Job Opening: Bottle Bill Campaign Manager

Job Opening: Bottle Bill Campaign Manager

About The Action Fund

The Michigan Environmental Council Action Fund is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) organization that was formed in 2019 to bring about positive change in Michigan’s environmental agenda through direct democracy. The Action Fund is part of the Michigan Environmental Council family of organizations, and we combine deep environmental policy expertise with broad alliances to move bold ideas to action.

About Our Campaign 

The Action Fund intends to bring forward a proposal for the November 2026 general election to update Michigan’s “Bottle Bill” – our successful, 50 year old container deposit law that has empowered Michiganders to build one of the world’s most effective recycling programs. While Michiganders overwhelmingly support the Bottle Bill, they also strongly support modernizing the law to cover more containers and building a return system that is more convenient, efficient and clean to use. We’ve heard from consumers from across the state who are frustrated with our current law and we are leading a statewide coalition of individuals and organizations to deliver a Better Bottle Bill for Michigan. 

You can learn more about our ideas for a Better Bottle Bill here. 

Position

This role is based in Michigan and will require frequent travel throughout the state. The position reports to the organization’s President and will oversee all aspects of the organization’s “Better Bottle Bill” campaign including strategic leadership, fundraising, field and personnel. 

Duties & Responsibilities

Campaign Strategy & Administration

• Develop and implement a campaign plan that ensures the completion of the campaign’s strategic goals.  
• Manage all campaign staff as well as consultant and vendor relationships. 
• Serve as public facing spokesperson for the campaign and as the primary point person for community engagement. 
• Determine the campaign staffing structure and provide recommendations to the MEC AF President for hiring.

Fundraising 

• Oversee fundraising efforts and the contractual fundraising team with achieving our fundraising goals, specifically for securing financial support from major and small donors. 
• Responsible for seeking out and securing grants to support issue based advocacy. 

Project Management 

• Work with Strategic Campaign Manager and communications coordinator to craft and implement a comprehensive, multi-faceted communications plan that includes traditional press engagement, organic and paid digital media, direct mail and print media. 
• Develop and implement an effective field organizing program which includes: a creative volunteer recruitment and retention program; an efficient door-to-door canvassing campaign; a relational organizing plan; and a community outreach program that engages constituencies across the state of Michigan to join our movement.  
• Deploy an effective signature collection campaign that is capable of securing enough valid ballot initiative petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, should the campaign need to organize a ballot campaign. 

Coalition Development and Coordination 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with organizations within, and outside of the, environmental movement as well as local and state-level elected and political leaders who can generate support for a Better Bottle Bill. 
• Manage and expand the coalition of supporting organizations with an effective coalition coordination strategy that cultivates engagement and action from supporting organizations and individuals. 
• Attend community meetings, events and rallies, representing the organization. 

Minimum qualifications

• A campaign professional and expert manager with at least two cycles of leadership experience on a competitive candidate, ballot, or statewide issue campaign. 
• Experience managing coalitions of individuals and organizations with a track record of mobilizing coalitions to achieve electoral wins. 
• A proven leader with an ability to build strong, diverse campaign teams and lead them to success.  
• Experience and understanding of the strategies, tools, and tactics used to mobilize the public to support an issue advocacy or ballot campaign. 
• Experience coordinating a multifaceted communications campaign, community engagement programs and field campaigns. 
• Knowledgeable about the best practices and tools for base-building, volunteer recruitment, and voter mobilization. 
• Track record of developing metrics, managing data and setting, and meeting ambitious goals.
• Previous experience managing direct voter contact and signature collection campaigns for issue advocacy campaigns and  ballot issues. 
• Experience managing employees.
• Passion and commitment to advancing policies that protect the environment.
  

Preferred qualifications

• Understanding of 501(c4) compliance rules and state of Michigan Campaign Finance laws. 
• Background in environmental policy or experience working on campaigns related to environmental or recycling issues.  
• Previous experience working on a campaign in Michigan and a strong understanding of the political landscape from Metro-Detroit to the Upper Peninsula. 
• Relationships with individuals and organizations in Michigan who are engaged in, or interested in working on, direct democracy campaigns. 
• Bachelor’s degree or 4 years of relevant work experience, including at least two cycles of legislative, issue or political campaign experience. 

Other Position Notes

This position requires regular travel throughout Michigan and occasionally out of the state. The Environmental Council has offices in Lansing, Detroit and Marquette. Telecommuting or remote work is an option for many aspects of this role. This position requires regular work outside normal hours, including evenings and weekends. The Environmental Council has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, unless you qualify for a federal government-approved accommodation.

Compensation Package

The Environmental Council Action Fund offers an industry-leading compensation package. The Bottle Bill Campaign Manager position includes a salary of $68,000 – $85,000 commensurate with experience; full medical, dental and vision benefits; organizational matching to a 403(b) retirement program. 

Application Process 

Submit a single PDF with 1) a strong, detailed cover letter, 2) a resume and 3) at least three references (minimum two professional) to jobs@environmentalactionfund.org no later than Friday, April 11. Include “Bottle Bill Campaign Manager” in the subject line. Please direct questions about the job description to Strategic Campaigns Manager, Trent Wolf at trent@environmentalcouncil.org.