Field Organizer Program - Fossil Free

CSSC is now accepting application for Field Organizer positions running from September 1–December 31, 2015. Read below to find out how to apply.

About the Internship

California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) is seeking students and recent-alumni to support and develop our Fossil Free and Fossil Free UC campaigns and programs as CSSC Field Organizers (FOs).

Field Organizers will work on an array of projects to support youth involvement and leadership in CSSC’s Fossil Free campaigns. These include but are not limited to: on- and off-campus campaign support, student leadership development, organizational development, communications and outreach support, state and national strategy implementation, coalition building, website support, and events management.

About Fossil Free and CSSC

The Fossil Free and Fossil Free UC campaigns are calling out extractive and exploitative corporate power, building student power and polarizing the public and their communities, including the University of California, around climate justice issues by demanding their higher education institutions divest their endowments from the top 200 fossil fuel companies with the largest proven carbon reserves and, in some cases, encouraging them to (re)invest in local living economies through contributing to funds that support the development of climate jobs in areas historically exploited by the fossil fuel industry.

CSSC’s mission is to unite and empower California’s community of higher education to collaboratively and nonviolently transform ourselves and our institutions based on our inherent social, economic, and ecological responsibilities. CSSC supports campaigns on college campuses across the state, including the Fossil Free campaign, which support students to organize for positive change, including renewable solutions and social justice.

Desired Experience

Applicants must have at least 6 months of experience working on one of the related campaigns, or experience in the field that can be considered applicable, and a working knowledge of online organizing tools such as Google documents and Microsoft Office. Basic knowledge of WordPress, Mailchimp, and Adobe are not required but desirable.

Expectations

Field Organizers will be responsible for the following:

1. Campaign Strategy: FOs will be expected to participate in shaping campaign strategy with both the Campaign Director and other students working on the campaign. This will include setting timelines, messaging, rhetoric, choosing tactics, and reviewing actions.
2. Mentorship:
   1. Mentorship. FOs will be expected to receive mentorship themselves from an individual or group outside of their campaign work. These mentors can be found outside of the CSSC network-from a partner organization or a personal contact; or from within CSSC’s network-from the Board of Directors, CSSC alums, or other CSSC leadership.
   2. Student Leadership Development: FOs will be expected to empower and inspire new members, and train volunteers to do various tasks. They will be expected to delegate and help volunteers in setting timelines. FOs will be expected to shadow on campus check-in calls and eventually do them themselves to help campuses with setting their own timelines and strategies.
3. Coalition-building: Working with on an off campus groups to build linkages between student-led campaigns, frontline communities and off campus organizations.
4. Logistics and Event Coordination: FOs will be expected to help with logistics for various events. This includes travel coordination, acquiring food, budget management, programming, and reaching out to venues.
5. Reflection and Check-ins: FOs will be expected to participate in weekly check-ins with the Campaign Director and other FOs, and conduct periodic reflection reports on personal performance, and quality of the program, throughout and at the end of the contract period.

Time Commitment and Compensation

Depending on the role, FOs are required to work between 5-15 hours a week on assigned projects and tasks for the duration of their contract period. Volunteer Field Organizers will work closer to 5-10 hours per week, and can receive course credit for their work. Paid Field Organizers will work closer to 10-15 hours per week and receive compensation for a contract period, to be discussed during the interview process. More information about the program timeline, position descriptions, contract terms, and recompense can be found in the CSSC Field Organizer Program Description document.

Application

To apply, send a cover letter and resume/CV to [email protected]. The cover letter should indicate what role the applicant is interested in and why.

The California Student Sustainability Coalition is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, low-income persons, LGBT persons, differently-abled people, and other people from diverse backgrounds. People from these and other historically marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply.