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Looking to get more involved with SustainUS? Take on a leadership position in the organization! If you are committed to SustainUS, and want to help, there is a place for you!
General Position Info: These roles generally require about 5 hours per week of work, unless otherwise noted. Aside from two in-person retreats and optional conferences per year, all ongoing work is done via teleconference and through the Internet. All positions are a year in length and officially begin after the summer leadership retreat. All positions listed below are unpaid. We do ask that you honestly assess what kind of commitment you can make. If you know it's going to be a really busy year for you, consider taking a role with less responsibility. On the other hand, if you're looking for a great leadership role where you can really test your abilities, learn a lot, and have a chance to shine (and make a big difference!), than run for a Steering Committee job! And don't be intimidated by any of the positions - there will be continued mentorship with the previous leaders, particularly during the first few months. If you are unsure about where you might best fit within the organization, please contact us! We would be happy to talk with you.
Eligibility: Any SustainUS voting member may run for any position. All positions are self-nominated. A voting member is anyone 13-26 who has been on the SustainUS mailing list for at least 6 months and/or has been involved in any of the past four delegations (COP '09 through CSD '10). A Steering Committee member may turn 26 during his/her tenure, but must be at least 13 when her/his job starts.
Nomination and Election: To nominate yourself, please send a short bio (under 200 words) to Kyle Gracey that explains your interest in the position and why you are a good candidate. Please also include your full name, date of birth, phone number, and previous experience with SustainUS (if any). Nominations are open until June 6 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Voting will occur June 16 through 23 at 7:30 a.m. EDT. You may run for more than one position. It is possible, though not preferable, to hold more than one position at the same time, so long as only one is on the Steering Committee. If you have any questions, please contact Kyle at the email address above.
Steering Committee Positions:
Other Leadership Positions:
Feel free to contact the current leaders with any questions about the positions.
CHAIR:
The Chair is the coordinator of SustainUS as a whole. The job was originally created as an organizational "bottom liner." That doesn't mean you have much extra decision-making authority, but it does mean, ultimately, that when the organization as a whole makes a decision, any decision, the buck stops with you. As such, your job is essentially to make sure everyone else is doing their jobs, and to make quick organizational decisions in emergencies. That entails keeping tabs on SustainUS activities, focusing the organization on its goals, helping individual Steering Committee members set and achieve their own goals, and making sure our legal and financial compliance is in order. This involves accepting direction from the broader SustainUS membership and, at the same time, using your unique vantage point on the organization to help the membership and Steering Committee make key decisions. In a concrete sense, you will set the agenda for Steering Committee conference calls and the Board of Directors conference calls, keep track of outstanding work that needs to be done, and handle lots of email. The Chair follows up with every officer, providing assistance and adjusting leadership roles and responsibilities as needed. The Chair also acts as the public face of SustainUS where the status of a leader or director is necessary, representing the organization to the media, potential partners, governments, NGOs, funders and members. As a member of the Board of Directors, the Chair accepts legal and fiduciary responsibility for the organization's actions.
Fun because: It is a huge challenge, and after running an NGO for a year, you'll be undaunted by other professional challenges! You get to meet great people inside and outside of the organization.
Great for: Someone who has been involved in SustainUS leadership and is prepared to give at least 30 hours per week, and more during busy times. The Chair must be committed, strategic, and accessible.
Current Chair: Kyle Gracey
SECRETARY:
The Secretary takes part in all Steering Committee conference calls, takes notes, and distributes notes. He or she also archives notes and other documents and acts as the organization's historian by keeping track of major accomplishments and events and partnerships and sign-on statements. Other administrative tasks such as maintenance of contact lists may also fall to the Secretary. The Secretary, along with the Chairperson and Treasurer serves on the Board of Directors as well as the Steering Committee, and thus serves as a liaison between these two directive bodies. The Secretary schedules and takes minutes for all Board of Directors calls, and communicates with Board members to ensure their participation.
Fun because: The position is very flexible; the Secretary can be involved in a number of issues or tasks at any given time.
Great for: Someone new to SustainUS with an interest in learning more about leadership, and a desire to get more involved, or a more experienced person who wants to get involved in a little of everything.
Current Secretary: Ben Wessel
TREASURER:
Constructing yearly budgets and allocating money for recurring expenses. Managing cash flow projections. Providing reimbursements to members and payments to vendors. Managing relationships with bank and other investments. Filing yearly tax return on time. Ensuring donors receive prompt thank you and tax verification of their donations. Designing and executing fundraising campaigns in the absence of a fundraising coordinator. Serving on the Board of Directors. Providing financial updates to Board of Directors and grantmakers.
