Maine Labor Climate Council

Director of External Organizing

Based in Maine

 

Position Description: Maine Labor Climate Council seeks a dynamic and passionate Director of External Organizing who will support affiliated unions’ efforts to develop organizing strategies that raise working conditions and lift the voices of working people and impacted communities in clean energy sectors across the state.

About MLCC: MLCC is a coalition of twenty labor unions and labor organizations united in our mission of tackling the climate crisis while reversing inequality. We seek to develop the labor movement’s vision for how to tackle these crises in a way that creates union jobs in Maine, reduces carbon emissions and economic inequality, and provides a meaningful seat at the table for workers and unions in this process.

Responsibilities & Duties: Working in close coordination with MLCC’s Executive Director and elected leadership of affiliated unions, the Director of External Organizing will:

• Support the development of multi-union campaigns to raise labor standards and grow union market share in clean energy sectors such as solar, wind battery storage, heat pumps, and weatherization;
• Work to create a strong culture of organizing at MLCC by building deep relationships with unions leaders and members, and by running campaigns across the organization that include high levels of participation from union members and leaders;
• Add capacity for participating unions to execute campaign tactics such as: building cases for strategic enforcement, pulling certified payroll, working with comms staff to help publish news stories and other public communications that lift up stories of good actors and hold bad actors accountable, and other tactical support;
• Coordinate with strategic researchers, participating unions, workers, and MLCC field staff to gather usable information about pay, benefits, and working conditions on Maine clean energy projects;
• Coordinate with participating unions, partner organizations, and field staff on MLCC’s emerging Mobile Homes Initiative, which seeks to address the cost-of-living crisis by organizing residents of Maine mobile home parks into co-operatives and lower utility bills by installing whole-home heat pumps with union labor;
• Coordinate trainings with national partners to prepare union members and allies to be effective organizers and to take action in meaningful ways to develop and win campaigns.
• Play a lead role in developing popular education materials, presentations and workshops that will accompany our campaigns and help union members have a deeper understanding of the overlapping climate and inequality crises.
• Work with the Executive Director and other staff to support the overall work of the organization including preparing for meetings, formalizing and building out the coalition, deepening relationships with relevant unions and allies and more.

Qualifications and Skills: The successful Director of External Organizing should be an experienced, passionate advocate for a progressive economic agenda, a deep believer in the power of unions to lead on economic and climate issues, and committed to meet the existential threat of both climate change and inequality with bold, transformative solutions, and also have:

• Substantial experience in labor, grassroots and/or community organizing, campaigns, or related experience;
• Experience working with building trades unions, members and leaders is highly desired;
• Solid understanding of power dynamics in clean energy sectors, including relationships between developers/end-users, contractors & subcontractors, and workers;
• Strong experience with relational organizing, one on one organizing practice, using organizing to power campaigns and a deep commitment to leadership development
• Knowledge of comprehensive campaigning fundamentals, including power analysis, coalition-building, member field work, messaging, legislative/policy work, and strategic research;
• Commitment to building the labor movement and advancing MLCC’s mission; knowledge of and experience with the labor movement and local unions is helpful;
• Knowledge of climate and clean energy issues is helpful, but not required;
• Ability to develop and execute a work plan and meet key deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written skills;
• Access to a vehicle for field work-related travel;
• Willingness to work occasionally in the evenings and weekends according to the timing of key campaign trainings and events (MLCC has a flex time policy to compensate for such effort)

This is a full time, salaried position that will operate both remotely and in person according to the needs and rhythm of Maine-based campaign field work. Pay is commensurate with experience. Pay range: $66,000 - $75,000. We offer a generous benefits package including 100% employee & family healthcare coverage, employer-matched retirement contributions, 15 paid vacation days in addition to federal holidays and 10 paid sick days.

To Apply:
Please send a cover letter and résumé to Francis Eanes at francis@mainelaborclimate.org with Director of External Organizing in the subject line. Position is open until filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply by May 23rd, 2025.