VCS is Hiring!

The Vineyard Conservation Society is seeking enthusiastic applicants for an exciting role as our new Director of Advocacy and Community Organizing. Read on for all the details, and thank you for your interest.

ABOUT VINEYARD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Originally formed in 1965 by a small group concerned with the preservation of the natural habitats of the island of Martha’s Vineyard, today VCS takes a broad view of conservation. In addition to traditional land protection, addressing the Island’s current and future environmental challenges increasingly requires an informed and mobilized public. Through public education, local political advocacy, and legal defense work, we promote community action in pursuit of a healthy environment and sustainable future.

COMMUNITY CONTEXT FOR OUR WORK

There is a widespread sense of urgency for this work, but the challenges are complex. Martha’s Vineyard’s extraordinary natural resources attract so many admirers that the population swells more than tenfold during the summer months, leading to singularly difficult threats to the island’s natural resources and to affordable year-round living. VCS has long recognized that the island must manage a delicate balance of human and environmental needs, and the organization takes a thoughtful approach to conservation, paired with a patience and passion for navigating the interpersonal complexities within a diverse island community.

PURPOSE

This is an exciting position at a critical time. The VCS Director of Advocacy and Community Organizing will help advance environmental community action consistent with the VCS mission. VCS believes that strong and mindful environmental advocacy and action are critical to the long term health and well being of the Island and its wild and human communities.

In support of that belief, this position is the VCS conduit to inspiration, education and action around a wide range of local environmental issues. The desire is to effect change on these issues while building the capacity and profile of VCS, making contacts in the community, and mobilizing members and volunteers.

While the VCS mission includes a wide range of environmental work, there are currently specific focus areas: open space protection; climate change; curbing growth and development; habitat health; and single use plastic reduction. Priority areas periodically change and the small staff and collaborative working style will allow this position the ability to help define future priorities and strategize most impactful approaches.

VCS has a broad scope of work and a small staff. It is expected that staff members support one another with their work. As such, the position will assist with writing for newsletters and other platforms and may also aid in media product design, with capital campaigns and events, as needed.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Director of Advocacy and Community Organizing will work with staff and the VCS Board of Directors under the supervision of the Executive Director.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Implement public advocacy and other campaigns that advance VCS strategic goals and priorities; including strategizing community organizing around an issue and identifying regulatory change in service to open space, environmental protection and climate change.
Organize and lead meetings and address individuals and groups, projecting a positive image of VCS and advancing VCS’s priorities for Martha’s Vineyard’s natural and human health.
Co-lead the VCS climate program, the Island Climate Action Network (ICAN), with support from the rest of the staff and a small advisory of ICAN founders. This involves designing and hosting events to grow the community around local climate advocacy and action, as well as ICAN website maintenance, e-newsletter production and social media curation.
Identify partnerships, building connections among colleagues and in the community with projects that enlist members and volunteers, to advance specific VCS programs and advocacy goals.
Prepare and deliver written and oral testimony to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (regional planning agency), town boards, Annual Town Meetings and other bodies and forums in support of VCS causes and concerns.
Draft compelling written communications for VCS print and online media.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Passion for protecting the land, water, wildlife and community character of Martha’s Vineyard.
Experience working with growth and overdevelopment issues, land and resource conservation and climate change, through policymaking, community organizing, or advocacy.
An aptitude for community engagement and organizing and willingness to immerse in the Vineyard community. Knowledge of the dynamics of the Vineyard community is ideal or an excitement for developing that knowledge and for being an active community participant.
Comfort speaking in public forums advocating for the environment on sometimes sensitive or difficult issues.
Ability to develop and oversee projects from inception to completion, including working on multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of small teams in a dynamic and creative environment; meeting deadlines and responding quickly to changing opportunities.
Ability to work well with the VCS Board of Directors, staff, committees, and volunteers, as well as forge collaborations and work in effective partnerships with nonprofit colleagues, scientists, teachers, town and regional governments, etc. A general enthusiasm for a team approach and for creative, collaborative problem solving.
Comfort using social media as an advocacy tool and willingness to help build the activity rate of VCS platforms, including ICAN, by creating a regular stream of new information/posts with responsiveness to audience communication.
A positive energy that will attract both those convinced of and those with hesitations about VCS’s agenda.
An unswerving commitment to making Martha’s Vineyard and VCS an equitable and diverse community where every resident is valued and can enjoy the unique Island environment.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

VCS offers competitive total compensation. Housing is not provided, but VCS will help provide information and local knowledge to assist with a transition to the Island if necessary. The annual salary is anticipated to range from $60,000- $85,000. Benefits include medical and dental insurance, employer contribution to a 403B plan, and time off. There is the opportunity to have a hybrid schedule, splitting work between home and the Wakeman Center office, but many activities, including regular staff and working group meetings, require in person attendance. Some meetings and events will be outside normal work hours.

TO APPLY

All candidates should submit a cover letter and detailed resume to jobs@vineyardconservation.org.

Vineyard Conservation Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Research shows that underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. VCS encourages you to break that statistic and apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to your application.