Friends of the Earth Job Vacancy: Forests Campaigner - Colombia

Friends of the Earth U.S., founded by David Brower in 1969, is the U.S. voice of the world’s largest federation of grassroots environmental groups, with a presence in 75 countries. Friends of the Earth works to defend the environment and champion a more healthy and just world. We are a hard-hitting, progressive environmental organization that pulls no punches and speaks sometimes uncomfortable truth to power. It’s an approach that has worked for more than 45 years, resulting in landmark environmental laws, precedent-setting legal victories and groundbreaking reforms of domestic and international regulatory, corporate and financial institution policies.

To accomplish our mission, Friends of the Earth works at the nexus of environmental protection, economic policy and social justice to fundamentally transform the way our country and the world value people and the environment. Our current campaigns focus on promoting clean energy and solutions to climate change, ensuring the food we eat and products we use are sustainable and safe for our health and the environment, and protecting marine ecosystems and the people who live and work near them. This work is carried out by our team of staff in our Berkeley, California and Washington, D.C. offices.

The expansion of agricultural commodities across the tropics is the fastest-growing driver of deforestation and displacement of forest-dwelling communities globally, and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.  Among the commodities implicated in tropical deforestation and displacement, palm oil is far and away the leader.  The palm oil sector receives significant financing from private sector banks and equity investors, and there are few legal or regulatory mechanisms to limit financing that drives forest destruction and land grabbing.

Friends of the Earth’s Land Grabs, Forests, and Finance campaign is working to stem the tide of investment in palm oil-driven land grabs and deforestation and to support communities across the tropics in defending their lands, their forests, and their rights.

Basic functionWe are seeking a creative, talented and dedicated individual to work as part of a team to advance our international land grabs, forests and finance campaign that is pressuring private financial institutions to stop financing tropical forest destruction and the human rights violations that accompany it.

Principal duties and responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis to develop reports and articles, fact sheets, web content, press materials, action alerts and other campaign materials regarding palm oil and other agro-commodities that are grabbing land and devastating tropical forests to educate the public, allies, investors, opinion leaders, policymakers and the press.
• Organize and mobilize a base of supporters and allies to move the targets of our financial markets and policy campaigns, using both digital and off-line organizing strategies.
• Coordinate and collaborate with a wide variety of allies nationally and internationally.
• Represent Friends of the Earth in briefings and other public events in support of campaign objectives.
• Coordinate events such as panel discussions, film screenings, rallies and other actions. 
• Coordinate and implement organizing and public education campaigns. 
• Respond to information requests from activists, coalition members and media, and update materials generated for these audiences.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Three or more years of experience in campaigning, policy advocacy, financial markets advocacy and/or legislative work, focused on international issues, preferably at a campaign-oriented organization.
• BA or MA in a related field.

Skills and knowledge

• A strong commitment to the environment and social justice.
• Experience with organizing and/or pressure campaigning on corporate targets.
• International experience and understanding of development justice; proficiency in Spanish and/or Bahasa Indonesia a plus.
• Desire to have a major impact through hard-hitting advocacy.
• Ability to balance a wide range of campaign activities including advocacy, online and offline organizing, public speaking, research, and communications.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to inspire trust and respect among colleagues and partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and tasks, affinity for collaborative work in coordination with diverse coalition partners and ability to work effectively in a changing environment.
• Sophisticated oral and written communication skills and comfort with presenting material to a wide range of audiences, including the public, the press, businesses and government officials.
• Excellent decision-making skills, professional initiative, time management, prioritization and networking skills, demonstrated initiative, flexibility and creativity.
• Willing and able to travel domestically and possibly internationally.

Friends of the Earth offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits.

To apply

Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff.

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