Plastic Pellet Free Waters Campaign Associate

Environment America; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Time off

Commuter benefits

401(k) with employer match

Parental leave

Long-term disability

Student loan assistance

Job summary

Environment America is seeking a campaign associate in Portland, OR to address plastic pellet pollution. You will educate the public, build coalitions across groups, and mobilize support while engaging with local and state officials to protect waterways and wildlife.

Ideal candidates bring strong writing and public speaking skills, enjoy grassroots organizing, and are ready to manage campaigns, volunteer teams, and summer outreach offices with a focus on measurable impact and advocacy training.

Qualifications

• Entry-level candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Willingness to travel regularly and work evenings/weekends as needed.
• Strong writing and public speaking abilities are essential.
• Experience organizing campus or community groups is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Educate and mobilize the public on plastic pellet pollution.
• Build coalitions across organizations and constituencies.
• Earn traditional and social media attention for the campaigns.
• Organize events, webinars, and community meetings with volunteers.
• Lobby city and state officials to support policy goals.
• Research data and write reports to influence policy debates.
• Recruit volunteers, interns, and staff for campaigns.
• Run a grassroots campaign office during the summer with fundraising goals.

Skills

Written communication

Public speaking

Grassroots organizing

Campaign coordination

Job description

Environment America is hiring an associate to work on our campaign to address plastic pellet pollution.

Plastic pellets, sometimes called “nurdles,” are the raw materials used in plastic production. Often very small, no bigger than lentils, these pellets are melted down and molded to make everyday products like water bottles, grocery bags and polystyrene foam takeout containers. During manufacture and transport, these pellets are often spilled, leaked or dumped into the environment, especially our waterways. As a result, it's estimated that trillions of plastic pellets enter our environment each year, where they pose a major threat to wildlife and ecosystems.

We need to stop polluting our waterways with plastic, including plastic pellets. We're seeking a campaign associate to build support for protecting our waterways and wildlife, and call on state regulators to take action to address this pollution.

Key Responsibilities

The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Associate will work on campaigns to stop nurdles from polluting our environment and threatening our health. This position requires excellent judgment, discretion and the ability to oversee significant projects. Representative responsibilities include:

• Educate and mobilize public support: Conduct online and in-person outreach to educate the public on our issues and ways to get involved.
• Build powerful coalitions: Reach out to a broad range of organizations and affected constituency groups across the political spectrum to demonstrate support for our campaign goals.
• Earn traditional media and social media attention: Organize news conferences and write opinion pieces. Build a following on social media for your campaign.
• Organize events and work with volunteers: Organize webinars, community events and public meetings. Recruit organizations and members of the public to attend and participate.
• Lobby elected officials: Meet with decision makers - from city council members to state legislators - to make the case for our campaign goals.
• Research and write reports: Catalog and analyze data relevant to the issue and our policy proposals to help influence public debate and earn media attention for our cause.
• Recruit new people to your team: Help build your team by recruiting volunteers, interns and full-time staff.
• Run a grassroots campaign office each summer: Run a campaign office for the summer, knocking on doors to raise money to support our campaigns, build our organization and membership, and help build critical and timely grassroots support to win key campaigns. Your responsibilities will include meeting your own fundraising goals and managing a team of paid staff. You may be assigned to a different office location for the summer and should be flexible to move.
• Organizational projects and trainings: Beyond your own campaign, you may be called on to help other teams on priority campaigns and tactics, ranging from clean energy to clean water to right to repair. You may travel and participate in regional and national trainings and other in-person or virtual projects as needed. This is not a standard “9-5” or “clock in, clock out” position.

Qualifications

Entry-level candidates are encouraged to apply. Though we expect you to take your campaign and run with it, we provide training on advocacy and organizing skills, as well as oversight by an experienced advocate. Candidates must be able to travel regularly and be motivated to work when needed, which may sometimes be in the evenings and on weekends.

Ideal candidates will have:

• Passion for the environment and using the power of grassroots organizing to win campaigns
• Top-notch writing and public speaking skills
• An eagerness to learn
• Organizing experience, including building campus or community groups

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for this entry-level position is $40,000 in the first year. Environment America offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Location

Portland, OR

About Environment America

Environment America has one mission: to protect the natural world.

We advocate ideas and actions to guide our country onto a greener, healthier path. Our network of 30 state environmental groups promotes clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Our members put grassroots support behind our research, public education, advocacy and litigation.

Nothing is more important to our future than facing this fact: Infinite economic growth on a finite planet is neither wise nor possible. We must shift from deplete to preserve, from disposable to sustainable, from “never enough” to “enough.” Together, our staff, members and other supporters are committed to winning changes that allow nature to thrive and our children to live healthier, more enriching lives.

Our Mission and Values

Environment America is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change. Visit https://environmentamerica.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Please do not use AI to help draft your cover letter or responses to our application questions. We want to know how you think and write.

Environment America is an equal opportunity employer.