About the job Mining Program Director
Earthworks’ Mining Program Director reports to the Executive Director and oversees all aspects of our Mining Program including strategy, policy, fundraising, communications, budget and staff management.
Responsibilities include:
Strategy: set and implement overall strategic direction for the Mining Program in line with Earthworks’ 5 Year Strategic plan and collaboration with the Mining Team, the Executive Director, and other members of the Leadership Team.
Facilitate Mining Program planning and support the development of annual and campaign plans, ensuring that near-term plans and ongoing strategies are aligned with the long-term vision and Earthworks’ mission.
Engage with Earthworks’ Leadership Team to ensure harmonization of plans within and across teams while building a positive, anti-racist work culture and well-managed organizational systems.
Respond to opportunities as they arise and maintain Earthworks’ strategic position as a recognized authority in policy and advocacy related to mining.
Update the board on strategic developments and incorporate direction from the board and ED in ongoing activities.
Support and/or manage senior leadership in the Mining Team to ensure cohesion between campaigns, policy opportunities, place-based efforts, corporate accountability, and communications.
Ensure Earthworks’ Mining Program strategy aligns with the Jemez Principles and the principles of environmental justice, and delivers to Earthworks’ 5 Year Strategic Plan.
Uphold Earthworks's values of challenging and dismantling systemic oppression while standing with frontline communities.
Management: manage Mining Program staff and budget, ensuring a work culture that aligns with our vision and values.
Ensure that Mining Team managers and their staff are working towards goals, meeting commitments to donors, and that the team members are working within their capacity while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Manage the overall Mining Program budget, support budget managers on the Mining Team to effectively manage their team’s budgets and ensure we are managing grant budgets efficiently.
With the Leadership Team, encourage, develop, and facilitate systems and processes to ensure the team is functioning effectively and that communication and collaboration across teams is organized and well aligned.
Ensure that Mining Team managers and their staff are operating according to Earthworks’ personnel policies and are effectively supported and supervised.
In collaboration with all staff, support a healthy internal working environment at Earthworks, including actively and constantly working to dismantle racism and other systems of oppression.
Provide support and mentorship to managers and their staff to ensure the Mining Program is fulfilling our organizational DEI commitments, including practicing the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing internally and in our program work.
Fundraising: collaborate with Philanthropy Director, Executive Director and team members to lead the Mining Team’s fundraising efforts, develop a sustainable fundraising strategy for the Mining Program and strengthen the organization’s culture of philanthropy
Promote the culture of philanthropy by embracing donors as partners in the mission and encouraging Mining Team members’ participation in fundraising.
Collaborate with the philanthropy team to build strong relationships with foundations and individual donors, including participating in donor meetings and solicitations.
Develop fundraising goals and plans together with other Mining Team members to meet program aspirations that include securing equitable funding to support under-resourced frontline and grassroots partners’ participation in joint campaigns.
Ensure that the Philanthropy Team has the information needed to develop proposals, reports, periodic updates, and impact stories to share with donors. Assist in drafting and reviewing materials as needed.
Hold team members accountable to meet funding deadlines, requirements, and grant deliverables.
Collaborate with the Communications and Philanthropy Teams to provide reliable, timely stories and reports to ensure the active engagement of our supporters through our engagement ladder.
Collaborate with the Philanthropy Team to develop and implement a fundraising plan that supports the sustainability of all aspects of the Mining Team.
Communications: collaborate with the Communications Director, Communications Team, and Mining Team to ensure that Earthworks’ Mining Program objectives are communicated consistently and effectively to the public.
Act as a spokesperson for Earthworks’ Mining Program along with other team members, and actively work with other team members to develop and enhance spokesperson skills.
Maintain an understanding of our current talking points, materials, and key messages and ensure team members are also prepared to communicate about Earthworks and its policy objectives.
With the Communications Team, create and maintain relationships with key reporters and influencers covering our issues.
In collaboration with the Communications and Mining Teams, support the development and implementation of communications strategies and goals, while recognizing the importance of strengthening Earthworks' organizational identity.
Work with the Communications Team to ensure equity, justice, and frontline voices are centered in our approach to external communications, particularly with respect to grassroots groups and marginalized communities.
Policy & Partnerships: collaborate with the Policy Director, Policy Team, and Mining Team members to set bold and enforceable policy objectives for the Mining Program.
Ensure Earthworks’ participation in relevant fora to advance Earthworks’ policy objectives (e.g., diverse grassroots networks, coalitions, collaboratives, legislative and regulatory hearings, international fora, multilateral fora, etc.).
Support Policy Team and Mining Team in the development of strategies to educate and influence policy makers as well as to develop policy, where appropriate.
Ensure that policy and partnership goals are built on/around the principles of environmental and climate justice.
