Description

About Appalachian Voices
Appalachian Voices is a nonprofit advocacy organization that brings people together to protect the land, air and water of Central and Southern Appalachia and advance a just transition to a clean energy economy. We currently have over 45 staff members across the region, with officeslocated in Boone, NC; Charlottesville, VA; Norton, V A; Knoxville, TN; and Charleston, WV.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Appalachian Voices is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all backgrounds to apply. AV is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees. We understand people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational and volunteer experiences, and encourage candidates with transferable skills to
apply.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. AV’s hiring and employment decisions are based solely on a person’s merit and qualifications.

Need assistance? If you are a qualified individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, or need assistance applying for this position, please contact hr@appvoices.org.

Position Details
Appalachian Voices is seeking a Black Lung Coordinator as part of our Coal Impacts team. The objectives of the Coal Impacts team are to address the environmental and public health impacts of coal mining in the Appalachian states of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, to build grassroots power in these areas, and to work in solidarity with movements for environmental justice, conservation and community resiliency throughout Appalachia and
beyond.

In close collaboration with community partners, our team works to build grassroots power with individuals who are impacted by black lung. We leverage this power to win grassroots campaigns that reduce the rate of black lung in our region, and that ensure that workers affected by the disease are compensated by the coal industry and the government through medical care and disability benefits.

Our work together with our partners has been successful in achieving a permanent extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax – a crucial source of funding for the federal black lung benefits program. However, monthly black lung disability benefits remain insufficient and difficult to access, funding for miners’ health and safety programs remains insufficient, and regulations protecting mine workers from exposure to silica dust are ineffective and in need of reform.

On the state level in Virginia, miners with black lung cannot apply for black lung workers’ compensation if their disease does not become disabling within five years of leaving work in the mines. Black lung continues to develop even after a worker leaves the mines and often takes more than five years to become disabling, thus making the miner ineligible for workers’ compensation.

This position will foster the connection between community members and our work, ensuring that partners and individuals who are directly impacted by black lung disease inform our strategies and priorities. With a focus on developing and mobilizing grassroots leaders and supporters who are impacted by the disease, the Black Lung Coordinator will advance campaigns to extend or eliminate the five-year statute of limitations affecting Virginia black lung workers’
compensation claims, and to increase the amount of monthly black lung disability benefits paid to miners and their dependents.

Depending on capacity and need, the Black Lung Coordinator may also contribute to campaigns to defend federal funding for miner health and safety programs; advocate for strong workplace health and safety regulations, including regarding silica dust; and promote legislation to streamline the black lung claims process for miners and their families.

An understanding of community organizing in rural settings, ability to navigate relevant government processes, policy and other legal language, and the ability to bridge the grassroots and technical components of our work will be key to success. This position will work closely with our Coal Impacts, Virginia and Government Affairs teams, as well as community partners, most notably including the Black Lung Association. This position will be supervised and
supported by the Coal Impacts Program Manager.

Primary Roles & Responsibilities
Support the Black Lung Association and its Southwest Virginia-based chapters with core organizational needs (ie, logistics, outreach, communications, fundraising, etc.) This may include phone-banking, flyering, advertising and social media-based communications.
Regularly attend Black Lung Association meetings in Southwestern Virginia in order to discuss ongoing campaigns, build relationships, seek guidance on Appalachian Voices’ priorities and projects pertaining to black lung, and to ensure that Black Lung Association meetings are successful, as determined by the group’s members and officers.
Hold frequent one-on-one or small group discussions with individuals impacted by black lung in order to empower grassroots leadership, discuss and mobilize participation in ongoing campaigns, and seek guidance on Appalachian Voices’ priorities and projects pertaining to the disease.
Coordinating with the Coal Impacts Program Manager and the Director of State Energy Policy, facilitate digital and in-person meetings between individuals impacted by black lung and members of the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Governor’s administration and their staffs. Coordinate with and support Appalachian Voices’ Government Affairs team to facilitate digital and in-person meetings between individuals impacted by black lung and members of Congress and their staff members.
Attend, plan, organize and execute public events including community and coalition meetings, fundraisers, presentations and trainings (in-person and over zoom).
Collaborate with Appalachian Voices' communications team and individuals impacted by black lung to tell their stories through articles, blogs or video created by our team, and through engagement with external media.
Work closely with Appalachian Voices’ communications team to develop digitalmaterials for emails, newsletters, action alerts, blogs, social media posts and events, and other online communication tools to mobilize our members and supporters.

Requirements

Skills & Qualifications
Experience with community engagement and grassroots organizing, including leadership development, volunteer coordination, member/supporter mobilization and strategic campaign or project implementation.
Understanding of, or willingness to learn, state and federal policies and programs relevant to coal mining especially with regards to black lung disease.
Prior experience with mining issues through personal lived experience or professional experience preferred; prior experience with a non-profit organization or government agency strongly preferred.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to communicate complex technical and policy issues to communities and the media.
Passion for and familiarity with the Central Appalachian region.
Excellent time management, work ethic and organization.
Strong collaborative spirit, sound judgment and leadership potential.
Experience with policy advocacy, including lobbying preferred.
Experience or coursework in public health, occupational health, or labor issues preferred.
A valid drivers license and willingness to travel 5-8 days a month, including occasional overnight trips.