- employee payroll; ensuring prompt employee payment and determining tax withholding %s
- quarterly IRS tax reporting
- completing and filing W2s and W3s
Fun because: Responsibilities are straightforward and deadlines are rarely last-minute, so you have flexibility with your time. An easy job if you like numbers! Also some room to be creative in thinking about how to generate money for SustainUS.
Great for: Anyone with an attention to detail and even a very basic understanding of budget/finance. Familiarity with financial software, nonprofit tax law, and cash flow projection is helpful but NOT required. Training is provided!
Current Treasurer: Peter Stolarski
EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR:
The Education and Engagement Coordinator will facilitate the SustainUS Grassroots Working Group and engage members in reaching campuses and communities to fulfill our international goals. We also hope to build grassroots support for the policies contained in the sustainable development-related Commissions we attend. The Grassroots Action Coordinator will lead strategic planning of grassroots campaigns, help support SustainUS members and delegates in these campaigns, and communicate with interested members about local campaigns of the Energy Action Coalition and other partners.
Fun because: You can use your passion for grassroots organizing and sustainable development to turn local efforts into global results.
Great for: Someone with the drive, talent, and vision to help expand our local engagement.
Current Education and Engagement Coordinator: Jeff Gustafson
MEDIA RELATIONS COORDINATOR:
The Media Relations Coordinator is responsible for facilitating external communications for SustainUS. This primarily involves media relations through event-based press releases and contacting online and print media to feature SustainUS work and delegation actions at international meetings, as well as preparing local press releases for each Agents of Change delegate. The Coordinator, in collaboration with the Membership Communications Coordinator, helps directs online and media outreach strategy. He or she also works closely with the Chair to develop clear and consistent messaging in the media.
Fun because: You get to see the result of your work in print and online news sources, get to work with members and professional newspeople, and are among the most informed people in SustainUS!
Great for: Someone who wants to do communications work professionally or an exceptionally strategic, diligent, outgoing person who wants to familiarize him/herself with all aspects of the organization.
Current Media Relations Coordinator: Louise Yeung
MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR:
The Communications Coordinator is responsible for facilitating internal communications for SustainUS. This primarily involves maintaining organization listservs, overseeing the newsletter, and communications support for SustainUS's many delegations. The Member Communications Coordinator, with the technical help of the Webmaster, directs online strategy, management of the website, conference call services and email system. The Coordinator also helps facilitate communications strategy and support for all organization activities, and to an extent works with the Media Relations Coordinator on media outreach. He or she also works closely with the Chair and Media Relations Coordinator to develop clear and consistent messaging.
Fun because: You get to see the result of your work on the website and in print, and are among the most informed people in SustainUS!
Great for: Someone who wants to do communications work professionally, likes graphic layout and design, or an exceptionally strategic, diligent person who wants to familiarize him/herself with all aspects of the organization.
Current Member Communications Coordinator: Amanda Fencl
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR:
The Development Directors oversee relationships with funders, including both foundations and individuals. The Development Director will coordinate the writing of grant proposals and work closely with the Chair and Partnerships Coordinator to identify potential funding opportunities. This person also provides support to program participants seeking assistance with individual fundraising at their colleges and universities. The Development Director works with program coordinators and the Treasurer to meet reporting requirements of funding organizations.
Fun because: You're doing something absolutely essential for the organization, building professional relationships, and learning a lot about the organization.
Great for: Someone with an interest in organizational development who wants to earn some impressive fundraising credentials; good for new or "old" SustainUSers
Current Development Directors: Dominic MacCormack and Vicky Liang
PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR:
This person develops and maintains relationships with a diverse assortment of current and potential partner organizations. Create innovative partnerships with organizations and people domestically and internationally to support SustainUS's programs. Works closely with the Communications Coordinators, Agents of Change and Citizen Science Coordinators. Along with the Chair, the Partnerships Coordinator is the "face and voice" of SustainUS, and helps represents the organization to governments, the UN, potential funders, and other outside organizations. Also manages all of the accreditations, accreditation requests, and liability waivers for our delegates and partners. Accreditation and the ability to participate in all delegations is also included.
Fun because: You really get out there and get to know the players in the sustainable development field. A great chance to build professional contacts.
Great for: Someone with a working knowledge of the sustainable development and international communities, or a willingness to learn. Good interpersonal skills and an ability to speak positively but honestly about SustainUS to a wide variety of people.
