite of the limitations of policy processes, we emphasize policy change in order to hold decision-makers — not individuals — responsible for the problems in our food system. Our organizational values are here: http://www.panna.org/about-us/mission-values. 

Qualifications and Responsibilities

The ideal candidate brings several years of organizing experience in the food and farming space, and the ability to effectively lead a team of experienced organizers. We are seeking candidates who hold a deep commitment to racial, economic, environmental and social justice and bring a bold vision to their work, as well as an appetite for continued learning. The position will involve travel (as possible post-pandemic) for campaign work as well as in-person meetings and events with partners and staff. People of color and people who have roots in and/or experience working with, agricultural or rural communities are particularly urged to apply. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

Organizing

• Build and maintain accountable relationships with organizations representing rural communities, farmworkers, Native and tribal organizations, family farmers, urban farmers and farmers of color, among others.
• Bring in feedback and insights from these organizations and communities to shape PAN’s priorities, goals, strategies, language, etc.
• Connect, build power and advance shared policy goals with organizations that are interested in changing policies on pesticides and agriculture.
• Identify issues and campaigns that build engagement and power on food and pesticide issues.
• Work with PAN’s communications team on online organizing strategies.

Advocacy 

• With support from other staff, maintain a high level of knowledge regarding scientific and policy contexts in support of policy goals.
• Act as a spokesperson for California media outlets and generate earned media on our issues.
• Write for traditional media and social media in regular blog posts, press releases, OpEds etc. to reframe public conversation.
• Represent PAN in decision-making forums like legislative hearings, public meetings, etc.
• Build relationships with decision-makers and influencers, including legislators, state agency staff, researchers, and health professionals.

Fundraising

• Work with PAN fundraising staff on grant reports and proposals.
• Build relationships with major donors and business supporters in California.

Management

• Lead an internal PAN campaign team including helping to plan and facilitate regular meetings and team planning processes.
• Peer supervision of other Organizing Co-Directors on the team, and optional supervision of occasional volunteers, interns, and/or PAN Fellows.
• Shared leadership responsibilities within the Organizing Hub will involve strategic planning, budgeting, management or administration, depending on the strengths, goals, and preferences of the Organizing Co-Director. Responsibilities rotate among the Co-Directors on a periodic basis.

Other duties may be assigned from time to time as the needs of the organization change.

Supervision and Office Relationships

The Organizing Co-Director, California reports to another Organizing Co-Director. Evaluation is conducted at the end of the first three months of employment, and at least annually thereafter, on the anniversary of employment.

The Organizing Hub uses a peer-to-peer supervisory model. After six months of employment, the Organizing Co-Director, California will begin supervising another Organizing Co-Director.

Compensation

Salary mid-high $50s, depending on experience. PAN offers an extensive benefits package, including health, dental and vision insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, vacation and sick leave, and flexible scheduling.

Application Process

Submit a letter of application describing your specific interest in and qualifications for this position, your resume and salary requirements, and a brief writing sample on a job-relevant topic to jobpost@panna.org(link sends e-mail), including “Organizing Co-Director” in the subject line. Please send documents as PDFs only. The position is open until filled. Ideally, the new Organizing Co-Director, California will start in January 2021. Selection of candidates for interview is ongoing. 
If you have questions about this position, please email jobpost@panna.org(link sends e-mail).

PAN embraces diversity and is actively committed to increasing diversity among our staff, board and volunteers. We are seeking individuals from a wide variety of ethnic, racial and social backgrounds for this position. We strongly encourage people of color or with roots in other countries or cultures to apply. PAN does not discriminate against applicants or employees for reasons of race, color, disability, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, prior convictions, incarceration or age.