Public Engagement Director (Eugene)

Public Engagement Director (Eugene)

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Organizational and Campaign Overview:

Our Children’s Trust is an all-woman-founded, human rights non-profit organization leading an innovative, youth-driven, and science-based campaign to secure the legal right to a healthy atmosphere and stable climate for present and future generations. OCT supports youth climate advocates, partner organizations, and volunteer and reduced-fee legal counsel and scientists in the U.S. and around the globe, in legal actions that seek legally-binding, countrywide and/or statewide science-based Climate Recovery Plans that will return atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to levels below 350 ppm by the year 2100.

Overview of Position:

Juliana v. U.S., the constitutional climate change lawsuit brought by 21 American youth against the U.S. government is making its way through the federal courts, with the youth prevailing time and time again against the government defendants. Multiple related state and global domestic lawsuits are also advancing. The Public Engagement Director will provide strategic vision and leadership of OCT’s efforts to partner with a diversity of organizations and individuals to support OCT’s ongoing strategic legal campaign against governments (#youthvgov), including garnering broad-based amicus curiae support, earning the support of, and educating, Members of Congress and other key political leaders, mobilizing constituencies for mass grassroots public support of the youth plaintiffs at strategic moments in their cases, and enhancing media attention. The Public Engagement Director works in strategic partnership with the Executive Director and the Communications/Youth Engagement Director, oversees and manages the Public Engagement team, and works collaboratively with youth, all OCT staff, NGOs, faith groups, schools, public officials, academics, scientists, media, and other external partners at the local, regional, national and global levels to achieve these goals. The Public Engagement Director supports the overall mission of Our Children’s Trust and the efforts of other staff, contractors, and volunteers.

Position Location: Eugene, Oregon. Limited overnight and day travel will also be required, maintaining attentiveness to minimizing our organizational carbon footprint.

This Position Reports to: Executive Director and Deputy Director as appropriate.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Educate youth, the public, government and community leaders, and NGOs working on climate change about fiduciary public trust responsibilities of government, constitutional and human rights implications of climate change, atmospheric health, meaningful climate stabilization through science-based carbon reductions, and specifically the science behind 350 ppm;

• Engage and support youth in the democratic process to protect their rights and enforce government responsibility to reduce carbon emissions in accordance with science to restore the health of the atmosphere;

• Represent OCT professionally at all times; attend meetings and events offsite as approved;

• Identify and cultivate partnerships leading to concrete and official support and action advancing OCT’s mission;

• Maintain attentiveness to personal, professional carbon footprint;

• Understand and remain current on scientific prescriptions for climate recovery and related technical, economic and policy issues;

• Some weekend and evening work required;

• Discharge other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• In consultation with the legal team, strategically oversee and cultivate amicus curiae briefing for Juliana and state cases. Develop plans to engage with and expand the diverse constituencies represented in the amicus briefing for ongoing support of OCT’s mission;

• Cultivate relationships with Members of Congress and other key political leaders at federal, state and local levels to publicly support the constitutional rights recognized in Juliana and to educate about the science of 350 ppm and the technical solutions to decarbonization;

• In consultation with the legal and communications teams, identify and plan the ongoing buildout of key partnerships with diverse youth organizations, local communities, faith groups, schools, other influential NGOs, the business community, public officials, and other external partners to expand awareness of the consequences of the lawsuits and to turn out their meaningful support in the press, at rallies, and in their communities;

• Work with the legal team to interface with Green New Deal efforts, to provide expertise on the science and policy drafting while abiding by OCT’s 501(c)(3) lobbying limitations.

• Provide support for organically arising youth-led grassroots efforts and help provide education and engagement on the best climate science and constitutional rights, while elevating the youth voices in those movements in support of OCT’s efforts, e.g., Youth Climate Strikes;

• Oversee distribution of OCT’s new educational curriculum in schools;

• In consultation with the legal team, map out strategy around rallies and events that should be pursued to support the legal efforts in different jurisdictions. Lead the public engagement team in organizing, planning and effectuating rallies and events for important court hearings. When Juliana v. U.S. goes to trial, organize and execute daily public mobilization throughout, and national mobilization, as approved by the legal team;

• In consultation with the Communications Director/Digital Storyteller, strategically shape appropriate messaging and distribution of social media/art toolkits to mobilize support from the constituencies referenced, ensuring consistency with campaign slogans, science-based climate recovery, and the constitutional/public trust rights messaging of the campaign;

• Develop volunteer team of external campaigners and communicators to mobilize expanded support into their networks for the youth plaintiffs in these lawsuits, particularly the federal lawsuit, but also for plaintiffs in other related cases as assigned;

• Support and guide external partners to mobilize their constituencies and their communications to support actions around our campaign and identify other campaigns consistent with OCT’s mission that we can support;

• Work with Plaintiff Engagement Coordinator to support youth plaintiffs who are at the center of this campaign and to identify potential plaintiffs for new cases;

• This position requires the Director to understand the science-based and fundamental human rights-based approach of OCT’s mission on climate and a willingness to work at the vanguard of climate protection within a political and movement paradigm that is focused on CO2 and temperature targets that are not safe for children or humanity and be prepared to help crack open that paradigm through open honest communications;

• Secure important partnerships with clear goals and MOUs;

Media/Public Relations Duties and Responsibilities:

• When requested, represent OCT to media and community;

• Work with the Communications Director and Executive Director to increase earned media by legal reporters and in legal publications;

• In consultation with Communications Director and Digital Storyteller, oversee the public engagement team in providing support in the development of digital content including social media posts, blog posts, social media toolkits, solidarity statements, videos, MailChimp blasts, memes, infographics, webinars, and petitions that support mobilization of external partners and supporters; 



• Build and leverage relationships for digital amplification of solidarity statements by prominent individual supporters and partners; 


• Draft occasional op-eds, letters to the editor, updates for board meetings or funders, and other materials as requested.

Reporting Duties and Responsibilities:

• Report internally as requested.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Passion for science-based climate recovery and local-low-carbon living and strong commitment to OCT mission.

• A J.D. (active bar licensure is unnecessary).

• Five years experience in organizing for a social justice cause or political candidate and/or in climate or human rights advocacy work.

• An interest in working with youth, families, and diverse partners.

• Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

• Experience working with a small grassroots team in fast-paced advocacy settings.

• Experience working both independently and collaboratively, and a desire to join this team.

• Strong leadership skills and experience managing a small team.

• A good dose of humility, respect for others, open and honest communication skills, and an ability to work well with many passionate people with different backgrounds and personalities.

• Competency working with Microsoft office, social media tools, online sharing, Google drive.

Compensation and Benefits. OCT offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The Public Engagement Director will be compensated commensurate with experience. Employee benefits include employer-paid medical, vision, life, and disability insurance, retirement savings plan with employer match, paid vacation and holidays, and a relaxed work environment (albeit fast-paced).

We welcome, embrace, and respect diversity of people, identities, and cultures. We are committed to fostering an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

To Apply: We seek to grow a diverse staff that represents the diversity of our youth and the diversity of the climate justice movement and encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ, and people of different faiths and national origin to apply. OCT is an equal opportunity employer.

Email the following application materials (all combined into one PDF) to Dorna Baumann, Finance and Human Resources Manager using the REPLY button above:

• letter of interest including salary requirements

• resume

• short writing sample (i.e. call to action, solicitation of support, blog, email to supporters, letter to the editor, etc.)

• list of three references with relationship, email addresses and phone numbers.

Please put “Public Engagement Director Application” in the subject line of your email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Learn more about OCT at our website: www.ourchildrenstrust.org