Chapter Director

Title: Chapter Director 

Department: Field Department, Kentucky Chapter 

Location: Remote within Kentucky

Reports To: Deputy Regional Field Director 

Supervises: Chapter staff 

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 700 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Kentucky Chapter Director helps develop and carry out the policies, priorities, and objectives of the Sierra Club in the state. This work is done in close partnership with the Executive Committee for the assigned areas of chapter programs and operations. These assigned areas include but are not limited to conservation, political and legislative programs, equity and inclusion, fundraising, volunteer development, member services, administration, budgeting and financial management, and media relations. The director manages other chapter staff. The director represents the Chapter and the Sierra Club to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, donors, allies, other organizations, and the public. Evening and weekend work is often required.

Title: Chapter Director 

Department: Field Department, Kentucky Chapter 

Location: Remote within Kentucky

Reports To: Deputy Regional Field Director 

Supervises: Chapter staff 

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 700 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Kentucky Chapter Director helps develop and carry out the policies, priorities, and objectives of the Sierra Club in the state. This work is done in close partnership with the Executive Committee for the assigned areas of chapter programs and operations. These assigned areas include but are not limited to conservation, political and legislative programs, equity and inclusion, fundraising, volunteer development, member services, administration, budgeting and financial management, and media relations. The director manages other chapter staff. The director represents the Chapter and the Sierra Club to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, donors, allies, other organizations, and the public. Evening and weekend work is often required.

Job activities include:

• Strategic Planning and Assessment: Facilitates and contributes to the development of the Chapter’s short- and long-term strategic, programmatic, and financial goals. All planning activity takes place in coordination with the Executive Committee, relevant Chapter leaders, and the Deputy Regional Field Director. 

• Fundraising and Budget: Develops annual fundraising goals and budget and evaluates Chapter performance. Develops and implements Chapter fundraising planning and strategies including direct mail, digital fundraising, events, internal and external grant writing, and identifying, cultivating, acknowledging, and stewarding donors. 

• Recruits and builds volunteer teams based on programmatic and operational priorities. Ensures pathways for volunteer leadership development.

• Recruits, hires, assigns work to, and manages represented and non-represented state-based staff to meet state-based goals. Leads staff in assigned operational or program areas. Writes, conducts, and reviews staff performance appraisals using solicited input from the Executive Committee, Chapter Chair, and/or others as appropriate. Reviews staff time reports and ensures that these reports are completed in an accurate and timely manner and ensures the Chapter is in compliance with Sierra Club’s employment policies and practices. 

• Organizational Compliance: Oversees Chapter compliance. Ensures compliance with Sierra Club policies, with legal requirements for use of Sierra Club resources among staff, and with Sierra Club’s employment policies and practices. Supports volunteer leaders in ensuring compliance in the broader Sierra Club program. Ensures compliance with all applicable laws (local, state, and national) pertaining to chapter operations. 

• Coordinates and implements media and public relations strategies with volunteers and communications staff. 

• Coordinates and implements an effective digital strategy with volunteers and digital strategies staff.

• Works with the Executive Committee in the implementation of organizational effectiveness and ensures a mutually respectful and generative process. Supports the recruitment and retention of volunteer leaders. 

• Engages in outreach and coalition-building. Ensures the Chapter and its leaders participate in meetings, task forces, and events. Builds strong relationships with the Chapter’s entities, state and regional community leaders, coalitions, other organizations, elected officials, governmental agencies, etc. Represents the Chapter when appropriate. 

• Attends Chapter meetings and regional coordination meetings as needed. Assists Chapter Committees and Issue Chairs in the planning and implementation of core conservation efforts and programs.

The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

• Experience in grassroots organizing, training, motivating volunteer teams, coalition building and lobbying. 

• Budget Development and Management. Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting. Experience navigating multiple funding streams and complex budgets is a plus. 

• Fundraising experience. Excellent donor relations skills and understanding of the funding community. Previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funders, partner agencies, and volunteers. A history of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving financial results. 

• Skillful and Effective Communicator. Organizational conflict resolution experience and committed communication skills. Track record of supporting diverse individuals and teams to surface and navigate conflict towards generative outcomes. 

• Strategic Planning and Assessment: Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategic plans, communicate changes effectively, build consensus, monitor transitions, and evaluate results. Track record of accomplishing these things in ways that develop leadership and teams towards shared outcomes. 

• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.

• Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

• Valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record, and proof of auto insurance required.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following experience, skills and competencies:

• Board and Organizational Governance. Non-profit management and/or Board experience.

• Expertise in the practice of cultural competency and sensitivity to the social, economic, and other barriers impacting minority populations in the state, at the moment of prioritizing and developing short and long term campaign plans/goals. 

• Issue area expertise: Experience in energy, climate, and/or environmental policy. Experience and knowledge of state and federal legislative processes; relationships with media, elected officials, lobbyists. 

• Media Skills. Excellent communications skills including media strategy and public speaking 

• Excellent computer skills and familiarity with online communications and office productivity tools.

• Growth Mindset. Exceptional curiosity, critical thinking, and clarity.

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.