Work with CPR

Full-time position with Californians for Pesticide Reform (formal employer Pesticide Action Network)

Location: Based in Ventura County, with frequent regional and occasional statewide travel

Application deadline: Until job is filled, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Start date: April 1, 2021

 

BACKGROUND

Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) seeks motivated applicants for a full-time Community Organizer position to mobilize communities to win anti-pesticide campaigns in Ventura County and support anti-pesticide campaigns statewide. The position will be housed out of the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Environment (CAUSE) office in Oxnard.

Founded in 1996, CPR is an environmental health and justice coalition of over 190 organizations committed to protecting public health, preserving environmental quality and supporting a sustainable and just agricultural system by building a diverse statewide coalition to change statewide and local pesticide policies and practices.

The Community Organizer will revive the existing Ventura County Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety (VC CAPS) coalition to build community capacity and empower community residents in Ventura County to develop, plan, and implement campaigns to improve environmental health. The organizer will work closely with and mobilize Ventura County ally organizations to address disparate environmental impacts on low-income communities of color caused by pesticide air pollution and water contamination.

 

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES & EXPECTATIONS

Specifically, the Community Organizer is responsible for:

Community Training & Leadership Building

• Recruit and train Ventura County Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety branch members on pesticide issues using CPR’s pesticide training materials. Prioritize directly-affected community members, including farmworkers.
• Coordinate at least one monthly VC CAPS meeting.
• Provide skills training (media, legislative, organizing, etc.) to Ventura County community members as needed/requested.
• Generate educational and training materials as needed for community use.
• Arrange for translation/interpretation, as necessary.

Local Campaign Development & Implementation

• Work with community members in Ventura County to develop and implement locally-relevant pesticide campaigns and workplans that align with CPR’s policy priorities.
• Complete grant deliverables for local activities.
• Provide policy analysis.
• Testify at regulatory and policy hearings related to environmental justice and health.
• Arrange for translation/interpretation, as necessary.

Coalition Building

• Collaborate with community residents, allies, coalitions, and government agencies.
• Build a strong local movement to change pesticide policy by recruiting strategic allies.
• Recruit ally organizations to become members of the CPR coalition.

Coordination with Statewide Campaigns

•  Implement CPR work plans in collaboration with other coalition member organizations.
• Join relevant CPR campaign strategy and planning calls.
• Assist core staff and other coalition members coordinate statewide CPR activities including CPR’s annual meeting, as necessary.

Media & Communications

• Organize strategic media events for local campaigns and in support of statewide pesticide efforts. Act as key media contact.
• Participate in CPR’s statewide communications strategy development, as time allows.

Fundraising & Reporting

• Provide timely updates on work progress.
• Work with CPR’s Co-Directors to assist in writing funding proposals and reports, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2+ years of organizing experience preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish and English speaker with the ability to conduct meetings in either language
• Familiarity with Ventura County and its political landscape
• Demonstrated knowledge of grassroots organizing strategies and tactics.
• Campaign development experience preferred.
• Ability and willingness to work sometimes long and irregular hours.
• Regular travel within the Ventura County and occasional travel to other parts of the state including Sacramento.
• Valid Driver’s License, current insurance, and personal vehicle required.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Google docs and Google Calendar, Zoom etc.).
• Ability to work well with diverse groups, under challenging deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong commitment to CPR’s mission.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & TRAVEL

While the current travel and gathering restrictions are in place, this position will be home-office based. As pandemic conditions allow, the position will require regular travel in Ventura County, with occasional travel outside the local area to attend coalition events across the state. Due to the nature of community organizing, the organizer will be required to work some nights/weekends.

This position is highly self-directed; supervision is minimal compared to many positions but will require regular, formal check-ins with CPR’s Organizing Director (likely weekly and even more frequently at the beginning). It is expected that the organizer will be available to the Organizing Director and CPR Co-Directors by email, text or phone in between regular check-ins. There is no direct administrative support.

CPR embraces diversity and is actively committed to increasing diversity among our staff, board and volunteers. CPR is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees for reasons of race, color, disability, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, prior conviction or incarceration, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or age.

Details at a glance

• On-site Location
• Full Time Schedule

• 2-Year Degree Required

Benefits

CPR offers an extensive benefits package, including health, dental and vision insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, vacation and sick leave, and flexible scheduling.

Level of Language Proficiency

Bilingual Spanish and English required.

Location

Oxnard/Ventura, CA

How to Apply

For guaranteed consideration, please send an e-mail with “Ventura Community Organizer” in the subject line with: 1) an attached letter of interest, 2) a resumé, 3) contact information for three work references, and 4) a short (1-2 page) writing sample in English and Spanish to pests@pesticidereform.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job is filled.