Energy Finance Campaign Director- Washington DC.

Organization: Oil Change International

Position Title: Energy Finance Campaign Director

Location: Washington DC.

Hours & Compensation: Full time. Commensurate with experience

Application Deadline: Not listed.

Position Title: Finance Campaign Director

Location: Washington, DC preferred (London, New York, or San Francisco eventually possible for the right candidate)

Reports to: Executive Director

Target Start Date: As soon as possible. Position is open until filled.

About the Position:

According to the International Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and others, more than two-thirds of currently proven fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground in order to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. Given this increasingly scientifically-accepted reality, further expansion of fossil fuel reserves should be halted as soon as possible, and plans must be made to leave already known fossil fuels in the ground untouched.

Stopping the further expansion of fossil fuel reserves will require a sea change in the approach of governments, private financial actors – and the industry itself – to fossil fuel exploration and production. Ultimately, keeping current proven fossil fuel reserves in the ground will also require answering contentious questions of how the world will determine which reserves to leave unexploited.

But fossil fuel companies, particularly in the oil and gas sector, continue to invest billions annually in exploring for more reserves. Oil and gas companies are helped and encouraged by investors, who consider reserves growth a key metric indicator of future profitability. They are also helped by government subsidies some of which have been in place for a century.

The successful applicant will work with OCI’s Research and Campaigns teams to develop and implement strategies to encourage the finance sector to end its dependence on fossil fuel reserves growth and play a greater role in preventing climate disaster and financing a clean energy future. In the short term, this will involve focusing on stopping the most expensive, highest carbon reserves, such as the Arctic and tar sands.

Using OCI’s unique research and analysis capacity, which draws from multiple subscription data sources and years of experience working on energy and climate, the Finance Campaign Director will help develop our analysis of the sector to build a campaign and communications strategy that underpin multiple tactics that target both the finance sector and public institutions.

The Finance Campaign Director will lead our campaigns to get both private and public finance out of fossil fuel supply. This is a job for a smart, dedicated, creative and persistent activist who is not easily deterred by long odds.

About Oil Change International:

Oil Change International is a non-profit organization that campaigns to expose the true costs of fossil fuels and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. We’re a nimble, gutsy group that wages hard-hitting campaigns, grounded in solid and credible research, to push the energy industry towards an environmentally and socially sustainable future. We work together with a broad network of diverse allies, in the United States and globally, that are committed to identifying and overcoming political barriers to a clean energy transition and shifting the balance of power in the energy industry.

We are particularly focused on the North American energy boom and exposing its social and environmental impacts. We believe that an All of the Above energy policy is simply climate denial, in a new form. Internationally, we work to expose and end the massive public support going towards the fossil fuel industry as well.

Oil Change is now also expanding its work with the private investment community to highlight the financial risks associated with expanded fossil fuel exploration and the production of extreme fossil fuels.

Founded in 2005, Oil Change International now has more than 130,000 supporters, a creative, passionate and dedicated staff of nine. Known both for our credible, insightful research on the fossil fuel industry and our aggressive nonviolent campaign tactics, Oil Change is a talented group that continues to punch above its weight.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Finance Campaign Director will:

• Develop and implement campaign strategies and tactics to discourage private investment in extreme fossil fuels and fossil fuel exploration and to end public fossil fuel subsidies;
• Work with other NGOs, the investment community, government officials, and other decision makers to expose and slow financial support to fossil fuels;
• Develop appropriate communications strategies to persuade decision makers that fossil fuels are a risky investment and that it is time to stop public support for the fossil fuel industry;
• Develop and cultivate champions to advance finance campaign messages and goals;
• Represent Oil Change International in various forums, and conduct old and new media outreach to amplify key messages;
• Participate in the senior management team of Oil Change International and help lead the organization in conducting effective campaigns and building capacity to meet the challenges faced by clean energy, good government, environmental and economic justice advocates.

Qualifications

• College degree or equivalent experience in economics, finance, public policy, or related field;
• 5 or more years of experience with advocacy efforts addressing finance, energy or climate change issues; and/or substantial experience working within the finance sector on energy;
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Willingness to travel;
• Experience advancing messages with old and new media preferred.

Salary: Commensurate with experience, plus generous health, dental and retirement packages.

How to apply:

E-mail cover letter, resume and short writing sample to[email protected] with the subject heading “Finance Campaign Director.”

No snail mail applications or phone calls, please. Due to capacity constraints, we will only be able to reply to short-listed candidates.