About Earthworks
Founded in 1988, Earthworks advocates alongside frontline communities to oppose harmful oil, gas, and hardrock mining extraction while promoting policy solutions that hold polluters accountable. Earthworks stands for clean air, water, and land, healthy communities, and corporate accountability. We work for solutions that protect both the Earth’s resources and our communities. Earthworks employs approximately 50 staff who work remotely.
Earthworks is committed to challenging and dismantling systemic oppression. Earthworks’ board and staff understand that promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) both within and beyond Earthworks is critical to carrying out our mission to protect communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of resource extraction. We understand that our commitment to DEI means a dedication to constant learning and improvement.
Earthworks welcomes applications from diverse candidates and is an equal-opportunity employer. Earthworks evaluates employees and applicants for employment on merit, competence, and qualifications and does not tolerate discrimination.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Earthworks we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Must-Have Qualifications
Earthworks’ Mining Program Director will support a dynamic team committed to addressing the challenges facing communities on the frontlines of the impacts from extraction. The Mining Program Director will have the following qualifications:
At least 10 years of relevant experience including at least 5 years senior management or supervisory experience, ideally of a remote/virtual team.
Demonstrated ability in developing and executing successful organizational strategies.
Excellence in talent management with the ability to foster effective communication and collaboration, including an interest in coaching, guiding, conflict management, and mentoring staff.
The proven ability to inspire, motivate, and lead high-functioning multidisciplinary and international teams.
Solid organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, program development, and development and management of programs and budgets.
The ability to give and receive formal and informal feedback in a constructive, respectful, and consistent manner and to incorporate monitoring, evaluation, and learning into the team’s operations.
Exceptional political instincts coupled with substantial knowledge of relevant international and national policy, politics, and the dynamics of relevant institutions.
Professional experience working with frontline communities in the U.S. and/or abroad to develop successful advocacy campaigns and/or policy changes in a collaborative and participative manner.
Substantial experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management across a diverse set of constituencies, cultural backgrounds, and perspectives.
Knowledge of the social and environmental impacts of the mining industry, mining policies, mining development, and/or best practices for mining.
Understanding of the potential inequities and injustices of the transition away from fossil fuel reliance particularly on Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities in the Global South, including a working understanding of concepts related to the just transition, demand reduction, and circular economy principles.
Understanding of the legal frameworks that codify the rights of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination and Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
Appreciates and embraces diverse cultures and perspectives.
Experience working within, leading, and negotiating with coalitions, often with goals and ideals that don’t neatly align.
A track record of successful engagement with philanthropy.
A commitment to continued self-assessment, learning, and growth. This includes adapting to cultural change and a commitment to furthering equity, diversity, and inclusion within an organization.
High levels of emotional intelligence.
Preferred Experience and Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability in designing and leading successful corporate advocacy campaigns.
Experience working with and advocating for strong corporate standards, both voluntary and binding.
Additional language fluency in Spanish, French, Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese or other languages.
Commitment to freedom of association in the workplace.
Location, Travel, and COVID-19
Location for this position is remote in the United States. Frequent domestic and international travel is required for this position. Employees who are unable to travel/attend in-person meetings for health or disability reasons may request accommodations. Earthworks’ COVID-19 policies prioritize the health and safety of our employees and the need to minimize the public health threat from COVID-19.
Earthworks requires all those hired to provide proof of full vaccination (vaccination and booster) against COVID-19. New hires who have disabilities that make the vaccine medically inadvisable or those who have a sincere religious belief that the vaccine is impermissible may request an accommodation by contacting Lezlie Griffin, Director of Talent and Equity, at lgriffin@earthworks.org. Accommodation will be provided only as required by applicable law.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $142,000-$153,000 annually, depending on experience. Earthworks provides full-time staff with a competitive package of benefits, including employer-paid medical, vision, dental, life, and disability insurance. Additionally, Earthworks offers unlimited paid leave, paid parental leave, and a 403(b) retirement plan (with a 5% match after one year of employment). After five years of employment, staff are eligible for a 12-week, fully paid sabbatical.
Bargaining Unit Status
Earthworks is a union workplace; our employees are represented by Earthworkers Unite/ Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) San Francisco GMB. This position is excluded from the bargaining unit.
How to Apply
We strongly encourage and seek applications from people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and bilingual individuals. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that applicants with disabilities may participate in the application and interview process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.
Apply online at https://www.careers-page.com/earthworks-2/job/L56YW39R, including a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. The application deadline is March 21, 2025. No emails or phone calls please.
Qualified applicants can expect to complete three stages: an initial phone interview, two virtual panel interviews, and a virtual final interview. We’ll also request a list of three professional references after the second stage of the interview process.