Campaign Manager, Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative – Washington, D.C.; Cambridge, MA; or Berkeley, CA
Organization: Union of Concerned Scientists
Position Title: Campaign Manager, Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative
Location: Washington, DC (preferred); Cambridge, MA; or Berkeley, CA
Hours & Compensation: Full-time. For candidates who meet all position requirements, the salary is in the high $60,000s.
Application Deadline: May 28, 2013.
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 Campaign Manager, Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative (TCFI) directs UCS’ campaigns to achieve the goal of zero deforestation, particularly that caused by palm oil, by 2020. Directs the TFCI’s advocacy campaigns; leads the TFCI’s business advocacy and partnership work with other NGOs and consulting companies; coordinate with the TCFI Director ofon major programmatic decisions around planning, hiring, strategy, and priorities; represents the TFCI to media and the general public; and represents UCS in the General Assembly of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm oil.
Responsibilities:
Direct TFCI Campaigns. Lead the development and implementation of TFCI campaigns, including our work to influence decisions that lead to tropical deforestation through direct advocacy to governments and businesses, and through grassroots and grasstops outreach strategies.
- Supervise the TFCI Outreach Coordinator and consultants.
- Conceive, plan, and direct TFCI campaigns. Develop strategies, analyze opportunities, draw up target lists, and develop tactics. Coordinate appropriate media and online strategies to publicize advocacy activities.
- Lead TFCI Outreach Activities. Lead implementation of outreach goals for TFCI campaigns and projects, including educating and mobilizing UCS members and supporters on program issues.
- Direct online activism, social media, web presence, and contributions to UCS publications. Translate TFCI analytical materials into online and offline materials for activists and ScienceNetwork members.
- Direct offline activities, including conferences, scientist recruitment, media and member events.
- Manage partnerships with other organizations and lead a coalition of organizations pursuing similar goals, developing coordinated outreach strategies and activities for optimum effectiveness.
Lead the TFCI’s business advocacy. A major piece of TFCI’s campaigning will be focused on corporations. Engaging and advocating directly with business executives, such as Vice-Presidents for Sustainability and Supply Chain Managers from major global corporations, will be a critical component of this work.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with major business representatives and staff, and advocates from other nonprofit organizations; initiate contacts or respond to inquiries to present, explain, and promote UCS positions on palm oil and other drivers of deforestation in supply chains.
- Contribute to the development of policies and initiatives within businesses, roundtables, and business-member organizations, promoting and supporting UCS goals; enlist support for policies and initiatives from the business community, other NGOs, and the scientific community.
- Analyze and monitor the progress of policies in businesses and other organizations, provide information or assistance as needed; devise and recommend strategies to promote the strengthening and adoption of policies; assess impacts on UCS agenda; identify opportunities for action
Lead the TFCI’s partnership work with other NGOs and consulting companies
- Develop and maintain partnerships with NGOs and consulting companies working to reduce deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Represent UCS in coalition meetings and discussions with these partners
- Draft and review partnership agreements and joint statements, and organize and co-sponsor joint events
- Work with partners to draft joint funding proposals and to report on actions taken as part of partnerships and coalitions. Serve as UCS’ contact person and liaison for such partnerships
Coordinate with TFCI Director on major programmatic decisions,including planning, hiring, strategy, and priorities.
Represent the TFCI as appropriate in internal groups and work with the TFCI Director to help create effective annual program plans.
Represent UCS to the media and general public. Translate technical information into layperson-friendly language; respond to media inquiries and requests for information; give speeches and attend conferences.
Represent UCS as our voting member in the General Assembly of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Attend RSPO meetings and follow the work of RSPO Task Forces and Committees. Work with TFCI Director to determine and advocate for UCS positions and policy objectives in the RSPO. Vote in the General Assembly and RSPO for UCS.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree
- Strong and demonstrated management skills
- Knowledge of corporate decision-making processes and corporate activities and policies related to tropical deforestation and land use
- Demonstrated ability to conceive, plan, and implement effective advocacy components of issue campaigns at the national and state level
- Knowledge of web-related and online tools for activism and marketing
- Project and budget management skills
- Ability to communicate and work effectively in groups
- Proficiency in word processing and internet research
- Working knowledge of tropical forest policy is required
- Familiarity with climate science, ecology, environmental science, international climate policy, orsustainable development policy is highly desirable.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to interact professionally with UCS colleagues and donors, senior scientists, and policymakers
- Demonstrated ability to write for and speak to lay audiences
- Strong quantitative analytic skills, including using spreadsheets and statistical methods
- 7-10 years of relevant experience developing campaign strategy and tactics
- Demonstrated commitment to the application of science to public policy, espeically on tropical forest and land use issues
- Experience organizing activists, coordinating outreach events, directing online marketing or activist, and supervising field organizers.
How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter, salary requirements, how you learned about the position, a short writing sample (preferably related to campaigning/outreach) and resume via email to [email protected]. Email materials in Word or PDF format only and include “TFCI Campaign Manager” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Deadline: May 28, 2013 or until filled.
Contact Information:
Union of Concerned Scientists, http://www.ucsusa.org
1825 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
