Ohio's largest environmental organization is expanding.
Now hiring: Job openings with
"One of the 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For"




Here's what the job is all about

I'm Sandy Buchanan. I'm the executive director of Ohio Citizen Action. I got my start at Ohio Citizen Action as an intern when I was in college. It didn't take long for me to figure out that this is what I wanted to do with my life. I want to tell you about Ohio Citizen Action, and then describe the job.

About Ohio Citizen Action

Founded in 1975, this organization has figured out how to combine the energy, talents, time and money of our 80,000 members into winning community good neighbor campaigns. We've taken on some of the biggest companies in the world -- and won. The campaigns have succeeded in winning pollution cuts far beyond what federal or state regulations would require.

Are we effective? Don't take my word for it. Ask neighbors -- or executives -- of Sunoco Refinery (Toledo), Brush Wellman (Elmore), FirstEnergy's Davis Besse Nuclear Plant (Port Clinton), Mittal Steel (Cleveland), Eramet (Marietta), Georgia-Pacific (Columbus), Shelly Asphalt (Westerville), Columbus Steel Drum (Gahanna), Universal Purifying Technology (Columbus), Perma-Fix (Dayton), AK Steel (Middletown), Rohm and Haas (Reading), Lanxess Plastics (Addyston), Cincinnati Specialties (Cincinnati), and DuPont Chemicals (Washington, WV).

The success of these campaigns depends on recruiting and involving members. That's our strength and we never stop doing it.

About the job

We're now expanding our campaign staff to go into neighborhoods, petitioning, fundraising, dropping off information, and recruiting members and volunteers. The hours are 2:00 PM until 10:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The pay is $375 - 475 a week, which works out to $19,500 - $24,700 a year. We also have generous health benefits, including dental, vacation time, and opportunities for internships, college course credit, travel and national conferences.

We are not looking for environmental experts. We're looking for outgoing people to go up to people, talk to them, explain the issue, and invite them to get involved. We have paid training to get you up to speed with the issues and the skills you'll need.

On a typical workday, everyone meets around 2:00 PM in the conference room at the office. The first hour is reserved for training and for briefings on our campaigns and other issues. We invite speakers from local activist groups to come in and talk about the projects they're working on. After that, the staff breaks off into smaller teams, each with a team leader.

We have campaign vans to provide transportation to the neighborhoods, getting there around 4:00 PM. Then, the team leader gives each staff person a section of homes to go to. Over the next five hours, until 9:00 PM, you will come across anywhere between 40 and 50 people. Half the people you talk to will be interested and want to put their names down. Half of the people won't want to spend any time with it. Out of those who sign, you will find 10 or 15 people who will want to contribute. You give them a receipt, and record their information.

You'll find a handful of people who will take some time to write a letter to the head of the company. Every couple of days, you'll also find someone who's been waiting to be contacted and will want to volunteer with the campaign.

At 9:00 PM, everyone meets back at the van, drives back to the office, takes care of some paperwork and then leaves the office by 10:00 PM. That's a typical day.

Hiring

The hiring process starts with an interview in our office.

After the interview, if you and the staff director both want to go to the next step, then you would schedule an observation day, which is an opportunity for you to come in and check out the job. You would go door to door with a trainer, who does all the work. You get a chance to see first hand how everything works, and ask any questions you have. Then, the last hour of the night, you would break off and go to a section of homes the trainer gives you. During that hour, you talk to about a dozen people or so. By the time you're back to the office, you will have a good picture of the job.

Then, you can decide if you want to proceed, the trainer makes a recommendation, and you and the staff director can pick a start date.

I won't kid you

This job is not for everybody. It is not an easy-money job. It is a challenge. It will test you.

It will also bring rewards well beyond the pay and benefits. It will teach you things about yourself -- and about teamwork, leadership, discipline, and communicating -- that you will use for the rest of your life. It will be more fun than an easy-money job. And it will give you a chance to make a difference in this world. The fight for clean air and water and healthier neighborhoods is a fight we know how to win.

If you're up for a challenge, or just want to learn more about the job, I encourage you to set an interview in our office with the staff director. Give us a call or fill in the form with your contact information. I look forward to working with you.




Ohio Citizen Action: Cleveland Office, (216) 623-3952. Columbus Office, (614) 487-8608.
Cincinnati Office, (513) 221-2115.