Summary Job Description

Protect Our Water Heritage Rights (POWHR) is hiring a part-time Volunteer Coordinator for our Mountain Valley Watch (MVWatch) project (32 hours per week) who will work with partner organizations (Virginia Organizing, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Wild Virginia, Appalachian Voices, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, Southern Environmental Law Center and others), key staff, community and volunteers in planning, coordinating and enacting operations in: recruiting and training volunteers for water monitoring and visual assessment of the Mountain Valley Pipeline construction sites for potential violations and pollution incidents. This position will provide directly impacted residents and advocates with a network and means to move from concern to action on climate and environmental justice.

MVWatch Coordinator Responsibilities include:

  • Developing and maintaining a volunteer base for monitoring; including outreach and support to existing volunteers, reactivating lapsed and enlisting new volunteers;
  • Coordination of regular monitoring events and/or calls to action, including: notification of volunteer base around weather events, construction updates, special areas of issue, etc.; 
  • Communication to/with our volunteer network: regular outreach, updates, calls to action, notification of education opportunities, and creation of community/team atmosphere;
  • Coordination with other groups/coalitions as appropriate;
  • Collaboration with allied organizations and partners on educational opportunities, volunteer recruitment and training;
  • Planning, in collaboration, a VioBlitz mass volunteer effort to monitor for violations along the MVP route;
  • Collection and organization of volunteer data and records maintenance, including Mountain Valley Watch resources, and instruction for volunteers on how to report their data;
  • Closely monitoring state and federal permitting agency actions including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dockets, Virginia DEQ and West Virginia DEP databases;
  • Reporting, and assisting volunteers with reporting potential violations to the appropriate state and/or federal agencies; tracking the number and nature of reports filed in WV and VA.

Qualifications and Skills:

  • Professional demeanor, excellent interpersonal skills with emphasis on flexibility and listening, and including ability to work with all socioeconomic levels of groups and organizations;
  • Self-starter, independent working and time management skills and willingness to learn;
  • Familiarity and/or experience with water monitoring, environmental violations, and the MVP fight is preferable;
  • Comfort with and passion for being in an educational/training/organizing role;
  • Technology skills including facility with Google Workspace, WordPress, Trello, Zoom, social media, and collaborative software and applications is preferred;
  • Excellent critical thinking, verbal, and written communication skills, including facilitation experience;
  • Familiarity with the distinctive social and historical  aspects of Appalachia;
  • Experience in working with a wide variety of volunteers, diverse populations, community leaders and staff;
  • Willingness to be flexible with time, to work evenings and weekends, and to travel, including but not limited to Virginia and West Virginia, within the parameters of health guidelines from state and federal agencies;
  • Residency in Virginia or West Virginia is required; 
  • Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation is required.

The position is funded for one year at the rate of $25.00 per hour up to 32 hours per week with potential for renewal following annual review and pending continued funding. All paid staff working on a Joint Plan of Work must be employees of Virginia Organizing, subject to Virginia Organizing’s Personnel Policies, including mileage and work-related cost reimbursements. Successful candidates will be committed to the mission of POWHR and Virginia Organizing and motivated to join a team of dedicated, compassionate, fun, capable and creative colleagues. Please send a resume and contact information for three references to apply@powhr.org. A cover letter is optional. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2023.