Water Justice Organizer

The Water Justice Organizer will work with the Oregon Water Justice Alliance and Water Climate Trust teams to engage Tribes and other water justice communities to improve water allocation policy and public funding decisions that affect their lives and environment. Specifically, they will conduct outreach, training, networking, and direct advocacy to support healthy instream flows for both imperiled freshwater species and Tribal rights to sufficient water for subsistence fishing and cultural practices.

Location: This is a remote position, but due to the significant travel involved with rural community organizing, they will need to be based out of Oregon, preferably near the I-5 corridor. Most in-person work will occur within the state of Oregon, with a smaller amount of time dedicated to organizing with Tribes and communities in northern California’s Klamath and Sacramento basins.

Pay and benefits: Preferred full time, but we’re open to part-time for the right person. $55K-$72K (or FTE equivalent) depending on policy experience. All associated travel costs are covered. Cell phone stipend provided. Salaried with full health benefits (medical and dental) for full-time position.

Job Responsibilities:

• Represent the Oregon Water Justice Alliance and speak about water allocation and justice issues at public events
• Meet with Tribal members and others from water justice and instream flow advocacy communities to build common understanding and relationships and pursue opportunities for collaboration
• Directly engage with state decisionmakers to influence water allocation policies and their implementation
• Plan trainings, convenings, events, and other engagement opportunities to support increased water allocation and justice advocacy by directly impacted communities
• Recruit and help mentor participants in our Water Justice Advocacy stipend program
• Organize and help facilitate ORWJA meetings
• Help create and promote campaign outreach materials, action alerts, and educational information
• Collaborate with water justice communities to support their campaigns and needs
• Manage social media pages
• Manage and grow a database of prospective water advocacy allies
• Actively engage in core organizational admin, planning, fundraising, events, and collaboration as needed

Necessary Qualifications:

• Experience working with Tribes or other underrepresented communities
• Experience organizing advocacy campaigns or working on public policy
• Understanding of, and commitment to practicing, anti-racism
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google programs and computers in general​
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Driver’s license and ability to regularly travel within the state of Oregon for work

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working with rural communities and/or youth
• Experience working in communications, water policy &/or Tribal water issues
• Understanding of tribal water/treaty rights, water rights law, and relevant regulatory agencies​
• Experience with event organizing (online and physical) and public speaking
• Web, video editing and/or graphic design skills are a bonus

About Us

The Oregon Water Justice Alliance is a new network working with Native American and other rural water justice communities to improve water allocation policy and funding to support healthy instream flows for fish and Tribal rights. Co-founders are Maqlaqs Geetkni, Maqlaqs Paddle, Ríos to Rivers, Water Climate Trust, and Water League. Water Climate Trust administers the ORWJA and will be the employer and supervisor of this position.

Water Climate Trust is a small grassroots organization working to restore aquatic ecosystems with stakeholders who depend on them for food, jobs, health, recreation, and cultural survival. We use grassroots organizing, advocacy, communications, and public interest law to advance water and public funding policies that protect healthy instream flows for ecosystem, climate, and community resilience. We serve Native American, fishing, and low-income communities, river recreation businesses, and everyone who appreciates healthy rivers. Most of our work centers watersheds in Oregon and northern California, but its policy impacts and implications are statewide and even national in nature. Our work is guided by the inherent rights of nature, place-based cultures and future generations