State Climate Campaigner

Austin Community College; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 38,250 - 39,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

Parental leave

Long term disability insurance

Needs-based student loan assistance

Training program with advancement opportunities

Job summary

A non-profit advocacy organization seeks an enthusiastic Associate to work on climate solution campaigns. This entry-level role involves building coalitions, organizing events, and conducting lobbying efforts. Ideal candidates will possess leadership experience, excellent writing, and public speaking skills, with an eagerness to learn. Compensation is targeted between $38,250-$39,500 annually, with a comprehensive benefits package. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, starting in the summer of 2026.

Qualifications

• Ideal candidates will have leadership experience and strong writing and public speaking skills.
• Entry-level candidates are encouraged, with training provided.
• A readiness for a challenge and eagerness to learn are essential.

Responsibilities

• Build coalitions and reach out to organizations for support.
• Organize events, webinars, and community outreach.
• Conduct lobbying efforts with elected officials.
• Research and write campaign materials for media engagement.
• Recruit volunteers and manage a campaign office in summer.

Skills

Leadership experience

Writing skills

Public speaking

Organizing experience

Job description

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Illinois PIRG is hiring an Associate to work on our campaigns for Climate Solutions. The way we turn on the lights, heat and cool our homes, and get around town shouldn’t be dependent on burning fossil fuels. And increasingly the solutions to reduce our climate emissions are not only possible, but safer and more affordable for consumers. But we still have work to do in order to convince decision makers, and the public, to adopt them.

PIRG has a 50-year history of consumer advocacy, advancing policy solutions to problems that affect our health, our safety and our well-being. The Climate Solutions Associate will work closely with our state director and our network of coalition partners and volunteers to run campaigns for climate solutions, like shifting off of gas to heat our homes, increasing energy conservation and energy efficiency, and promoting renewable energy.

Key responsibilities

• 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. When a critical vote is happening on your campaign, work to demonstrate the support you’ve been building on the ground to help line up the votes needed to win.
• Research and write persuasive campaign materials: 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.

This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance.

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. Ideal candidates will have leadership experience, top‑notch writing and public speaking skills, an eagerness to learn, and be ready for a challenge. We value organizing experience, including building campus or community groups.

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for this entry level position is $38,250-$39,500 in the first year. Illinois PIRG 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.

This position will start in the summer of 2026. We are accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Our Mission and Values

Illinois PIRG is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit https://pirg.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Illinois PIRG is an advocate for consumers, advancing solutions to problems that affect our health, our safety and our well‑being. Being a consumer advocate means being a champion for a marketplace that is not only honest and transparent, but also wastes less because it reduces, reuses and recycles more; prevents toxic threats to our health and safety; and considers the impact of new products and technologies on the next generation, not just the next quarterly earnings report. The true North Star of a successful marketplace should not be the quantity of “stuff” we consume. It should be the quality of our lives.

Illinois PIRG is an equal opportunity employer.