Program Assistant – Online Outreach

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Job Title: Program Assistant – Online Outreach

Department: Conservation/Online Organizing

Location: San Francisco, CA

Reports to: Conservation Department Data Manager

Context: Works with volunteers and staff to insure they have appropriate access, support, and training to Sierra Club systems for electronic communications and online organizing opportunities to club members, volunteers/activists, and potential activists. Assists the Online Organizing Director in planning and implementing strategies for effective use of electronic communications tools, and for making those tools available to chapter users.

Scope: The Program Assistant assists staff and volunteers in using Club systems for electronic communications with members, volunteers, and activists through fulfilling operational requests, training, and helping users with specific questions as they arise. Works with IT staff to oversee and maintain user accounts on the systems and to implement data transfers. Provides service to Sierra Club staff in SF, DC, and the Field, to chapter staff and to volunteer leaders who have authorization to use club electronic communications systems.

Job Activities:

1. Works with the Conservation Department Data Manager, the Online Organizing Director, Regional Online Organizers, the other Program Assistants for EOS, and the web team to develop a general plan for making the Club's electronic outreach system available to chapters and groups.

2. Designs procedures and forms so chapter and group staff and volunteers can submit operational requests. Assists with drafting and designing both overall training syllabi and specific training session agendas for the club's new electronic communications platform.

3. Works with chapter staff and volunteers to devise and implement effective email and web outreach strategies. This will include:

a. Reviewing email messages for quality.

b. Working to schedule the timing of messages so they do not overlap with other communications.

c. Giving advice on more effective ways to achieve campaign goals.

d. Preparing messages to be sent, or web pages to be published.

4. Works with the Outreach Systems/Label Desk Manager, the Conservation Department Data Manager, the Online Organizing Director, and the web team to revise, arrange, and conduct trainings on effective electronic communications with our members, volunteers, activists, and volunteer-prospects—covering both basic campaign strategy guidance and specific details about the club systems.

5. Assists the Online Organizing Director in designing a strategy for effective use of electronic communications by using a combination of procedures, trainings, support materials, presentations, and other methods to help chapter users understand that strategy.

6. Undertakes a variety of tasks to assist new chapters with use of Club electronic outreach systems. Builds basic templates for messages and web pages. Transfers data into or out of electronic outreach system as needed. Creates new user accounts on electronic communications systems. Checks to be sure users are appropriately authorized for access.

7. Serves as first point of contact for staff and volunteers who need help with Club electronic outreach systems. Responds to operational requests by creating email messages and web pages using the clubs electronic communications systems. Answers questions from staff and volunteers about the use of Club systems for electronic communications with volunteers and activists or relays those questions to other staff within the Club. Advises users on most effective ways to accomplish particular tasks and helps solve problems that individual users have with the system. Recognizes and forwards reports of possible bugs to programmers.

8. Assists the Online Organizing Director in developing a set of "best practices" for use of Club electronic outreach systems. Disseminates those practices by updating club web pages. Helps design additional strategies to share the best practices with club users.

9. Reviews reports of usage of electronic communications systems. Contacts users to improve understanding of the system and correct errors. Analyzes reports to identify common problems with the usage of the systems and to determine ways in which training and other support can be improved. Participates in ongoing consultation on development of electronic communications systems and of club activist and volunteer databases.

10. Provides backup support to Regional Online Organizers and Campaign Online Organizers—helping to prepare email messages or web pages as needed.

11. Understands the full array of Club data and communications systems and support (including club databases of members and volunteers, electronic communications systems, databases of members of the general public, and Club list and label production systems) and works with users to properly identify the most appropriate tool to use for any specific task.

12. Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills:

-- Familiarity with data management/online organizing tools. Basic knowledge of HTML desirable but not required.

-- Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills. Good written communication skills.

-- Strong organizational skills; detail oriented.

-- Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team to set priorities and identify and resolve problem situations.

-- Demonstrated initiative, good organizational and prioritizing skills.

-- Ability to interact effectively with staff and volunteers at all levels.

-- Able to travel for club business occasionally (less than 5 trips per year).