Campus Organizer

Consider these recent U.S. PIRG campus organizers and the great work they have done:

• At the University of Colorado, Lisa Ritland worked to improve public transportation options. Lisa and student volunteers organized a Spring Break trip across the state to bring attention to the pressing need to expand public transportation to more Coloradoans. At stops along the way, they met with local officials and told the story of their trip to reporters from TV stations and newspapers. Lisa and the students collected news clips from their trip and put them in the hands of officials from the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority. The authority later issued a study to research the expansion of transit to areas of the state in need of better options.
• At Rutgers University in New Jersey, Sarah Clader and a team of volunteers helped increase student aid for higher education. Sarah and her team built a coalition of student government leaders across the state to write letters asking Sen. Robert Menendez and Congressman Frank Pallone to vote for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. When the bill passed, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited Rutgers student leaders to speak about their efforts to pass the legislation in Washington, D.C.
• At the University of Oregon in Eugene, Mike Reagan rallied 500 student activists to fight global warming. Working with a team of student leaders, Mike organized the West Coast Powershift, a clean energy conference to educate and mobilize students to action. Mike’s team recruited leaders from the environmental movement to run workshops at the conference. The conference culminated with a high-profile rally in which the students called on Congress to pass clean energy legislation.

Training & Experience

A key part of U.S. PIRG’s mission is to train leaders who are capable of organizing and winning results that improve people’s lives. U.S. PIRG conducts a paid training program beginning in late July. The training includes fieldwork with experienced U.S. PIRG staff and a classroom training of lectures, briefings, discussions and role-plays. At the end of training, each new campus organizer begins to take on significant responsibilities.

Campus organizers also participate in regular regional trainings and conferences, as well as a national staff training in Denver, Colo.

Qualifications

We are looking for motivated individuals who are willing to work hard and commit themselves to getting results. We value experience with campus groups or student government, academic achievement, and outstanding verbal, written and leadership skills. But most of all, we look for people who find a way to make a difference.

The campus organizer position is a one-year commitment.

Salary & Benefits

As a recent graduate, you will earn $24,000 over the course of your first year with U.S. PIRG. Salary for experienced candidates is commensurate with relevant professional experience.

In addition, full-time staff can opt into our state health care coverage, are eligible for paid sick days and vacation days, can apply for our college loan assistance program, and are also eligible to join our 401(k) program in their second year. Our staff accrue two weeks of vacation by the end of their first year and three weeks by the end of their second year.

Locations & Placement

U.S. PIRG is hiring for positions in: CA, CO, CT, IN, MA, MD, NJ, NM, OH, OR, WA and WI

If you are only interested in particular locations, you will be asked to identify those locations during the interview process. If you’re offered a campus organizer position, you are guaranteed placement in one of your specified locations.