Milwaukee Climate Coordinator Position

Citizen Action seeks applicants hungry for the opportunity to build the power to achieve the sweeping changes Milwaukee needs to become a just, equitable, and sustainable multiracial democracy.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin works to advance a long-term agenda for racial, economic and gender justice through state and local organizing campaigns that win real change in people’s lives. Through strategic issue campaigns, electoral campaigns in support of progressive candidates, grassroots action and base building, we engage the leadership of everyday people to build an economy and a democracy that puts people and the planet first.

The Milwaukee Climate Coordinator is a member of our Senior Staff Team and is expected to contribute to building a positive and high performing organizational culture that makes Citizen Action an exciting and joyous place to work and organize.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin is an affiliate of two national organizing networks, People’s Action and Power Switch Action. Citizen Action WI is working with both networks on an Organizing Revival which seeks to extend the reach and effectiveness of community organizing as an antidote to authoritarianism.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

This position is best suited for effective out-of-the-box thinkers who know how to get things done, and are passionately committed not only to being on the “right side”, but successfully building the grassroots power to seriously address the big challenges confronting the multiracial working class.

The person in this position will coordinate an ambitious coalition campaign to leverage federal resources for transformational reforms in Milwaukee which dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions and radically improves economic equity. The City of Milwaukee (the City) and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) have passed bold climate and economic equity legislation, but neither has the money for full-scale  implementation.

The passage of large scale federal climate and infrastructure resources provides a rare opportunity to transform Milwaukee, but only if a sufficient share of the money can be secured, and used in a way to make the biggest possible impact on greenhouse gas reductions and economic equity.

The person holding this position will:

• Work with Citizen Action Climate & Economic Equity Director to coordinate a new coalition of base building, policy, and coalition organizations to leverage federal and state money to fund a large scale climate and economic equity transition in Milwaukee.
• Work as needed with national partners in the project, including People’s Action, technical experts, and other members of a national coordinating table for the project.
• Spearhead the coalition’s work to navigate the complicated policy task of determining what money is available and what are the most transformational reforms that could be funded.
• Lead the coalition in understanding all of the complicated pathways climate and equity money can be obtained, and putting different funding sources together for maximum policy impact.
• Work with Climate & Equity Director, and Coalition on the outside campaign, building grassroots pressure and engagement at key times to advance the policy agenda.
• As needed, work with Citizen Action managers to help Citizen Action organizers mobilize their members and leaders in the campaign.
• Serve as a member of the Citizen Action Senior Program Team, and help connect colleagues to the campaign.

Desired Experience and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to understand complicated public policies and translate them into or organizing issues which motivate people to act.
• Familiarity with building effective coalitions between diverse groups for a common purpose.
• Experience navigating federal, state, and foundation grants for local units of governments and assisting local and school officials in landing resources for projects.
• Background in fast-paced and effective progressive organizing and/or advocacy organizations, labor unions, or political or issue campaigns.
• Demonstrated commitment to working on racial justice issues, working with communities of color, and with a multicultural base of individuals.
• Commitment to unwinding the structural racism and other structural inequalities built into local, state, and national policies and governance structures.
• Ability to be a leader in further developing a positive and authentic multiracial staff culture which strives to meet rigorous standards of performance.
• Philosophical commitment to progressive values of economic, gender, racial, anti-oppressive, and environmental justice.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with ability to influence others to move toward a common vision or goal.
• A proven ability to perform under pressure while juggling multiple tasks; and sound judgment.
• Public speaking and networking skills
• Bilingual/multilingual a plus, especially Spanish and Hmong speakers.

Organizational Background: Citizen Action of Wisconsin is an issue focused non-profit membership organization committed to achieving racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice. We bring together thousands of members, activists and allied groups across Wisconsin to deepen democratic participation that advances a strongly progressive public policy agenda. More on Citizen Action’s cutting edge progressive structural reform agenda can be found here. For Citizen Action’s positioning in Wisconsin and national politics read here

Position Details: This is a Program 3 position under the staff collective bargaining agreement, with a starting salary of $52,000 annually. This position reports directly to Citizen Action’s Climate & Equity Director, and is a member of the senior staff program team. This is a full-time position which includes comprehensive gold-plan health care and dental, generous reimbursements for out-of-pocket medical costs, 401K (both direct organizational contributions and match of employee contributions), life insurance, disability insurance, mobile phone allowance, computer allowance, substantial paid time off, and other benefits. Some weekend and evening hours are required.

Women, people of color, formerly incarcerated individuals, individuals from the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Process:  Email cover letter explaining your interest in the position and résumé to Rafael Smith(Climate & Equity Director) [email protected]

Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Citizen Action of Wisconsin is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate based on age, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual preference, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or former incarceration status.