ElectrifyPDX is hiring a part-time Outreach Coordinator

Status:  Part-time contract position, flexible/variable hours (~24/week): $30/hr

Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Oct. 30, 2024

Contract length: Initial two-month trial period starting as early as Nov. 15th; then one year, renewable for up to five years.

Location: Job is remote, and requires ability to attend in-person community events throughout the Portland metro area

Reports to: ElectrifyPDX Program Manager

About our Program: ElectrifyPDX is a five-year campaign designed to shift public opinion and speed the adoption of clean energy by creating a visible movement of people committed to transitioning their homes away from fossil fuels and old electric.

Our mission is to accelerate the transition to renewable, efficient electric in the Portland metro area’s residential sector, and our program is designed to educate and inspire Portlanders to power their homes with renewable electricity for comfort, ease, health (air quality), reduced utility bills, and climate resilience.

• Educate: We host events, deliver community presentations about the benefits of home electrification, and provide helpful resources such as an electrification-friendly contractor list, a low-income electrification resource directory, a monthly newsletter, and an active Facebook group. ElectrifyPDX is the host of the annual Electrify Portland! Home Electrification Fair, a free, festive, one-day event for homeowners and renters ready to start transitioning their homes from gas (or old electric) to efficient electric.
• Illuminate: ElectrifyPDX is also a non-profit home certification program that helps Portland homeowners and renters go electric and share their journey with neighbors through signage.  Here’s how it works: Sign up for a yard sign and helpful resources. As you clean up your electric supply and electrify each system in your home, apply badges to your sign. Get certified when your home is 100% powered with clean energy!
• Inspire: Updating home energy systems can be a daunting enterprise. People are more likely to take action when they’re part of a team. In addition to our Facebook group, ElectrifyPDX can connect you with others who are going electric in your area.  Program participants are natural ambassadors for home electrification, inspiring their circles of friends. Enthusiastic participants have taken Rewiring America’s training course and have joined the Oregon cohort of home electrification coaches.

Background: The good news is that today there are more financial resources available than ever to help people upgrade their homes, improve indoor air safety, increase comfort, reduce utility bills, and lower carbon emissions. Portland also has a wealth of local, community-based non-profits administering a medley of programs to assist with these upgrades. But many households who are eligible for assistance to make their homes more energy-efficient, safe and comfortable are not aware of the programs available to them or that there are quality local contractors ready to help. We are expanding our efforts to connect Portland’s energy-burdened low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents, and landlords, with all the local, state, and federal programs designed to help them make energy improvements to their homes.

About the Role: To grow our culturally-appropriate outreach and education capacity, ElectrifyPDX is contracting with a dedicated outreach coordinator at roughly 24 hours/week. The coordinator will meet people where they are, both physically and culturally, tabling at fairs, and presenting to neighborhood associations, faith communities, schools, employee groups and more. There will be a specific focus on organizations working with low/moderate income residents, connecting them with information about community solar, rebates, incentives, and low/no-cost programs that can help people upgrade their homes.

This person will strengthen relationships with partners and identify outreach opportunities, schedule events, coordinate logistics, tailor presentation materials for various audiences, give presentations, and promote engagement through our social media platforms. Additionally, the outreach coordinator will work closely with our program manager and our community partners on direct outreach to individuals and families. Our goal will be to attend 20 community events and present to 20-30 community groups annually, in addition to the electrification fairs we host.

Contract Program Manager Responsibilities will include the following: 

• Create and maintain relationships with community partners
• Identify outreach opportunities, schedule presentations, maintain an event calendar, and coordinate logistics
• Present to community groups, nonprofits, and other organizations to build awareness of efficient electrification and the ElectrifyPDX program (approx. 20-30 events/year, requiring evening and weekend flexibility)
• Table at community events, such as Sunday Parkways (approx. 20 events a year, requiring evening and weekend flexibility)
• Work with our program manager to develop and tailor presentation materials for various audiences
• Help field interview requests from media organizations (TV, newspaper, radio…)
• Promote engagement and attendance at events through social media channels
• Work closely with community partners to conduct direct outreach to individuals and families on their mailing lists

Key Qualifications & Experience: If you feel that you are lacking experience in one of the areas below, please apply anyway. We are looking to find a person with great energy so we can grow together.

• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, and ability to engage many audiences — specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.
• Commitment to ElectrifyPDX’s mission, with an appreciation for the role of community organizing in promoting electrification and BIPOC-centered movement building.
• Desire to take the Rewiring America Home Electrification Coach course and learn how to field basic questions about home electrification
• Strong time management and organizational skills including experience overseeing and managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Experience with social media, writing blog posts, email, spreadsheets and docs, basic web editing using a CMS such as Squarespace or Worpdress

Preferred but not required:

• Spanish fluency
• Basic graphic design skills (i.e. Canva)
• Life experience with people from many different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds

 

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter by 5pm on October 30th to electrifypdxinfo@gmail.com with the subject line “Outreach Coordinator”

In your cover letter please respond to these questions:

1. What excites you most about ElectrifyPDX’s mission?
2. What are your skills and experiences (personal and professional) that would contribute to your success in this work?