Center For Coalfield Justice

About the Center for Coalfield Justice:
The Center for Coalfield Justice (CCJ) fights for coalfield communities through advocacy, education, and organizing. Our approach to working with area residents values their knowledge about the land, waterways, and communities. Our recognition of local expertise is grounded in the belief that people who are facing injustice directly are the most knowledgeable and should be leading the efforts toward justice. We blend organizing, communications, legal, and policy strategies to build power with and for residents across Washington and Greene Counties.
Our mission: to improve policy and regulations for the oversight of fossil fuels extraction and use; to educate, empower, and organize coalfield residents; and to protect public and environmental health.
Community Organizer Role:
The Center for Coalfield Justice prioritizes the relationship between economic justice, environmental justice, and democracy. Democratic participation is critical to ensure that the people of Washington and Greene counties can make their voice heard about the issues that affect their lives such as air & water pollution, affordability, and sustainable job access. It is necessary that we protect the right to vote, engage civically, and resist the influence of money in politics to maintain a democracy that works for everyone.
The Community Organizer, Democracy role will work on democracy related issues focusing on Washington and Greene Counties. This role serves as a primary point of contact for community members engaged in democracy campaigns and works closely with the full CCJ team on strategy, events, and coalition work. This position reports to the Organizing Director.
Responsibilities:

• Community Engagement
  • Build deep, trusting relationships with residents through one-on-one conversations, canvassing, phone banking, texting, email, and social media
  • Serve as a consistent and reliable point of contact for community members navigating issues related to any of CCJ's pillars: Coal, Oil and Gas, Economic Justice, and Democracy
  • Plan and support campaign-related events in coordination with the Events Coordinator
  • Support general outreach initiatives in coordination with the Outreach Coordinator
• Campaign & Organizing Work
  • Organize around emerging democracy issues such as voter engagement, voter participation, money in politics, and the connection between environmental & economic justice with democracy.
  • Contribute to the development of campaigns as they take shape based on community engagement
  • Collaborate with coalition partners and build community power around shared democracy related concerns
  • Develop action steps in collaboration with the team and community members, such as community meetings, petitions, public comment participation, and direct action
  • Attend community events and relevant public meetings throughout the year
    • Monitor for Washington County and Greene County Board of Elections updates, meetings, and opportunities for public engagement.
    • Mobilize residents to attend meetings; share information broadly.
• Leadership Development
  • Identify and cultivate local leaders; invest in their growth and ability to advocate for themselves and their communities
  • Host community events, trainings, and opportunities for collective action and civic participation

• Coalition & Team Work
  • Represent CCJ in coalition spaces relevant to voter engagement, democracy defense, and other identified focus areas as appropriate
  • Collaborate with the full CCJ team across campaigns, sharing knowledge and coordinating where issues overlap
  • Provide support to other staff and volunteers as needed
• Documentation & Reporting
  • Track community contacts, member engagement, and outreach activities in CCJ's database
  • Provide regular updates to the Organizing Director on campaign progress and community needs

Qualifications:

• Required
  • Resident of Washington County (this is a firm requirement for this role)
  • Commitment to Mission. The people who work here, regardless of role, show up in support of that work. Staff must understand what we're fighting for, treat that work with respect, and find meaning in making it possible.
  • CCJ uses a variety of platforms to manage our work and communicate as a team. All staff are expected to develop proficiency in the following tools, and training and support will be provided: Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etc.); Slack; Airtable; EveryAction. Experience with any of these tools is a plus, but a willingness to learn and develop proficiency is required.
  • Due to the rural nature of CCJ's work in Washington and Greene Counties, reliable personal transportation is required. Candidates must own or have consistent access to an operating vehicle and a valid driver's license.
  • Comfortable initiating conversations with new people and building rapport across different backgrounds and perspectives
  • Strong verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and manage your own schedule, while also collaborating closely with a team
  • Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends

• Preferred
  • Experience in community organizing, advocacy, harm reduction, or social services work (paid or volunteer)
  • Familiarity with economic justice issues, just transition policy, or housing and affordability advocacy
  • Knowledge of Washington and Greene County communities, local government, or regional resources
  • Experience with member databases or CRM tools

Job Details:

• Location: The Community Organizer will be based out of our Washington, PA office and may be eligible for hybrid work.
• Travel: This position may require occasional travel for work-related activities. CCJ reimburses mileage at the current IRS federal rate and covers reasonable overnight lodging costs for work requiring travel away from home.
• Compensation: Salary range is $50,000-60,000, commensurate with experience, within Tier 1 of CCJ's pay scale.
• Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% coverage of employee health, dental, and vision premiums on a zero-deductible plan, 80% coverage for spouses and domestic partners, and a monthly stipend toward dependent coverage. Employees also receive life insurance, long-term disability, and Legal and ID Shield coverage. We offer a 401(k) with employer match, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), and access to CCJ's internal paid family and medical leave policy. Our generous paid time off package includes vacation, personal days, all federal, state, and CCJ-recognized holidays, and paid extended office closures for the weeks of July 4th and Christmas/New Year's.

To Apply:
To be considered for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter through CCJ's hiring portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
CCJ is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity, and our commitment extends to our hiring. If you believe this is a role in which you would excel, even if you don't meet all of the requirements listed, we suggest that you apply.
Please Note: If you use AI for any part of your application, please disclose at the bottom of your cover letter which tools you used and how.