We’re Hiring

Careers with SOCAN

At SOCAN, we believe meaningful change happens when passionate people come together to take action. Whether you’re an experienced professional, a student seeking hands-on experience, or someone looking to contribute your skills to a healthier future, we invite you to explore opportunities to join our work. Together, we are building a more resilient, sustainable Southern Oregon through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Executive Director

SOCAN is seeking a full-time Executive Director to provide organizational leadership, fiscal management, and public representation for our organization. The Executive Director will advance SOCAN’s mission through education and advocacy, manage budgets and fundraising, support volunteers, and collaborate closely with the Board of Directors. The position offers a flexible schedule, a medical care stipend, and a salary of $65,000 to $75,000 depending on experience. Please send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references to hiring@socan.eco. Applications close on August 15, 2026. For more details on responsibilities and required qualifications, please view the Full Job Description (PDF).

Youth & Schools: Climate Education Grant

Project Description

The project is to assist teachers in Jackson, Josephine, and Curry counties with supplemental resources specifically oriented to teaching about climate change in Southern Oregon. These resources include up-to-date environmental science materials, support with unit/lesson plans, classroom visits, and field experiences. Our project provides teachers and students access to practical tools, current environmental science, and place-based learning grounded in the landscapes of Southern Oregon –a region facing longer droughts, worsening wildfire seasons, declining air quality, and threats to agriculture and natural systems. It connects students to the ecosystems and environmental conditions of their home region.

Background

The SOCAN noncompetitive fixed amount subaward is for a project entitled “Youth and Schools Climate Education.” It is funded as a subaward to a prime award made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Philanthropy Northwest (PNW) as part of EPA’s Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program. As a regional grant maker, PNW makes passthrough subgrants for projects that improve environmental and community health and wellbeing for historically underserved communities. The position is contingent on continued federal funding.

Job Descriptions

Project Coordinator

SOCAN is seeking a Project Coordinator to lead all aspects of the Youth and Schools Climate Education project. This role is essential to keeping the project on schedule and guiding it efficiently from planning through completion. Link to the Full Job Description (pdf)

Responsibilities Include
• Translating top-level work plan activities into a more detailed schedule of work efforts
• Working with Executive Director (ED) to recruit Project Evaluator
• Working with ED and SOCAN members to recruit two lead teachers from schools in each Jackson, Josephine, and Curry counties to participate in the project
• Organizing and leading a three-day planning session for lead teachers
• Implementing a set of online tools for collaboration among lead teachers, interaction between teachers and project staff
• Identifying supplemental resources to augment existing unit/lesson plans
• Working with lead teachers to recruit up to six additional teachers from each county to participate in the project
• Organizing and leading a three-day workshop for all teachers involved in the project
• Attending classroom sessions and field activities to observe effectiveness of instructional materials and identify additional resource requirements
• Coordinate support from SOCAN-provided subject matter experts when requested by teachers
• Tracking and reporting on completion of the project activities leading to satisfaction of milestone requirements
• Providing direct support for climate-change-related field trips (e.g., identifying sites; providing funding for transportation, fees, passes; organizing supplemental materials)
• Responding to teacher emails/requests for assistance
• Maintaining online capabilities (e.g., website, shared drive) for project use

Required Skills and Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree or work experience equivalent in teaching or science related field
• Classroom teaching experience, K – 12 or college level
• Ability to organize and prioritize work
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends for in-person events and meetings
• Ability to travel
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office & Google Suite
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A self starter, data and deadline driven, and ability to multi-task with solid organizational and time-management skills
• Understanding of and passion for the mission of SOCAN
• Sense of humor, friendly personality and a positive attitude

How to Apply
Interested persons should submit a cover letter explaining your interest, relevant experiences that qualify you for this position, your resume and names and contact information of three professional references to Kathy Conway (kathy@socan.eco) as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Kathy Conway, SOCAN Co-Facilitator, at kathy@socan.eco.

Southern Oregon Climate Action Now is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Project Evaluator

SOCAN is seeking a Project Evaluator to assist with the Youth and Schools Climate Education project. This role supports the Project Coordinator by observing use of project resources in the classroom and during field activities, soliciting and synthesizing feedback from project participants, and reporting on project outcomes. Link to the Full Job Description (pdf)

Responsibilities Include
• Assisting Project Coordinator with identification of supplemental resources to augment existing unit/lesson plans
• Attending classroom sessions and field activities to observe effectiveness of instructional materials and identify additional resource requirements
• Documenting support provided by SOCAN subject matter experts when requested by teachers
• Assisting Project Coordinator with tracking and reporting on completion of the project activities leading to satisfaction of milestone requirements
• Develop observation worksheet for use when observing teachers in the classroom
• Conducting a survey of all teachers who participated in the project in order to understand what worked, what did not work, and what would make the unit/lesson plans more effective
• Supporting the Project Coordinator in preparation of the project final report

Required Skills and Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree or enrolled in program leading to a bachelor’s degree
• Prior experience collecting and synthesizing project data
• Ability to organize and prioritize work
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends for in-person events and meetings
• Ability to travel
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office & Google Suite
• A self-starter, data and deadline driven, and ability to multi-task with solid organizational and time-management skills
• Understanding of and passion for the mission of SOCAN
• Sense of humor, friendly personality and a positive attitude

How to Apply
Interested persons should submit a cover letter explaining your interest, relevant experiences that qualify you for this position, your resume and names and contact information of three professional references to Kathy Conway (kathy@socan.eco) as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Kathy Conway, SOCAN Co-Facilitator, at kathy@socan.eco.

Southern Oregon Climate Action Now is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Lead Teacher

SOCAN is seeking 6 Lead Teachers, 2 from each county (Jackson, Josephine and Curry). Lead Teachers will participate in a three-day planning session to: (1) identify gaps between existing unit/lesson plans and what region-specific supplemental resources these lead teachers need; (2) identify supplemental resources; and (3) edit unit/lesson plans to offer a region-specific, science-based approach to teaching climate change. Lead Teachers will teach their unit/lesson plans and then help identify 3 additional teachers from their school/district to be involved in the 3-day workshop where the new teachers will repeat this process. Lead Teachers will help plan and conduct the workshop. Link to the Full Job Description (pdf)

Responsibilities Include
• Participate in a three-day planning session for lead teachers and develop a unit/lesson plan.
Teach unit/lesson plan
• Work with Project Coordinator to recruit three additional teachers from school/district to participate in the project
• Contribute to planning and conducting a three-day workshop for all teachers involved in the project

Required Skills and Qualifications
• Classroom teacher in Jackson, Josephine or Curry County (K – 12).
• Interest in developing unit/lesson plans and teaching about climate change and related information in the classroom.

How to Apply
Interested persons should submit a cover letter explaining your interest in participating in this project, your resume and names and contact information of two professional references to Kathy Conway (kathy@socan.eco) by July 15.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Kathy Conway, SOCAN Co-Facilitator, at kathy@socan.eco.

Southern Oregon Climate Action Now is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Internships

Description:

SOCAN is proud to support the next generation of climate leaders. We welcome inquiries from college and university students interested in internships related to climate action, community engagement, communications, policy, research, and nonprofit operations.

If you are interested in gaining hands-on experience while contributing to meaningful work in Southern Oregon, we encourage you to reach out. Please email us with your area of study, interests, and any internship requirements, and we will be happy to explore potential opportunities.