Central Valley Community Organizer
Summary
The Central Valley Community Organizer will be central to the success of the Tuolumne River Trust (TRT) in achieving its goal of restoring the ecological health of the lower Tuolumne River. The Community Organizer will coordinate and support efforts to improve instream flows, advance habitat restoration projects, and promote sustainable agriculture and groundwater management in Stanislaus County.
Information
The Tuolumne River Trust is staffed by committed people who want to see the Tuolumne River and its surrounding communities thrive. The Community Organizer will report to TRT’s Policy Director and coordinate closely with the Central Valley Program Director and Habitat Restoration Specialist. This is a great opportunity to join a fun, energetic team that continues to build on a forty-year history of successful campaigns.
Equity at TRT
TRT holds a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, diversity, and access as core principles integral to the work we do. As we add new members across all levels of the organization, we welcome diverse perspectives and lived experiences that foster learning, creativity, innovation, and equity.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Help lead TRT’s efforts to revive the Tuolumne River by promoting and advocating for higher instream flows, sustainable surface and groundwater management, and ambitious habitat restoration projects. • Build alliances with conservation and fishing groups, community activists, and other like-minded individuals and organizations.
• Strengthen relationships with irrigation districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, local cities, Stanislaus County, and other public agencies.
• Communicate TRT’s work to the broader public, and recruit and engage advocates and supporters. • Establish and manage a volunteer-based riverkeeper program.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of local and State water policy related to river health. • Support TRT’s efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, wise land use planning, and riverside community development.
• Promote urban and agricultural water conservation and the use of recycled water. • Help build TRT’s support base in Stanislaus County.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in environmental stewardship or a related field.
• At least two years of relevant experience.
• Basic knowledge of California water policy and environmental science.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop relationships with a wide variety of people.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to work independently, but also a good team player.
• Familiarity with Stanislaus County a plus.
• Spanish speaking is desirable but not required.
Location and Travel
This position is located in our Modesto, California office. Most work and meetings will take place in Stanislaus County, with occasional travel to Sacramento, the Bay Area, and the Sierra Nevada.
Additional Details
TRT is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse staff of qualified, highly-skilled, and creative individuals is necessary to achieve our vision and mission. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our workforce across a range of dimensions.
The salary range for the position is $44,000 to $60,000, depending on qualifications. TRT provides an excellent benefits package:
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Retirement plan with a 3% employer match
• After a probationary period, two weeks paid vacation per year with an additional week each year of employment to a maximum of 4 weeks per year.
• 17 paid holidays
• 12 days of paid sick leave per year
• Long-term disability coverage
• Employer-paid $10,000 life insurance policy
• three weeks of Paid Parental Leave for employees with at least two years of employment • Flexible work schedule
To Apply
Please send an email with a cover letter, resume, and writing sample as attachments with the subject heading “Central Valley Community Organizer” to jobs@tuolumne.org. This position will remain open until a candidate has been selected.
Tuolumne River Trust Background
The Tuolumne River Trust promotes the stewardship of the Tuolumne River and its tributaries to ensure a healthy watershed from Yosemite National Park, through the San Joaquin Valley, to the San Francisco Bay-Delta. Founded in 1981, the Trust is the only organization working throughout the watershed, linking Sierra and Valley conservation issues and forging strong ties between rural mountain and valley regions and urban Bay Area communities. The Trust has 19 employees working out of offices in San Francisco, Modesto, and Sonora.
TRT’s programs include: a) engaging in the federal relicensing of Don Pedro Dam, which regulates stream flows in the lower Tuolumne River, and the State Water Board’s update of the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan, aimed at improving river flows for fish and wildlife in the lower Tuolumne River; b) improving water management policies in the Bay Area and Central Valley to promote river restoration goals while supporting healthy economies and communities; c) restoring floodplains, riparian forests and other habitats along the lower Tuolumne River, and conifer forests, meadows, and streams in the Sierra Nevada; d) building public support for watershed stewardship by connecting people to the River through education, outreach, and adventures; and e) educating schoolchildren about the importance of the Tuolumne River to our region.
By linking mountain, valley, and Bay Area conservation issues and connecting people to the river through outings and education, the Trust is building broad support for watershed stewardship. Our strategic approach melds advocacy, education, collaboration, scientific inquiry, and litigation when necessary to address threats and take advantage of conservation and restoration opportunities. For more information about the Tuolumne River Trust, visit: www.tuolumne.org.