Position Summary

The Southwest (SW) WA Comprehensive Plan Contractor facilitates and organizes public engagement to include diverse voices in the Comprehensive Planning Process at Clark County and the City of Vancouver. The Comprehensive Plan Field Contractor will work with current and new local organizational partners and volunteers to ensure robust community engagement in ways that align with organizational goals of Washington Conservation Action. This position will promote equity, elevate marginalized voices and advocate for ambitious climate and environmental policy options in the Comprehensive Plans of both Clark County and the City of Vancouver.

About our Organization

Washington Conservation Action is a statewide environmental advocacy organization that advances environmental policies and pushes for actions that equitably address climate pollution, restore Puget Sound, sustain our state’s forests, and protect our democracy. For Washington to remain a national leader on environmental issues, we need environmental champions in elected office and to hold our leaders accountable. To keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant, we are committed to supporting Native candidates, candidates of color, and environmental leaders seeking election.

In January 2023, Washington Conservation Voters and Washington Environmental council unified under a shared brand—Washington Conservation Action. This evolution as organizations builds on our 50 years of work and history of bringing people together to solve Washington’s most critical environmental issues. We develop, advocate, and defend policies that ensure environmental progress and justice by centering and amplifying the voices of the most impacted communities. Washington Conservation Action is a 501(c4) organization. Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is our 501(c3) partner organization. Together, we advance a shared a vision for a Washington state where nature and people live in balance for the flourishing of all.

Washington Conservation Action is based in downtown Seattle. Our team of over 45 works in a flexible hybrid model, with staff in the office two days a week for collaboration and celebration. We are committed to a diverse, socially just, and welcoming work environment. People of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work and are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon.

Responsibilities

The Comprehensive Plan Contractor will work with Washington Conservation Action’s SW WA Field Manager, Alliance for Community Engagement (ACE) SW WA, community coalitions, external partner groups, and reach out to local leaders including elected officials, community of color-led organizations, immigrant and refugee organizations, and LGBTQIA+ organizations. The Comprehensive Plan Contractor will help ensure principles of racial and social equity and Tribal sovereignty are infused in our work. The Contractor will help advocate for strong, equitable environmental and climate policy that may directly or indirectly tie into Comprehensive Planning.

This position will support the work of the SW Washington Field Manager and may work with WCA interns for Comprehensive Planning purposes.

The Comprehensive Plan Contractor will create and identify existing opportunities to bring people together to attend and participate in public forums; help others testify at government meetings and hearings; create events; build community-based power through focused campaigns and develop communications materials in online and printed form. 

Organizing and Building Relationships

• Build authentic relationships with new and existing community groups and volunteers to understand issues and identify organizing opportunities. Engage, consult and collaborate with local environmental justice groups, Black, Indigenous, and/or People Of Color-led organizations, refugee/immigrant organizations, LGBTQIA+ organizations and other groups typically under-represented in local government planning processes.
• Cultivate and maintain respectful relationships with elected officials. 
• Work in close collaboration with local advocates and support on-the-ground community education and organizing by local partners that builds community skills, tools, and communication resources.
• Strengthen community activism and mobilize people around environmental justice, environmental outcomes, and upholding Tribal sovereignty. Track and document organizing work using internal tracking tools like databases and project management software.

Field Work, Communications and Event Management

• Track Comprehensive Planning timelines and ongoing announcements from Clark County and the City of Vancouver on email and social media; rebroadcast engagement opportunities to local coalitions and partner organizations.
• Attend in-person and online Comprehensive Plan workshops and meetings at both the City of Vancouver and Clark County. This will include some evening and weekend meetings. Testify in person when appropriate.
• Working closely with the SW WA Field Manager and ACE Spokescouncil, draft, co-edit and finalize community letters to local governments as needed.
• Identify opportunities and create online and in-person events for public education. Flag opportunities when language translation is needed.
• Ensure that activist and member data and information from meetings with external partners is accurately and comprehensively captured in appropriate databases, like Salesforce and the Voter Activation Network (VAN). 
• Support WCA’s internship program by coordinating with SW WA interns as needed.
• Attend community events ACE meetings and coalition and WCA events, as needed.

Required Skills

This position requires clear, concise communication skills, the ability to read policy, and an ability to multitask.

• Online and in-person meeting facilitation.
• Writing calls to action and sending group emails.
• Ability to attend in-person and online events, sometimes on weekends or evenings.
• Strong preference for someone who lives in Clark County, Washington.

Desirable Skills

• Comfort in public speaking or desire to improve in this area.
• Second Language: Spanish, Chuukese or Ukrainian preferred.
• Interest in using creativity or art in community building efforts.

Compensation & Benefits

TThe Comprehensive Plan Contractor will be compensated at a rate of $25 per hour for 20-30 hours per week until June 30, 2025. The Contractor will submit invoices in 30-day increments and bill for services in quarter hour increments. The Contractor will receive a form 1099 for services billed over $600.

The Contractor will be reimbursed for mileage expenses incurred during the performance of services of the contract at the standard mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue Service. Pre-approved expenses related to the completion of deliverables will be reimbursed.

Location Information

This position is fully remote with a strong preference for those located within Clark County, with occasional in-person events. We anticipate this job will involve occasional travel to in-person meetings and staff gatherings at the discretion of the supervisor. This position requires occasional evening and weekend hours to support planned events or meetings.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

This job requires frequent sitting. Must be able to conduct business in English, though fluency in other languages is welcomed. For remote work, contractors must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work during scheduled work hours. Contractors are expected to provide their own equipment. Our teams have access to a variety of online tools and systems that support remote work and supervision. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform functions essential to the duties of the position.

COVID-19

The organization follows all requirements of local health authorities. We work in a hybrid remote work model with staff working from home in addition to in-office time for collaboration and celebration. We maintain strict safety protocols while in our office. All staff who come to the office must be immunized against COVID-19. 

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and a resume to heidi@waconservationaction.org with SW WA Comprehensive Plan Contractor application in the job title. No phone calls or mailed applications please. We will review applications on a rolling basis and will prioritize applications received before December 24th, 2024.

WCAEF and WCA are equal opportunity employers committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, people with disabilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply.