Chapter Director

Job Title: Chapter Director 

Department: Field

Location: Remote within Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties

Reports To: Deputy Regional Field Director, California 

Supervises: Chapter Staff, as applicable. 

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 700 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope:  The Sierra Club Santa Barbara–Ventura Chapter covers a remarkable and diverse landscape — from the National Forest Wilderness areas of the San Ynéz Mountains to Channel Islands National Park in the Santa Barbara Channel. Roughly half the land in our two-county area is federally owned, and our work spans both classic Sierra Club conservation priorities and the urgent urban and energy challenges of a rapidly changing region. Our current priority campaigns include:

• Protecting Federal lands and waters — Keeping public lands in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties open, protected, and free from inappropriate development. Supporting hiking and trail access.

• Transitioning from oil and gas — Advocating for responsible decommissioning of abandoned wells and offshore platforms, and a just transition away from a century-long oil and gas legacy.

• Building a clean energy future — Transforming our regional fossil fuel economy rapidly and equitably through renewable energy and climate advocacy.

• Protecting air and water quality— From defending the Santa Clara watershed to the Santa Maria groundwater, we are fighting to keep pollution out of our air and water, our ocean and creeks, and safeguarding our health and that of our environment.  .

• Food, health, and agriculture — Educating members and the public on sustainable food production and the environmental impacts of consumption choices.

The Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter Director leads the design and implementation of priority campaigns and programs adopted by the Chapter Board. The primary focus of this role is hands-on environmental advocacy, fundraising and supporting volunteer leaders across the chapter’s local groups. This role also supports the Board and volunteer committees, works with the Chapter Treasurer to manage finances, and drives digital communications and member engagement. A key priority is growing and diversifying Chapter membership, including building relationships with university environmental groups and environmental justice advocates. The position requires regular travel across the full chapter area — including Santa Barbara, the Ventura Network, and Conejo — as well as some evening and weekend availability.

Job activities include but are not limited to the following:

1. Advise and support the Chapter Board and volunteer committees in adopting annual strategic, programmatic, and financial goals and priorities, and evaluate progress toward objectives throughout the year. Regularly report to the Chapter Board, staff supervisor, and regional and national Sierra Club campaign staff on chapter progress toward program and organizational development outcomes, and seek their input and guidance as programs are implemented and evaluated.

2. Work with the Chapter Treasurer to develop an annual budget and ensure regular financial tracking and reporting to the Board on financial metrics.

3. Manage chapter staff. Help staff develop annual work plans and conduct regular reviews of progress toward priority outcomes. Meet weekly with each staff member to support progress on specific projects. Review staff time and expense reports weekly for accuracy and required timely submission. Conduct performance appraisals and take personnel actions as appropriate. Provide ongoing coaching and support to staff, and perform other administrative and supervisory functions as needed.

4. Fundraising & Donor Development. Fundraising is a central responsibility of this role. Develop and lead a comprehensive Chapter fundraising program, including: identifying, cultivating, and stewarding individual major donors; implementing a regular and effective donor communications calendar; researching and developing grant proposals; and building a broad membership base through targeted outreach and renewal campaigns. Coordinate with regional and national Sierra Club staff on joint fundraising opportunities. Set and track fundraising goals and report progress to the Board.

5. Volunteer Leadership & Local Group Support. Supporting and developing volunteer leaders is a primary focus of this role. Work closely with the Santa Barbara, Ventura Network, and Conejo local groups to provide hands-on assistance, help develop and execute advocacy and outreach strategies, and strengthen each group’s capacity. Support volunteer leaders in developing and implementing legislative, electoral, and communications campaigns that advance Chapter priorities. Actively grow and diversify Chapter membership by building relationships with university environmental groups, environmental justice advocates, and communities currently underrepresented in the Chapter’s membership.

6. External Relations, Media & Digital Communications. Represent Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter in a wide range of public settings, including meetings with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels; environmental coalition meetings and multi-stakeholder forums; and public hearings, community events, and speaking engagements. Build and maintain strong relationships with elected officials, agency staff, allied organizations, and community leaders to advance the Chapter’s policy priorities and public profile. Coach and prepare volunteer leaders to serve as effective spokespeople in these settings. Lead the Chapter’s digital communications, including managing the website, social media channels, and email marketing program. Support the production and distribution of the Chapter’s award-winning newsletter, The Condor Call, ensuring regular, compelling member communications that grow engagement and support.

7. Regional & National Coordination. Coordinate closely with regional and national Sierra Club staff to ensure full integration between the Chapter, regional field structure, communications and digital outreach teams, and national campaign staff. Ensure that Chapter strategies comply with Sierra Club policies and requirements.

8. Organizational Power Building. Working with volunteer leaders, advance Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter’s shared power-building plan to increase and diversify membership, recruit and engage volunteers, and strengthen existing and new partnerships. Actively support the Chapter’s local groups — including Santa Barbara, Ventura Network, and Conejo — by traveling regularly across the chapter area to meet with and assist volunteer leaders. Lead efforts to re-establish the Arguello Group in northern Santa Barbara County. Cultivate new relationships with university environmental groups and environmental justice organizations to broaden the Chapter’s reach and relevance across the region.

9. Perform other duties as needed or assigned.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following skills, experience, and capacities: 

• Grassroots organizing: Experience in training and motivating volunteer teams; coalition building and lobbying. Demonstrated ability and effectiveness working collaboratively with volunteers, staff, community and other partner organizations.

• Staff management: Experience managing staff, including managing interpersonal and organizational conflict. Demonstrated ability to hire and onboard staff and hold staff accountable.  Experience supporting and coaching staff to develop and execute work plans.

• Fundraising: Demonstrated success in organizational fundraising, including major donor cultivation and stewardship, grant writing, and membership growth programs. Proven ability to set and meet fundraising goals. Experience building a broad and diverse donor base through targeted outreach and relationship-building.

• Communication & Digital Strategy: Excellent written and oral communication skills, including comfort speaking before large and small groups and leading group discussions. Ability to clearly and concisely convey information and to persuade individuals or groups to take action. Demonstrated experience with digital marketing, including email marketing platforms, website content management, and social media. Capacity to manage and grow member communications programs such as newsletters and email campaigns. Active listening and proactive communication style, with a track record of addressing miscommunications promptly and directly.

• Committed to evolution: You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. You easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.

• Issue knowledge: You understand environmental and social justice issues that are relevant and important in California and throughout the region, including public land management, wildlife, and energy; and how these issues may affect Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and other marginalized communities or groups of people in this state. You have applied this issue knowledge in the context of local, state, or federal advocacy. 

• Work Ethic & Collaboration: Proven effectiveness working independently and cooperatively to accomplish complex projects. Ability to manage multiple priorities with limited supervision while maintaining accountability to team goals. Must be willing and able to travel regularly throughout the chapter area, including Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Conejo, to engage with local groups and volunteer leaders.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate some or all of the following experiences, skills and competencies:

• Extensive expertise in federal public land management, wildlife, and energy issues.

• Extensive fundraising experience.

• Working knowledge of tools such as Google suite, Salesforce, NetSuite, Marketing Cloud; or experience with similar tools.

• Working knowledge of social media platforms.

• Experience working with marginalized or underrepresented communities.

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

Deadline for applications is 30 days from posting.

Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.