Senior Food Campaigner

~ 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 is working 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. 

Position Overview

Friends of the Earth is seeking a Senior Food Campaigner to help to conceive, design and implement cutting edge, strategic policy and markets campaigns and initiatives that focus on education, organizing and building power to advance a sustainable and just food future. This position will help lead Friends of the Earth’s work aimed at reducing consumption of industrial animal foods; growing the market and policy support for regenerative, grass-fed and organic meat and dairy; and supporting a rapid and large-scale shift towards plant-forward, climate-conscious procurement, sustainable diets and regenerative agriculture. The Senior Campaigner will also provide leadership in Washington DC to aggressively block Trump administration efforts to weaken food and agriculture programs and regulations that protect public health, workers and the environment, particularly in the area of animal agriculture.

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.

Friends of the Earth’s Food and Technology Program is working to rapidly transition our food system to one that is sustainable, healthy and just — the food system of the future. We carry out market and policy campaigns aimed at protecting pollinators, reforming animal agriculture and reducing the harmful environmental, health and social impacts of industrial agriculture and while advocating for local, just, humane, organic, climate-resilient regenerative food production. We also work to ensure the safe and precautionary management of chemicals and emerging technologies.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Policy Development and Advocacy

• Build effective, broad-based coalitions and strategies to advance Friends of the Earth’s policy agenda and advocacy strategy around the support for regenerative, pasture-based grass-fed and organic livestock systems, equitable rural economic development, and the dismantling of subsidies that support factory farming, with a major focus on the Farm Bill.
• Provide leadership in key policy coalitions pertaining to regenerative livestock systems, factory farming, and social/economic justice in the agriculture sector.
• Conduct research and analysis to develop reports and articles, factsheets, web content and other campaign materials in support of Friends of the Earth policy campaigns.
• Develop and implement effective strategies to promote climate friendly and sustainable food public procurement practices and policies among municipal and federal agencies.
• Represent Friends of the Earth in key meetings with administration officials and members of Congress.
• Lead and organize efforts to resist egregious Trump administration policies and hires.

Market Campaigns

• Help implement strategic markets campaigns aimed at promoting less and better meat—and more plant based foods in the restaurant sector.
• Design and implement new innovative campaigns to reduce the power of industrial meat companies and reduce the consumption of industrially produced animal products.
• Provide leadership and represent Friends of the Earth in coalitions working to transform markets and diminish the power of the big meat companies.

Organizing, Communications and Fundraising

• Carry out outreach, public education, online and offline organizing, traditional and social media, press monitoring and outreach, narrative development in support of Friends of the Earth’s policy and market campaigns in conjunction with the Food & Technology Deputy Director, Communications team and other stakeholders.
• Represent Friends of the Earth in media interviews and at public events to support campaign objectives and reach key audiences.
• Work with the Food & Technology Deputy Director and Development department to develop and implement a fundraising plan, foundation proposals and membership materials; cultivate relationships with donors and foundations.
• Manage staff and interns as needed.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Requirements

• 5 to 10 or more years of experience and demonstrated success in policy and market campaigning, research, organizing, and policy advocacy (not necessarily environmental), preferably at a campaign-oriented organization.
• Excellent research, analytical, writing, project management, fundraising, staff management, communication and public speaking skills.
• Ability to travel frequently to Washington DC (if not based in DC).

Skills and Knowledge

• A demonstrated commitment to the environment and social justice, and ability to work with diverse organizations and coalitions.
• Experience with policy, corporate engagement and market/corporate campaign organizing.
• Strong understanding of supply chains and regenerative farming practices.
• Background in science or science policy preferred but not required.
• A strategic mindset that grasps opportunities in both short-term and long-term contexts and a desire to have a major impact on policy debates through hard-hitting advocacy.
• Knowledge and understanding of legislative and executive branch processes and strategic approach to both policy and politics.
• Ability to balance and successfully complete a wide range of campaign activities including advocacy, online and offline organizing, public speaking, policy development, research, communications and fundraising.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to inspire trust and respect among colleagues and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and tasks at once in a self-directed manner, ability to work collaboratively as part of a fast-moving and results-oriented team, ability to work in coordination with a diverse group of 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. The ability to produce clear, concise, persuasive and powerful writing on tight deadlines. 
• Excellent decision-making skills, professional initiative, time management, prioritization and networking skills, demonstrated initiative, flexibility and creativity.
• Ability to work with remote staff and supervisors.
• Fundraising experience including writing and securing foundation grants.
• Willing and able to travel frequently (particularly in the East and Southeast regions).

Compensation: Friends of the Earth offers a competitive salary and benefits package based on experience.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to e-mail cover letter, resume, short writing sample and salary history, with the subject heading “Senior Food Campaigner.”
• No mail applications or phone calls.
• Position will remain open until filled.

~ 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. ~