Outreach Coordinator, Tropical Forest & Climate Initiative, Climate and Energy Program – Berkeley, CA
Organization: Union of Concerned Scientists
Position Title: Outreach Coordinator, Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative
Location: Berkeley, CA
Hours & Compensation: Full-time. For candidates who meet all position requirements, the salary is around $50,000.
Position Dates: Time-limited, three year position.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2013 or until filled.
Organization Overview:
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
What began as a collaboration between students and faculty members at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1969 is now an alliance of more than 400,000 citizens and scientists. UCS members are people from all walks of life: parents and businesspeople, biologists and physicists, teachers and students. Our members understand that scientific analysis—not political calculations or corporate hype—should guide our efforts to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
Our experts work on some of the most complex and daunting problems in our history: stemming the tide of global warming, finding sustainable ways to feed, power and transport ourselves, and reducing the threat of catastrophic war. Our achievements over the decades show that thoughtful action based on the best available science can help safeguard our future and the future of our planet.
Description:
The Outreach Coordinator will work to advance the goals of the Tropical Forest & Climate Initiative (TFCI)’s palm oil campaign by coordinating and implementing a variety of outreach activities aimed at changing corporate and public policies related to tropical forests and palm oil. This will include engaging on federal and international governmental policies in addition to corporate sustainability policies. Priorities include:
- Actively participating in and leading projects within a multi-year outreach campaign to reduce tropical deforestation in corporate supply chains, specifically focused on palm oil;
- Engaging UCS activists, experts, and coalition partners to achieve policy and public education goals on palm oil and land use, and
- Assisting with research and advocacy.
Responsibilities:
- Working closely with the TFCI outreach team to conceive, develop, and implement outreach plans to advance the corporate and public policy goals of the TFCI’s palm oil work.
- Engage UCS activists, experts, and other interested individuals in a variety of consumer and constituent outreach initiatives to achieve the TFCI goals.
- Craft emails, web pages and other products to engage various audiences in the TFCI palm oil and land use work.
- Research targets, policies, and supply chains to strengthen TFCI campaigns and advocacy efforts.
- Organize and participate in public outreach tours to promote UCS reports and products.
- Assist with research and drafting of TFCI analytical products such as fact sheets and reports.
- Assist in advocacy activities such as meeting with corporate leaders and decision-makers.
- Work with coalitions and professional associations with shared goals on tropical forests and climate.
- Manage TFCI outreach efforts at scientific meetings and conferences, including taking primary responsibility for all logistical arrangements related to TFCI conference appearances.
- Lead TFCI outreach to the UCS Science Network, including with developing trainings for this audience on policy and advocacy opportunities.
- Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in an outreach, organizing, or campaign position is required, preferably in a non-profit environment.
- Experience working in a corporate sustainability initiative can be substituted for campaign experience.
- Successful campaign experience in changing corporate behaviors is desirable.
- Experience with campaign planning and strategy development is required, as is a solid level of understanding of database maintenance, online organizing tools, and Microsoft Office.
- Knowledge of corporate sustainability, palm oil, and/or other forest and land use issues is preferred.
- Experience working on international policies is also a very strong plus.
- Applicants should possess a bachelor’s degree.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, balance a multitude of tasks, be a self-starter, and collaborate as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
- Strong communication and public speaking skills.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with professionals who may be expert and/or prominent in their fields.
- At UCS, comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.
