Field Associate, Environment New Mexico's Fellowship Program – Albuquerque, NM
Organization: Environment America
Position Title: Field Associate
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Hours & Compensation: Full-time. As a fellow with Environment America or one of our state affiliates, you’ll earn $23,750-$24,000 in your first year and $24,500 -$25,500 in your second year.
Position Dates: Two-year fellowship, to start in August 2013.
Application Deadline: None posted.
Posted On: March 15, 2013.
Organization Overview:
Environment New Mexico works to advance the environmental vision and values we share. Drawing on a strong track record of success, and the support of thousands of citizen members, we organize the support it takes to stand up to polluting industries and ultimately sweep past them.
The results of our work include a new clean car standard that means New Mexico residents are breathing easier, and contributing less to the pollution that fuels global warming, a 20-year moratorium on new uranium mining on the borders of the Grand Canyon, and clean water protections for 29 lakes, 700 miles of rivers and streams and 6,000 acres of wetlands across New Mexico.
But let’s not fool ourselves: There is so much more to do. Our environment faces multiple challenges and opportunities, nowhere more so than in New Mexico.
Description:
Environment New Mexico’s field associate will build the public and political support we need to protect New Mexico’s environment. Whether it is the oil and gas industry, mining companies, developers or utilities, we face powerful opposition. To overcome that opposition we need to build people power – gaining media attention and the support of broad-based coalitions, informing the public and mobilizing citizens to take grassroots action. Our field associate will build this power by developing district-level networks of key constituencies, experts, media, and activists, and mobilizing that network to take action on our top campaigns, including:
- Go Solar New Mexico: New Mexico ranks second in the country in terms of solar potential, but not even in the top 20 for solar production. Despite this abundant resource, the state is still heavily dependent on dirty energy sources; New Mexico gets 60-70% of its electricity from coal and about 20% from natural gas. And the oil and gas industries are major players in politics, policy, and regulation here, with a major presence in the capitol. We have taken some steps in the right direction, but we can and need to do a lot more. Environment New Mexico is working to change the conversation by building broad public support throughout the state, from local elected officials to business owners to health care providers to average, every day New Mexicans. We will leverage this support to increase our solar production to 10% by 2020.
- Save Otero Mesa: Otero Mesa is a beautiful grassland in southern New Mexico that is home to pronghorn antelope, mountain lions and eagles. It is the same size as Grand Canyon and is located in the middle of traditional Apache lands. The Mesa also sits above the state’s last untapped drinking water source. Despite its importance, it’s currently open to natural gas drilling and hard-rock mining. In fact, a multinational corporation, Geovic, wants to make a quick buck exploiting Otero Mesa’s resources. Our goal is to not only stop drilling and mining on Otero Mesa, but to permanently protect it. To do that, we need to mobilize our existing supporters in southern New Mexico while engaging New Mexicans across the state in calling for these protections.
Environment America’s Fellowship Program:
Fighting for the environment is the challenge of a lifetime. Yet so many recent college graduates aren’t sure where to start.
Each year, we hire a college graduate who – like you – has the passion, the commitment and the talent it takes to stand up to polluting industries, organize support and fight for our environmental values.
Our Fellowship Program is a two-year immersion in the nuts and bolts of environmental activism, organizing, advocacy and the type of organization-building necessary for the long haul.
Since Environment New Mexico is also part of Environment America, a national federation of state-based groups, as a fellow you’ll have the opportunity to work with, and learn from, our national staff and staff from other states, take part in national campaigns and national trainings, and travel to Washington, D.C. for a national lobby day.
Read more about the Fellowship Program, including a week in the life of a fellow, here.
Learn by doing
Working with Environment New Mexico’s Director Sanders Moore and other senior staff, you will plan and run grassroots campaigns, lobby lawmakers, publish op-eds, set up and speak at news conferences, organize town hall meetings, run citizen outreach campaigns, identify new members, raise money, recruit and manage staff and much more.
Gain the experience you need to lead
After two years, you will have undergone rigorous training, gained invaluable hands-on experience, and taken on more responsibility than you thought possible.Best of all, you will be ready to take on a greater leadership role with Environment New Mexico, another state affiliate, or Environment America. You might even start a new state affiliate or launch a new program.
Qualifications:
We are seeking candidates ready to commit themselves to fighting for the environment. Being a fellow is not for everybody. It is tough, demanding and the challenges never stop. We look for smarts, leadership experience, top-notch written and verbal skills and an eagerness to learn. We value experience organizing, including building campus groups.
How to Apply: Complete your application online here.
Contact Information:
Environment America, http://www.environmentamerica.org
For questions: [email protected]
