Application Guide
How to Apply for Organizing Coordinator
at Union of Concerned Scientists
🏢 About Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists uniquely bridges rigorous scientific research with real-world policy advocacy, translating complex science into actionable solutions for environmental and social justice. Unlike traditional think tanks, UCS actively organizes scientists to become advocates, creating a powerful evidence-based voice for sustainability and equity. Working here means joining a mission-driven organization where science directly informs campaigns that protect public health, address climate change, and promote justice.
About This Role
As the Organizing Coordinator, you'll be the frontline builder of the Science Network, recruiting scientists at conferences and universities while developing their advocacy skills through trainings and 1:1 coaching. This role is impactful because you'll directly expand and diversify the community of scientists who advocate for evidence-based policies, ensuring their expertise shapes decisions on climate, health, and equity at a national level. You'll design inclusive strategies that make scientific advocacy accessible across diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve preparing recruitment materials for an upcoming scientific conference, followed by a 1:1 video call with a Science Network member to plan their testimony for a congressional briefing. In the afternoon, you could be co-designing an inclusive advocacy training module with equity consultants, then updating project trackers for multiple member engagement initiatives. Remote work means frequent virtual collaboration with campaign teams to align organizing strategies with current science-based policy priorities.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Union of Concerned Scientists Is Looking For
- Has 4+ years of national-level organizing/advocacy experience, ideally with a track record of recruiting and training volunteers or professionals in policy campaigns
- Demonstrates practical experience applying racial equity principles in organizing work, such as designing accessible events, centering marginalized voices, or implementing inclusion audits
- Possesses strong project management skills specifically for juggling conference recruitment, training development, and member engagement simultaneously
- Can point to specific examples of building relationships with professionals (like scientists or academics) and developing their leadership in advocacy contexts
📝 Tips for Applying to Union of Concerned Scientists
Quantify your organizing impact: Instead of 'organized events,' specify 'recruited 50+ professionals at 3 national conferences' or 'trained 200 advocates in legislative testimony skills'
Highlight any experience with scientific or academic communities, even if informal—like collaborating with researchers, organizing on campus, or translating technical information for advocacy
Explicitly connect your equity experience to organizing: Describe how you've made events accessible, centered diverse voices in campaigns, or addressed power dynamics in volunteer leadership
Tailor your resume to show national-scale work: Emphasize projects with multi-state or federal policy targets, not just local initiatives
Reference specific UCS campaigns you admire, like their climate accountability work or science-based policy reports, to show genuine understanding of their model
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain how your organizing philosophy aligns with UCS's science-driven advocacy, perhaps citing their use of reports like 'Science for Public Good'", 'Provide a concrete example of designing and implementing an inclusive recruitment or training strategy that increased diversity in a professional network', "Describe your approach to 1:1 leadership development with volunteers or members, highlighting how you've helped professionals grow as advocates", "Connect your project management experience to the role's balance of conference planning, training facilitation, and member engagement"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore the Science Network section of UCS's website to understand current members, events, and advocacy priorities
- → Review recent UCS campaigns like their work on climate accountability, science-based policy reports, or equity in environmental decisions
- → Study UCS's organizational values and racial equity commitments, noting how they operationalize these in programs and partnerships
- → Look into the types of conferences UCS attends (e.g., AAAS, scientific society meetings) to understand recruitment venues
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on local or community organizing without demonstrating experience at a national scale or with professional networks
- Treating equity as a checkbox rather than showing concrete examples of how you've centered it in organizing strategies
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't reference UCS's specific science-advocacy model or the Science Network's role
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Union of Concerned Scientists!