Water Alliance Captain

Protect Our Winters is seeking a part-time Water Alliance Captain to lead the mobilization of professional water athletes as climate advocates. This role involves managing relationships within the Water Athlete Alliance, facilitating communication, and representing POW at relevant events. The position is part-time (10-20 hours/week) and focuses on empowering athletes to drive climate action. The job is remote, allowing candidates to work from anywhere.
About the position

Protect Our Winters (POW) was founded in 2007 by legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones with a simple and powerful idea: the outdoor community can be one of the most influential forces for climate action. Today, POW is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unites athletes, brands, scientists, creatives, and everyday adventurers into the “Outdoor State,” 181 million people who love the outdoors and want clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet.\n\nWe know what’s at stake. Climate change is already reshaping the places we live and play, fueled by fossil fuel pollution and stalled by policy inaction. POW exists to change that. Through bold campaigns and cross-partisan coalitions, we advocate for more clean energy, defend public lands, mobilize voters, and spark cultural shifts that move policy. If you love the outdoors and want to help solve the challenge of our lifetime, join us on the climb!\n\nIn 2025, POW expanded the scope of its Athlete Alliances to include the communities who recreate on our waterways, coasts, and oceans. Building on the same proven model that has powered POW's snow and mountain alliances, this expansion brings whitewater paddlers, surfers, anglers, and sailors into the fold as credible, community-rooted voices for climate action.\n\nThe approach is the same one POW has refined over the years: identify leaders within their sport, equip them with training and resources, and activate their platforms to drive the systemic policy change we need to meet the climate crisis head-on.\n\nThe POW Water Alliance Captain will lead that work. This part-time position is responsible for coordinating a group of professional water athletes, enabling and deploying them as climate advocates through the full range of resources and infrastructure that POW has to offer. It is an emerging and energizing body of work, built on the belief that empowered athletes can move culture and policy in ways that traditional advocacy cannot. At the same time, POW is actively building relationships with aligned organizations and coalitions already doing critical work in the water space, bringing POW's unique strengths in athlete activation and outdoor community organizing into coordinated efforts that are larger than any one organization.\n\nThis part-time role (approximately 10-20 hours/week) sits at the center of that momentum. If you are passionate about water, climate, and the power of sport to drive real change, this is a rare opportunity to help build something from the ground up.

Responsibilities

ALLIANCE MOBILIZATION, SUPPORT, AND AMPLIFICATION (60%): Serve as the primary relationship manager for POW's Water Athlete Alliance, operating a genuine two-way street between POW and its athlete community leaders. Stay in regular communication with alliance members to understand their needs and priorities, keep them informed about POW campaigns and policy moments, and ensure they are prepared and resourced to take meaningful climate action when the moment calls for it. Represent POW at relevant water sports, conservation, and recreation events, and serve as POW's primary connector to the broader water climate and conservation landscape, building relationships with aligned organizations and coalitions working in the water space.TRACKING & ADMINISTRATION (10%): Weekly preparation for, and participation in, 1:1 meetings, team captains meetings, and staff meetings, while maintaining up-to-date records in Salesforce and conducting annual alliance audits.OPPORTUNISTIC WORK AND SPECIAL PROJECTS (20%): Dedicate time toward emerging opportunities in the water advocacy space, including identifying and cultivating potential new alliance members, supporting POW Water strategy development, and deepening POW's partnerships across the water recreation and conservation ecosystem.OTHER DUTIES (10%): Participate in POW campaigns and activations, engage with alliance members on social media, and collaborate with your manager and the Athlete Engagement & Advocacy Manager on evolving needs and opportunities for POW Water.Requirements

Excellent verbal and written communication skills2+ years working as a contracted athlete ambassador2-3 years of managing formal or informal teams and groups of individualsLeadership experience within a teamProficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, and Google Drive (Salesforce a plus)Understanding of various social platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and StravaA keen eye for social media and creating and documenting engagements for the POW communityUnderstanding of how to organize and activate an eventAbility to balance and support multiple projects simultaneouslyComfortable in a fast-paced environmentPassion for the outdoors and climate actionBenefits

This position will work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week at an hourly rate of $32.50 and is also eligible for a monthly equipment stipend of $150.