Current Partnerships Coordinator: Juan Carlos Soriano
MEMBER-AT-LARGE:
This member serves as a "watchdog" for the Steering Committee by providing feedback on transparency, accountability, and organization's ability to meet the needs of its members. The Member-at-Large actively consults with members and non-members regarding leadership effectiveness, and reports suggestions to the Steering Committee. Responsibilities include attending all Steering Committee calls, reading and monitoring e-mail lists, and making suggestions on how to make SustainUS more accountable, transparent, and effective. To understand the range of SustainUS activities, is expected to be involved in at least one SustainUS project at any one time.
Fun because: You get to know the Steering Committee and the organization well, with a minimal time commitment.
Great for: A newer member who is enthusiastic, open and observant, and who has not yet served in a leadership position in the organization.
Current Member-At-Large: Michael Semeraro
AGENTS OF CHANGE COORDINATORS:
The Agents of Change (AoC) Coordinators manage SustainUS's largest national program, which organizes delegates of young people to the United Nations. The AoC Coordinator(s) oversee all aspects of the program: facilitate conference calls, outreach, spearhead the selection process, recruit delegation leaders, and coordinate delegate preparation and logistics for each event. In the 2010-11 cycle, AoC is expected to organize delegations for 3-4 events at UN Headquarters in New York City, as well as one or two international negotiations. The AoC Coordinator(s) works closely with the Policy Coordinators, Policy Advisors, Partnerships Coordinator, Communications Coordinators, and the Development Director, and receives support from the Chair. The position requires constant communication via email and phone with the other SustainUS Coordinators mentioned above (~5hrs a week during non-busy times, 10-15hrs a week prior to and during delegations), close coordination with your fellow Coordinators, and a willingness to carry out ad hoc activities. The Coordinators are encouraged, but not required, to take part in as many of the delegations they coordinate, and receive an automatic place on every delegation. Delegation-specific Coordinators will help oversee their specific delegation and possibly assist with other delegations.
Fun because: You are the hub of the most widely-known SustainUS program and can gain excellent leadership experience
Great for: Someone with strong communication skills who wants a position of significant responsibility (and great opportunity).
Current AoC Coordinators: Lauren Nutter, Jennie Hatch, & Julia Wong
POLICY COORDINATORS:
Work with the other programs in the creation of policy briefing, policy recommendations, and other documents for Agents of Change delegations and other projects. The Policy Coordinator will facilitate and lead the process of creating policy statements with the help of the Policy Work Group, policy experts in other organizations, and the Steering Committee. The Policy Coordinators will also facilitate SustainUS endorsement of outside documents and will oversee that SustainUS documents and initiatives match with the policy platform. Manages the response to outside requests or opportunities to make policy submissions.
Fun because: Policy forms a core of SustainUS's work, and you will gain the opportunity to learn way more about international policies than you thought possible. Also, your tasks are generally straightforward, but with the opportunity to go beyond and think creatively about how to improve the policy process in SustainUS and use it to improve our overall work.
Great for: Policy Wonks, current or former Policy Advisors, or at least those with an academic/professional/personal interest in sustainable development policies (social, economic, and/or environmental).
Current Policy Coordinators: Matt Maiorana, Marcie Smith, and Kavita Kripalani
CITIZEN SCIENCE COORDINATORS:
The Citizen Science (CitSci) Coordinators manages a growing SustainUS program aimed at providing a platform for young people to engage in and share scientific knowledge as it relates to sustainable development. The CitSci Coordinator(s) network with many organizations, coordinate the Citizen Science journal and paper competition, and strengthen and maintains relationships with other science/sustainability organizations. The coordinator facilitates communication between partner organizations and the SustainUS CitSci members, and also supports SustainUS by representing a science background on issues of sustainability. The coordinator works in close contact with the Partnerships Coordinator and Agents of Change Coordinator(s). The position requires about 5 - 7 hours a week.
Fun because: You gain experience in program management and opportunities to promote youth involvement in science.
Great for: Young professionals interested in bridging the gap between science, policy, and sustainable development!
Current Citizen Science Coordinator: Sara Asad
WEBMASTER:
Responsible for maintaining the SustainUS website and works with Communications Coordinators to manage online communications. Familiarity with a Linux command line environment, HTML, CSS, MySQL, and Joomla is preferred. Webmaster conducts backups, maintains web hosting account, assists in email account management, and assists others with content creation. Work load is usually 1-5 hours per week, and quick response to requests is essential.
Fun because: You offer a tangible, indispensable service to the organization and can expand your IT skills.
