Denver Green Festival Regional Director

Co-op America is a leading national green economy organization, based in Washington, DC.  Global Exchange is a leading international human rights organization, based in San Francisco.  With Green Festival as their joint program, it brings together sustainable economy, ecological balance and social justice.

The team that puts on Green Festivals is made up of people all over the country:

• Staff from Co-op America and Global Exchange.
• Seven Star Events, Asheville, NC; event planning, management, operations, sales. 
• Denise Hamler, Green Festival Director, Co-op America in Washington DC
• Greg Roberts, producer; San Francisco, CA
• Green Festival has regional directors in each of its cities - Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC.Ranch 7, Novato, CA; design.
• Earthsite, Fairfax, CA; web design and operation.
• Organic Works, New York, NY, media.
• Executive Co-producers: Alisa Gravitz, Co-op America's executive director and Kevin Danaher, co-founder, Global Exchange

The Green Festival operates as a nonprofit joint venture between Co-op America and Global Exchange.  Its board members are Kevin Danaher and Kirsten Moller, Executive Director, Global Exchange and Alisa Gravitz and Denise Hamler of Co-op America.

Participatory management and our open-book system means that all Green Fest team members are involved in budgeting and long-term financial planning.

The events are held in five major markets annually with an aggressive long-range expansion plan. 

Green Festivals are "parties with a purpose" - weekend long events that showcase the green economy, celebrate what's working in communities and help people, businesses and government learn about how to take their next steps towards creating just and sustainable communities.  Each Green Festival includes over 150 visionary speakers, how-to-workshops, green films, interactive kids' activities, a food court with local, vegetarian food, organic beer and wine garden, and over 350 green business exhibitors.  Between 30,000-40,000 people attend each Festival.

Position Overview: 

The primary role is to work with the Green Festival Executive and Operations teams to produce the Denver Green Festival, May 2-3, 2009.  The Regional Director is located in Denver and ensures that the festival incorporates and engages the diverse cultures/ populations and nonprofit communities in Denver/ Boulder/ Ft Collins region. 

The position requires knowledge of key national and regional environmental and social justice groups.  This position works with the Volunteer Coordinator in organizing/mobilizing 1,200 local volunteers. 

Responsibilities:

1)      Establish Relationships and Participation in the Green Festival:

• Establish relationships with key representatives from the community. Includes outreach plans for key constituencies, including religious, labor, black and Hispanic communities, regional and national social justice and environmental organizations. Involve them in outreach through event magazine and postcard distribution, email, website, and local newsletters
• Work with the sales team on development of business leads appropriate for Green Festival exhibitor participation. Assist in identifying restaurants and caterers who meet our food court standards and provide them information on the value of participating in Green Festival. Identify and meet with NGOs and GOs to promote and enroll participation in Green Festival.

2)      Mobilizing Volunteers and Temporary Staff:

Work with Green Festival Volunteer Coordinator in identifying volunteers and temporary staff for pre-event, onsite and post-event participation in Green Festival.  In collaboration with the Volunteer Coordinator and GF Operations, assist in the training and scheduling for Green Festival and other pre and post Festival events.

3)      Programming:

• Solicit quality presenters for the speaker program that reflect the local and regional expertise on relevant subjects to Denver and the surrounding communities
• Contract and manage presenters including travel, audio-visual needs, publicity and marketing opportunities, and bookselling and signing at Green Festival
• With input from Green Festival team, develop ancillary programs that are interactive, educational or fun such as Movement Room, Children's Green Zone, Film Festival, etc...
• Coordinate presenter schedule with input from Green Festival staff
• Track program related expenses and budget with Festival Operations Director
• Assist with the City Pavilion and city related programming
• Provide onsite management to the Community Stages and other programming areas under the responsibility of the Regional Director
• Provide contact information for nonprofit organizations or associations as requested by the Operation Director.

4)      Event Magazine Production:

Ensure that the Creative Services Production team (Ranch7) has all program and non-profit participant information according to timeline supplied.

Information Includes:

• Complete programming schedule
• All presenter information and appropriate photographs
• Information on Community Area participants, Community Stages, and other special programming areas
• Aid in the editing and proofreading of event magazine
• Co-develop with GF team an event magazine distribution plan and provide coordination for executing plan (Assist in the distribution of the Event Guides/ restocking of the Event Guides)
• Assist in development of event magazine mailing lists
• Coordinate the printing of the Festival Magazine Update including its delivery to Green Festival to the appropriate onsite manager

5)      Track and Report Expenses:

• Prepare statements with which to bill the Green Festival when funds are not received in advance
• Coordinate all financials with the Seven-Star Events and GF financial team
• Track expenses in an excel spreadsheet, keep copies of receipts

6)      Liaison with Green Festival Staff: 

• Assist Producer with local partnership work as needed
• Work with the Operations Director to ensure the logistics of programming is appropriate and possible

7)      Public Relations:

• Assist the Green Festival Producer in local public relations and coordinate with the City of Denver and DOE on media communications strategy regarding GF.
• Manage local distribution of 20K+ event magazines, postcards, posters
• Update festival website as needed
• Work directly with PR firm under contract with story development, copy and information on GF, profile development on green businesses or GF speakers.
• Represent the Festival to local media, including scheduling radio and print interviews with Festival Executive producers
• Edit press releases, assist with their distribution
• Galvanize and enroll exhibitors, presenters, and nonprofits to actively participate in publicizing GF through their stores, websites, newsletters and other media outlets, public relations and marketing activities

8)      Post Green Festival:

• Assist in the post feedback and evaluation of the event.
• Communicate the festival's thanks to all presenters/ speakers with handwritten cards
• Provide assistance in follow-up press releases and interviews
• Provide close of event financial information to Seven-Star Financial team
• Provide any post event updates to website

Qualifications:

• 1. Knowledge of Denver and region. Experience with issue areas of sustainable economics, green business, fair trade, social investing, green energy, climate change issues and resource conservation
• 2. Excellent writing skills. A writing style that is compelling and clear. Ability to explain complex ideas in an easy-to-read style.
• 3. Excellent oral communication skills. Ability to talk confidently, honestly and strategically.
• 4. Ability to work to strict deadlines and to work calmly under pressure.
• 5. Ability to work cooperatively with a team and with minimal supervision.
• 6. Ability to learn quickly, synthesize a large amount of information, and presents it to the public.
• 7. Ability to work independently. Desire and skill to move a project from conception to completion.
• 8. Experience using computers, especially Microsoft Word and Excel and the Internet.

Compensation: Salary range:  $26,000 - $32,000 

Contract Position:  Halftime  August - Sept  Full time  - Oct - May
Application Deadline: August 1, 2008

To Apply: 

Send cover letter and resume to Denise Hamler. 

Co-op America/Green Festival  
1612 K St. NW, #600
Washington, DC 20006

For more information on Green Festivals, Co-op America and Global Exchange visit:

http://www.greenfestivals.org/
http://www.coopamerica.org/
http://www.globalexchange.org/