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SOUTHEAST REGIONAL MANAGER

ABOUT US:
The Surfrider Foundation is the world’s largest grassroots coastal conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. We have achieved many important victories by persuading state, federal, and local decision makers to protect vital coastal and ocean resources. These accomplishments demonstrate the important role of recreational users in advancing coastal and ocean stewardship. Since 1984, Surfrider's appeal is not only our strong reputation and track record of success, but also the lifestyle and values we embody. 

By joining the Surfrider Foundation, you will be welcomed into an open and inclusive network of incredibly supportive and collaborative people who work hard and play hard. You will have the opportunity to work with dedicated people who are also passionate coastal users with their feet in the sand and toes in the water. You help bring together diverse voices and perspectives to provide our community with the leadership and tools necessary to make a difference at their beach and in coastal communities across the United States. At Surfrider, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Coastal recreation is fun and working at Surfrider is too.

OPPORTUNITY: 
The objective for this position is to cultivate, steward, and increase the organizational capacity of the Southeast region’s chapters through oversight of and support for chapters’ operations, direct action organizing training, strategic outreach, and engagement on environmental campaigns, programs, and policy leading to an increase in capacity, activists, membership, and victories.  A strong commitment to travel and in-person engagement with our Chapters throughout the Southeast region is required.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Support the grassroots organizing efforts of the Surfrider chapters within the Southeast region, including the following chapters: Virginia, Georgia, Charlotte, Cape Fear, Bogue Banks, Outer Banks, Charleston, and Grand Strand.
  • In collaboration with the East Coast Regional Director, identify statewide policy priorities and coordinate local-level advocacy efforts that advance our mission and campaign goals. Facilitate consistent engagement and coordination on these statewide policy issues across the chapter network.
  • Facilitate and train chapter volunteers in direct action organizing techniques including, but not limited to; campaign planning, recruitment, retention, strategy, tactics and program implementation.
  • Represent Surfrider Foundation at local, regional and state administrative hearings and public events when necessary.
  • Assist the Chapter Network in implementing Surfrider Foundation Programs including Ocean Friendly Gardens, Ocean Friendly Restaurants, Blue Water Task Force, Beach Cleanups, Climate Action, and Beach Guardians.
  • Facilitate Chapter governance and oversight, including but not limited to: Chapter annual planning, budgeting, and reporting, executive leadership onboarding and training, familiarity with Surfrider “Chapter resources.”
  • Work with the Sr. Director of Network Strategy and East Coast Regional Director to develop and facilitate annual training conferences for the Southeast Chapter Network.
  • In coordination with the Student Club Coordinator and East Coast Director foster collaboration between regional Surfrider Student Clubs and Chapters within the Southeast region.  Identify opportunities for new Student Clubs that amplify Chapter activities.
  • In conjunction with the East Coast Regional Director and Development Team, foster and maintain positive relations with the regional funding community and timely reporting on grant deliverables and grant proposal development.
  • Assist in growing regional membership and Chapter volunteer recruitment.
  • Maintain the Southeast regional Surfrider Foundation website and monthly regional newsletters.
  • Operational Responsibilities include, but are not limited to; writing blog posts, supporting web content development, social media outreach, grant reporting, fielding inquiries about the chapters, providing technical and administrative support to chapter executive committees, and maintaining chapter records in Salesforce and/or other programs’ chapter contact information. 

Reports to: East Coast Regional Director

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

  • 4+ years experience in direct action grassroots organizing, community outreach and coalition building
  • 4+ years working with volunteers
  • Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and inclusiveness
  • Experience managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines and achieving project objectives
  • Administrative experience, able to ensure tasks are accomplished accurately and on-time
  • Familiarity with state, regional and national coastal & ocean environmental issues
  • Understanding of decision-making processes at various levels of government and governmental agencies
  • Demonstrated facilitation skills with adeptness at creating inclusive spaces and centering the voices of people with marginalized identities
  • Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, with elected officials, agency staff, industry representatives, corporate partners, donors, and coastal stakeholders
  • Experience in speaking publicly in front of a large number of people in diverse situations
  • Ability or willingness to learn how to use tech tools, platforms, and apps such as Salesforce, Hubspot, Golden, Google Drive and Basecamp
  • Candidates must reside within the Southeast region (coastal Virginia to coastal South Carolina), or be willing to relocate
  • Ability to travel extensively and frequently throughout the region
  • Ability to work flexible hours (including some weekends and evenings), as needed, within the full-time weekly schedule
  • Ability to work effectively from a home office
  • Ability to work in a remote team setting
  • Spanish language skills preferred but not required

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary Range Transparency:
Category Level: Manager (Regional Manager - Organizing)
Salary Range: $60,000 Minimum - $83,000 Maximum

How Does the Surfrider Foundation Establish Salary Ranges? 
The Surfrider Foundation researches, evaluates, and compares like-sized non-profit organizations to establish ranges for each position level to ensure that employees are justly compensated. The established range takes multiple factors into account; experience, educational background, scope and complexity of work, special skills, added value to the organization, geographic cost-of-living, inflation/current market demand, equity, and more. The Surfrider Foundation prides itself on a high rate of retention, with 32% of staff having been employed with the organization for 10+ years. Please keep in mind that the maximum end of our ranges also account for longevity and tenure within the role.

BENEFITS: 

  • Health: Medical, dental and vision benefit premiums are paid 100% by Surfrider Foundation for employee-only coverage. Dependents may be added on at an additional cost.
  • 401(k) Plan: offering a match of .50¢ of every dollar contributed by the employee up to a maximum of 4% of earnings (in other terms, a 2% employer match).
  • Vacation Accrual: Enjoy a generous allotment of vacation days per year. Rollover unused days to the following year, subject to company maximum accrual policy.
  • Sick Time Accrual: 12 sick days/year
  • Holidays: 20 paid holidays total in 2026
  • Happy Healthy Summer Fridays: We provide several half Fridays to get outside and enjoy an early start to your weekend!
  • Parental Leave: Surfrider provides 6 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
  • Other Benefits: Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Employee Assistance program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or Health Savings Account (HSA). 

TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter and resume when you apply here!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

January 7, 2026

JEDI COMMITMENT:

The Surfrider Foundation is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization for all people who protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches. Our success and impact depend on learning from our community, standing in solidarity with our allies and working towards a more just future, both for our organization and the environmental movement as a whole.

The Surfrider Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Together we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class.

To learn more about our Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments, please visit: https://www.surfrider.org/pages/diversity-equity-inclusion