CTU seeks an energetic, reliable self-starter with strong communications and social skills to work with our 24 local chapters to help engage their membership and communities in conservation and education. Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) is Colorado’s leading fisheries conservation organization with a mission to conserve, protect, and restore coldwater streams and their watersheds.  CTU has state offices located in Denver and 24 local chapters throughout Colorado.  CTU’s focus is on effective grassroots advocacy for river conservation, coupled with on-the-ground volunteer efforts that directly contribute to stream habitat improvement and native trout restoration.

Position Summary:   The Grassroots Coordinator is a full-time position supporting local TU chapters in organizing membership and citizens in support of river conservation and youth education.  The position is focused primarily on strengthening TU’s grassroots capacity and success at the local level – in other words, facilitating local TU chapter success, through training and effective communication, more than directly implementing education and conservation projects. We anticipate the position being based out of the state office in Denver.

The position work plan includes:

Member recruitment/engagement.  Assist Colorado TU chapters – through training (eg, at annual Rendezvous) and site-specific assistance with organization and strategic planning – to strengthen their programs for engaging members in chapter activities and for cultivating volunteer leaders from among newly engaged members.  Help promote and encourage local conservation and education projects to motivate membership and engage community leaders and partners.

Leadership development.  Identify and cultivate prospective new leaders within targeted chapters who wish to engage more deeply on conservation and education, and use engagement on key issues as a vehicle for building chapter capacity.  Assist those new local spokespeople (and existing leaders) in lending public voice to key issues through LTEs, op-eds, and direct outreach to decision-makers at events, public meetings, etc.

West slope “healthy rivers” engagement.  As part of chapter engagement and leadership development, work as a liaison for chapters with TU’s Western Water and Watersheds field staff to educate and engage existing and new grassroots volunteers in support of Colorado River conservation efforts, including promoting TU partnerships with agricultural partners, chapter involvement in local forums including Basin Roundtables, and chapter support for on-the-ground partnership projects.

Youth education support.  Assist local chapters with youth education efforts by connecting them with materials, curricula, and partners that can be used to maximize their success in connecting young people with rivers and conservation. Includes serving as liaison for core CTU youth programs (Stream Explorers, RiverWatch, Trout in the Classroom, National Fishing in Schools Program).  Assist volunteer leaders in coordinating annual Colorado TU Youth River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp.

Liaison with National TU volunteer operations.  Help connect chapters with volunteer operations resources that can assist them in their activities, and ensure that new information from volunteer operations is disseminated to key chapter leaders.

Other duties.   Provide regular and timely content relevant to the above program areas for the Colorado TU blog, website and social media outlets; assist in identification and cultivation of prospective donors that become engaged through these efforts; participate in core Colorado TU events such as the Annual River Stewardship Gala and the Rendezvous.

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

Qualifications:  Strong communication and interpersonal skills.  Previous experience or demonstrated ability in coordinating grassroots campaigns, media relations, community and/or political field organizing.  Dedicated commitment to conservation.  Ability to recruit and manage volunteers. Background knowledge of water resource and fishery issues.  Ability to travel statewide (~ 10-15% of time) and to work weekend and evening hours when needed.  Solid computer and social media related skills.  Also helpful:  experience in delivering youth education programs; experience coordinating special events for community engagement.

Salary Range:  High $30Ks plus excellent benefits, depending upon experience.

To apply, please email cover letter and resume by December 21 to:  David Nickum, Executive Director, Colorado Trout Unlimited, at dnickum@tu.org.   No phone calls please.

TU is an Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer pursuant to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act & Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistant Act. TU hires staff without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.  Please fill out this voluntary form and submit it as an attachment to this email address.