Community Organizer: Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Slingshot works alongside communities most impacted by environmental threats to take aim at polluters and build community power. Our team has a combined 30 years of experience organizing against environmental health threats in the region. We bring leaders together to build powerful statewide and regional networks, strengthening the environmental movement and laying the foundation for lasting change.

As Slingshot’s Community Organizer, you will be a part of a new and growing organization, building the go-to hub for environmental health and justice organizing in the Northeast. You will be a part of transformational work, building community power to take on some of the worst environmental health threats in the region. You will be a part of deepening our relationships with community groups, partners, and funders, as well as supporting grassroots campaigns.

What you’ll do

The Community Organizer will work along communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, taking on environmental justice and climate–focused campaign work in the area. Major elements of the position include:

• Grassroots community organizing & workshop facilitation: You will be responsible for leading group workshops on essential skills like campaign planning, messaging, and fundraising. You will also connect with community leaders for individual support, and work with community groups as they build relationships and organize their neighbors. We are holding most workshops and meetings through Zoom or over the phone, with some in person.

• Campaign strategy and long-term support: You will invest in long-term relationships with community members in impacted communities, offering support to tackle environmental and health threats they may be facing and partnering on campaigns to move towards safer, healthier solutions. You will dig into decision-making processes to determine the most strategic courses of action and work closely with partner organizations in the movement.

• Fundraising: Guided by our development and grants coordinators, you will build relationships with foundations, write grant applications, as well as identify and deepen connections with grassroots donors.

• Communications and media presence: Guided by the communications coordinator, you will increase Slingshot’s organizational presence and further local campaigns through in-person and digital media tactics.

What we’re looking for in you

Key qualifications:

• At least one year of related work experience, such as community organizing or grassroots campaign coordination, with a passion for organizing with people as means for change

• Experience living in or working with people in frontline communities, especially people of color, Indigenous communities, immigrants, and low-income people

• Strong verbal and written communication skills–you enjoy spending time with people on the phone and video and building new relationships 

• Strategic thinking and effective facilitation skills

• Experience with leadership development, preferably training and developing leaders in a grassroots organizing setting

• Experience with campaign planning and development

• A passion for racial, economic, and environmental justice; a strong commitment to working for a just, inclusive, and better world

• Flexibility in working as a part of a growing organization

• A driver’s license, preferably with a car you are willing and able to drive for work 

Preferred qualifications:

• Ideally you are from or have ties to Eastern Massachusetts or Rhode Island

• Experience in environmental health, justice, or climate work

• Experience with coalition building, media engagement, and/or grassroots fundraising

• Additional language skills in addition to English, such as Spanish, is a big plus

Salary and benefits

Slingshot offers an extensive benefits plan and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. The salary for the Community Organizer position is $55,000 – $62,000, depending on experience. We recognize the value of work-life balance and also strive to create opportunities for growth for all employees through professional development. We have a generous benefits package, including group health insurance, dental benefits, vacation and personal time, paid holidays, summer Fridays, and a 403b retirement plan.

Structure and team at Slingshot
This position will be a part of a horizontal organizational structure, with mentorship from a Co-Executive Director as well as staff across the organization. We operate through consensus building for big picture and organizational decision-making. We are a team that shows up for each other every day – our team is close-knit, highly communicative, and understanding, maintaining meaningful connection across the region through weekly staff calls, a lateral peer-to-peer support model, and in-person retreats. And though we are passionate, committed, and hard-working, we also want our team members to take the rest they need to thrive.

Other details
We are currently working remotely, but candidates should be based in Eastern Massachusetts or Rhode Island.To apply
Please complete our application by submitting your resume and answering our application questions through our portal. (Note: Please do not submit a cover letter.) The application deadline is Friday, September 29th, but please apply as soon as possible. Slingshot is working with Sarah Bennett Consulting to coordinate this search. 

Interview process
Our interview process includes a short phone interview, second round Zoom interview, role play scenario, and half-hour finalist interview/meet and greet with the rest of our team for candidates advancing through the process. We will also conduct reference checks for finalist candidates. We work to make our process as efficient and transparent as possible while ensuring you learn more about Slingshot and meet our team as we get to know you!

Slingshot is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status. People of color, Indigenous people, immigrants, people from low-income backgrounds, LGBTQIA+, gender non-conforming folks and women are encouraged to apply. ​

Slingshot considers the health and safety of its staff members and their families, our guests, our visitors, and the community at large to be a top priority. All offers to work, intern, or volunteer with Slingshot are conditioned on the candidate complying with our mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Slingshot is fiscally sponsored by Conservation Law Foundation.

For Application

Please answer the following questions in the application to help us understand your experience, commitment, and interest in working with Slingshot. (Please answer these questions in the application, and just skip the field in the application requesting a cover letter.)

• Why do you want to do community organizing? (Please keep your answer to three sentences tops!)

• What is most appealing to you about working at Slingshot? (Please keep your answer to three sentences tops!)

• Where did you hear about the position? Did someone refer you to the position? If so, please list their name here.