Application Guide

How to Apply for Distributed Organizing Director (New Salary Range. Candidates can be based anywhere in the US.)

at Climate Defiance

🏢 About Climate Defiance

Climate Defiance stands out as a direct-action climate organization that uses creative, nonviolent protests and grassroots pressure to hold political leaders accountable. Unlike traditional advocacy groups, they prioritize disruptive tactics to elevate climate change as an urgent political issue, making them ideal for activists seeking hands-on, confrontational organizing work.

About This Role

As Distributed Organizing Director, you'll build and manage Climate Defiance's volunteer chapters across key U.S. cities, from recruitment to leadership development. This role is impactful because you'll directly scale the organization's capacity for coordinated direct actions, turning local volunteers into a national force that pressures decision-makers on climate policy.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with virtual check-ins via video to coach chapter leaders in different cities, followed by planning upcoming protests or recruitment drives. You could spend afternoons tracking volunteer metrics and coordinating travel for site visits, then wrap up by preparing training materials for a weekend action in a key political district.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Climate Defiance Is Looking For

  • Has 2+ years of hands-on organizing experience with a track record of managing volunteer teams in political or advocacy campaigns
  • Possesses direct experience participating in or leading nonviolent disruptive actions like protests, sit-ins, or blockades (not just traditional canvassing or phone-banking)
  • Is adaptable and ready to travel frequently (25% time) for site visits, actions, and in-person coaching across different cities
  • Demonstrates strong communication skills for mentoring volunteers remotely via phone/video and in person, with an ability to escalate responsibilities into leadership roles

📝 Tips for Applying to Climate Defiance

1

Highlight specific examples of managing volunteer teams in a distributed or multi-city context, not just local organizing

2

Detail your direct action experience explicitly—mention types of protests, strikes, or blockades you've been involved in, emphasizing nonviolent tactics

3

Tailor your resume to show flexibility and readiness for travel (e.g., note past roles with similar travel demands or adaptability to sudden actions)

4

Research and reference Climate Defiance's recent campaigns or actions in your materials to show alignment with their confrontational approach

5

Quantify your organizing impact where possible (e.g., 'recruited 50+ volunteers for a city chapter' or 'coordinated 3 simultaneous protests')

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your hands-on experience with nonviolent direct actions and how it aligns with Climate Defiance's disruptive tactics", 'Specific examples of building or managing volunteer chapters, including coaching volunteers into leadership roles', 'Your ability to thrive in a remote, travel-heavy role (25% on the road) and adapt to dynamic action-oriented environments', "Passion for climate justice as a political issue, not just environmentalism, and why you're drawn to Climate Defiance's accountability-focused mission"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Watch videos or read reports of Climate Defiance's recent protests (e.g., targeting politicians or corporations) to understand their tactical style
  • → Explore their social media (Twitter, Instagram) to see how they frame climate as a political accountability issue, not just environmental
  • → Review their website for chapter locations and key campaigns to identify where you might focus geographically
  • → Look into their organizational values around nonviolent disruption and how they differentiate from other climate groups like Sunrise Movement or 350.org
Visit Climate Defiance's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you recruited and managed volunteers for a distributed campaign—how did you handle remote coaching and accountability?
2 Walk us through your experience with a nonviolent direct action: what was your role, how did you prepare, and what was the outcome?
3 How would you establish a new Climate Defiance chapter in a city from scratch, balancing recruitment, training, and action planning?
4 Climate Defiance often targets political leaders—how would you coach volunteers to engage in confrontational but nonviolent tactics safely and effectively?
5 This role involves 25% travel: how do you manage logistics, energy, and remote work while frequently on the road for site visits and actions?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on traditional advocacy experience (e.g., lobbying, policy work) without highlighting direct action or protest involvement
  • Applying with a generic climate passion statement instead of demonstrating knowledge of Climate Defiance's specific confrontational approach
  • Underestimating the travel and flexibility demands—avoid suggesting you prefer a static, office-based role or cannot handle sudden action deployments

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Climate Defiance!

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