About Us

Driven by a passion to solve the climate crisis, The Sunrise Project U.S. is a team of experienced change-makers with a mission to scale social movements to drive the global transition beyond fossil fuels. With affiliated programs and staff in Australia, the United States, and across Europe, we have developed a unique model of grant making and campaigning that supports networks of organizations to drive powerful change towards our mission.

We have a dynamic and nimble organizational culture. We’re serious about supporting our people to thrive as we tackle the urgent climate challenge.

We believe that a diversity of experiences and perspectives will help us build stronger strategies, teams and movements. We take the broadest possible view of diversity and encourage First Nations people, people of colour, people living outside of cities, people living with disabilities, neurodiverse, and LGBTQIA+ people to apply. We are continually working on becoming a better workplace for everyone. You can read our commitment to this work here. 

About The Role

The Finance Action Organisers Network (“Finance Action”) is a global network of independent hubs in key finance locations made up of NGOs, grassroots groups, individuals and activists. Together in their local communities, and across the world, Finance Action is uniting for climate justice by building grassroots power to shift major financial institutions away from funding fossil fuels. The Sunrise Project builds the capabilities of Finance Action, supports hubs with funding and technology, and provides guidance on strategies and actions. 

The Coordinator will uplift the work of those they are supporting to connect local communities to the global network to grow a social movement that aims to end fossil fuel funding to address climate change. The North America Coordinator will work with local finance hubs to deliver key elements of work, as well as collaborating on the collective work within Finance Action by: supporting capacity building; connecting mobilizations to sustained powerbuilding; running strategy sessions and planning workshops; connecting trainers to organizers to support local needs; directing funding/grants; and leveraging the exchange of knowledge and skills. 

On a day-to-day basis, the role undertakes a variety of organizing activity from: working with local organizers to share and amplify calls to action; providing training and support on organizing, campaigning and storytelling; supporting and coordinating events and actions; and capturing and sharing lessons learned with the broader global community.  

About You

First and foremost you are a passionate organizer, with hands-on experience helping activists and groups mobilize and organize. You’re an intersectional relationship builder, who engages deeply with others and can bring diverse groups of people along the campaign journey. You believe in horizontal leadership and have a knack for enabling future leaders and empowering activists to take their next step.  

You’re articulate and comfortable presenting and training small to large groups of people, either virtually or face-to-face. You understand the political and economic drivers of social campaigns and can lead, motivate and engage with people across a large network spanning many cities and regions. 

You’re adaptive and responsive to those you are supporting. You understand that organizing from the bottom up ensures local voices and needs are listened to and are reflected in campaigns to help shift people from achieving small wins to gaining wins at scale . You’re an engaging and inclusive storyteller, who believes in the power of sharing local struggles to support global powerbuilding.  

Key Responsibilities

• Strengthening and growing organizing hubs in key financial centers by working with organizations and networks on campaign strategies, plans, timelines, and tactics.

• Identifying local organizing needs and taking action to build their capabilities by delivering training, running workshops, connecting trainers and organizers to each other, directing funding support, and collaborating with hubs in other locations.

• Convening local network meetings and facilitating calls designed to build greater connections and achieve growth in the movement.

• Collaborating with partners and organizers to build, expand, and maintain networks and high level relationships with NGOs, potential partners, grassroots groups, social movements and civil society in key areas.

• Utilizing online and offline tools to share the experiences and learnings, including writing website copy, curating and publishing stories, developing toolkits and trainings.

• Managing budgets, directing funding support and small grants for networks in the United States and Canada.

• Collaborating with the broader Sunrise Project team to identify and support opportunities for synergy across program areas and campaigns to ensure we have the biggest collective impact possible.

• Aligning programmatic strategies and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) with Sunrise’s Values. 

Required skills and experience    

• Significant experience developing and implementing long term organizing and/or campaign strategies in the United States and/or Canada.

• Demonstrated experience in building capabilities and/or supporting groups, networks or coalitions in organizing and running campaigns via training, workshopping, running meetings, coaching new leaders, developing toolkits and sharing learning resources.

• Well-developed cross cultural verbal communication skills including, presentation, training, facilitation, conflict resolution, and influencing skills.

• Strong skills and experience in using digital campaigning and digital tools to mobilize, organize, build momentum and bring about social change.   

• An ability to write engaging content e.g. storytelling skills.

• Flexibility with the ability to pivot and leverage different types of organizing strategies and tactics.

• A collaborative mindset and a proven ability to work effectively in alliance with diverse stakeholders.

• A passion for action on climate change and a commitment to social justice.

Job requirements

• You must have full working rights for the United States or Canada.  The Sunrise Project is unable to sponsor applicants for employment visas.

• Employment background checks may be/are required.

• Intermittent travel with advanced notice will be required.

• COVID-19 vaccinations may apply in accordance with local legislation and/or Sunrise policy

How Sunrise supports its staff:

The Sunrise Project U.S. is committed to creating a workplace that supports our staff to do their best work and develop professionally. We have the following in place to help us achieve that:

• 401(k) & employer match

• 100% employer paid health, vision and dental coverage

• Five weeks of vacation leave

• Birthday leave (if it’s your birthday, you get a day off)

• Cultural & solidarity leave

• Gifted leave (over Christmas and New Year)

• 12 weeks parental leave after 12 months of service

• Employee Assistance Program

• Flexible work policy, including hybrid remote home/office

• Laptop (Mac) and accessories

• Commitment to supporting your professional development (up to $2000 per annum)

• Coaching and management support with regular 1:1 meetings

• Performance reviews and feedback to support you and the team to reflect and grow

• A co-developed initial 3 month work plan to ensure you have clarity on your role and responsibilities

How to apply for this job

We recognize that racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, classism and other forms of discrimination creates structural barriers that impact opportunities to formal education and experience. When assessing candidates we look at more than the jobs you've been paid to do but the range of ways you've picked up skills and knowledge throughout your life. This is why we assess candidates on how well they respond to application questions and don’t require a cover letter.