Immediate Opening (11/28/2018)

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), Utah’s largest conservation organization, has an immediate opening for a full-time Faith Community Organizer based in its Salt Lake City office.  Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume including 3 references, and a 2 page writing sample (original work) to dave@suwa.org. The deadline to submit your application is December 31, 2018. Please include your name and the words “Faith Community Organizer” in the subject line.

SUWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the outstanding wilderness at the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and the management of these lands in their natural state for the benefit of all Americans. SUWA promotes local and national recognition of the region’s unique character through research and public education; supports both administrative and legislative initiatives to permanently protect the Colorado Plateau wild places within the National Park and National Wilderness Preservation Systems, or by other protective designations where appropriate; builds support for such initiatives on both the local and national level; and provides leadership within the conservation movement through tireless advocacy for wilderness preservation.

Description

The overall goal of the Faith Community Organizer is to build, and make visible, support for the protection of Utah’s remaining wilderness-quality lands from communities of faith in Utah.

The initial and primary focus of this work will be along the Wasatch Front, although it may involve some work in rural Utah.

The Faith Community Organizer is also a flexible team player who works cooperatively with SUWA staff, volunteers and activists to build and demonstrate support for protecting Utah’s wilderness quality lands within the broader population as needed.

Qualifications

To effectively perform this role, the applicant must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, the ability to build and maintain relationships, and a strong grasp of social media best practices. Applicants should be self-motivated, demonstrate an understanding of, and a commitment for, the preservation of wilderness, and be able to communicate the importance of stewardship and wilderness conservation to people of faith. Qualified applicants are acquainted with Utah’s faith communities. Demonstrated experience in, and enthusiasm for, grassroots organizing is strongly preferred. Experience in wilderness and/or public lands issues, or with Congress, is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Identify members within Utah’s faith communities who have expressed an affinity for stewardship and conservation.  Seek their advice about how SUWA can most effectively engage with their broader communities on wilderness advocacy.
• Build a network of faith-based community members and leaders who will advocate for wilderness protection.
• Implement strategies and organize events that build and demonstrate support from Utah’s communities of faith for the protection of Utah’s remaining wild lands, focused in particular on SUWA’s campaigns, including: passing America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, protecting national monuments, blocking the state’s federal land grab, and more.
• Identify events, venues and activities where SUWA can interact, educate and engage faith community members  (tabling, presentations, service projects, articles in publications, community gatherings, festivals, etc.) and follow through on opportunities.
• Utilize traditional and social media platforms (such as newspapers, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) to demonstrate faith community support for the protection of Utah’s remaining wild lands. This includes strategic placement of letters-to-the-editor, guest commentaries, blogs, shares, posts, memes, etc. from people of faith.
• Build and expand SUWA’s social media outreach to Utah’s faith communities through the use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs and other platforms and services.
• Help SUWA frame and articulate our mission so that it is relevant and compelling to communities of faith.
• Identify strategic opportunities for collaboration on issues of mutual concern to the faith community that are within the general reach of SUWA’s mission.

Salary and Benefits

Salary is competitive, based on experience.

A competitive benefits package includes health care coverage, a retirement plan, and paid vacation and sick days. Opportunities for additional training are available.

SUWA is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. SUWA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.