Great for: Someone who wants to gain valuable technical experience
Current Webmaster: James Liao
POLICY ADVISOR:
The policy advisor will be responsible for following all major news and international discourse as well as country-specific political developments pertaining to the appropriate United Nations commission or convention, working with the relevant delegation to prepare them for the policies discussed at their negotiation, and updating the appropriate youth guide with outcomes and recommendations from that policy negotiation. Policy Advisors receive automatic placement on their respective delegation:
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Commission for Social Development (CSocD)
Current Advisors: Anisha Gupta and Bob Ma
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Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Current Advisor: Geena Berry
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Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
Current Advisors: Imran Battla and Brandon Mikael
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Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)
Current Advisor: Joshua Galiwango
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Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Current Advisor: Lea Lupkin
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Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD)
Current Advisor: This is a new position. Email Kyle Gracey for more information.
The news the policy advisors will follow includes national decisions, as well as updates from international forums, UN or otherwise, related to the particular commission or convention. The policy advisors will be responsible for: a) making the policy and other developments on their meeting be accessible and understandable to other youth and b) to obtain input, whenever possible, from appropriate youth constituencies before creating policy views or positions--which will help promote the organization's overall vision of environmental justice and sustainable development. The policy advisors will also be responsible for communicating the current status of the meeting to the SustainUS Policy Coordinators on a monthly basis and will be expected to join conference calls when necessary. The Policy Advisors will, in addition, be encouraged to blog on their issue area and update web content where relevant as often as possible. This is a 5hrs a week job, and can be combined with academic research.
CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION (CCD) SCOUT:
SustainUS is investigating expanding its Agents of Change program to include the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the next Meeting of the Parties of which is scheduled for 2011. The CCD Scout will assess the appropriateness of sending such a delegation, including the logistical, leadership, and policy capacity to impact the policies discussed at the convention as they relate to sustainable development. The CCD Scout will work with Policy Advisors (especially the CCD Advisor), Policy Coordinators, and Agents of Change Coordinators to make a recommendation by the end of 2010 to the Steering Committee on the feasibility of such a delegation. The CCD Scout would have the opportunity to help lead the CCD delegation should SustainUS decide to begin attending.
Fun because: You're working in a brand new policy and negotiation area that SustainUS has not before considered. Your work will have a dramatic impact on whether SustainUS begins to participate in the CCD negotiations.
Great for: Someone looking for a narrowly-defined project that will not require the full, one-year position term to complete. Someone who wants a good way to become seriously involved in SustainUS's work without the responsibility of serving on the Steering Committee. Someone who can plan for the long-term. Those with a strong interest in deserts, desertification, drylands, Africa, and the role of these within other sustainable development issues.
Current CBD Scout: This is a new position. Please contact Kyle Gracey for more information, or contact our former Convention on Biological Diversity Scout Kendra Kallevig
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR:
The principal role of the Membership Coordinator is to respond to new member inquiries, particularly the new member forms from the website. This means receiving questions, emailing new members as they join, and telling people how amazing SustainUS is! The Membership Coordinator answers questions related to SustainUS and its activities and encourages new members to become involved in local grassroots action activities, if applicable, and/or SustainUS national programs. Additionally, the Membership Coordinator is responsible for forwarding member questions to the appropriate Steering Committee member, if necessary, including the potential to facilitate discussion between members interested in starting new efforts. The Membership Coordinator also works with the Citizen Science and Agents of Change coordinators to help members involved with the national programs find ways to continue involvement with SustainUS.
Fun because: You get to interact with lots of enthusiastic new members, and bring them into the SustainUS family!
Great for: Someone who is looking for a fairly constant, predictable workload that isn't too crazy
Current Membership Coordinator: Kendra Kallevig
OUTREACH COORDINATOR:
The Outreach Coordinator reaches out to new groups of youth and encourages them to get involved with relevant SustainUS activities. Your job is to help expand the diversity of youth who participate in SustainUS programs, and provide additional outreach to Agents of Change, Citizen Science, and special applications. Outreach should include, but is not limited to, places like high schools, community colleges, tribal colleges, vocational schools, and to youth not in school but who have not graduated college.
Fun because: You have the opportunity to involve more youth in SustainUS, interact with like-minded peers, and learn from the awesome Steering Committee!
Great For: A newer member, including high school students, who is enthusiastic, open and tactful, and who has not yet served in a leadership position in the organization. Especially those with experience working with or coming from one of the locations above.
Current Outreach Coordinators: Sara Asad (high school) and Jeff Gustafson (community college)
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