Climate Action Campaign and Events Specialist

2020 is a milestone year for many climate commitments, as well as the 50th Anniversary of Ecology Action and Earth Day.  We are seeking an experienced event and project manager to become our Climate Action Campaign and Events Specialist.  This role will oversee the implementation of EA's 50th Anniversary Climate Action Campaign and coordinate the Santa Cruz Earth Day event. This 30 hour per week position is currently budgeted through December 31, 2019, with a strong possibility of extension, pending 2020 budget approval. 

Position Summary

Climate Action Campaign

In 2018 our team envisioned a plan to leverage this momentous year for climate action and expand Ecology Action's reach and engagement.  This year-long Climate Action Campaign aims to reach 100,000 individuals through messaging and to engage 50,000 community members for climate action in 2020. We have additional targets for donor and volunteer engagement.

Key activities include:

• a series of events with high profile partners,
• a clear action plan that rolls up potential gHg reductions from our collective action and online platform,
• and expanded reach through new skilled volunteer teams

This new position will coordinate the cross-team committee as we develop the implementation plan, lead key planning tasks to launch pilot elements in Q4 of this year, and launch the campaign in January 2020.

Earth Day Event

Earth Day Santa Cruz is a premier event attracting thousands of attendees and providing substantial exposure to, and recognition of environmental programs within the community. Our local Earth Day celebration is the largest environmental event for the greater Santa Cruz area. The Events Specialist will work with our departing Earth Day Coordinator and collaborate with other members of the planning committee to coordinate this year's event on Saturday, April 20th. 

Responsibilities

Climate Action Campaign Specialist (50%)

• Join the cross-team planning committee and become oriented to the campaign
• Within a few months, take the lead on coordination of committee meetings, notes and facilitation
• Join all the working committees:
  • Develop content for climate action steps and program elements with the Events/Program committee
  • Lead on stakeholder engagement with the Fundraising committee
  • Inform the skilled volunteer elements with the Volunteer committee
  • Serve as the bridge from other committees in the Marketing committee
• Attend discovery meetings with high profile potential partners. Pick up the relationship as their primary contact, stewarding those relationships and leading on coordination and implementation of all collaborative activities.
• Implement key campaign planning tasks once decided to include securing venues, reserving dates/facilities with partners, and implementing partnership contracts.

Earth Day Coordination and Committee Facilitation (60%)

Partner with our current Earth Day Coordinator for this year's event to lead on EA's roles:

• Facilitating the Earth Day Committee, organizing meetings, agendas and annual calendar with our City and County event implementation partners
• Manage the project budget and all accounting tasks for the committee
• Partner with EA Development staff to secure financial sponsorships
• Partner with EA Marketing team to:
  • Coordinate and execute a marketing plan for the event
  • Develop a marketing strategy to increase EA's reach at the event and translate attendance into climate/environmental action.
  • Manage the scearthday.org website with annual updates and evolutions
• Strategize and lead our EA Program and Marketing staff on the theme, staffing and activities for the Ecology Action booth and presence at the event.
• Partner with EA Volunteer Specialist or recruit a UCSC intern to serve as a volunteer coordinator for the event and manage volunteer engagement
• Work with other committee members in event planning and logistics and support as needed.
• Explore with Committee and EA staff how to increase diversity of communities engaged, increase attendance, translate attendance into climate/environmental action, and generate increases in volunteers and donors for EA, with a focus on strong integration of Earth Day into EA's Climate Action Campaign for our 50th in 2020.

Support for other Ecology Action Events (10%)

• With direction from our Adult Bike Specialist, independently complete assigned planning and delivery tasks to support our early May and early October Bike to Work/School events.
• With direction from our Director of Strategic Fund Development, lead on or support fundraising event activities including donor receptions, speaking events and our annual October donor/volunteer appreciation event.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• 3-5 years demonstrated success developing and managing campaigns and large events
• Experience coordinating volunteers
• Professional relationship and client management skills for high profile partner and donor stewardship
• Prior experience building relationships with prospective businesses and securing business sponsorships
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects independently, including coordinating with multiple internal and external teams and partners to on-time and on-budget delivery
• Creative and strategic thinker that can trouble shoot and work independently as well as with a team
• Comfortable with simple data analysis and experience with program evaluation
• Strong writing skills to support collaborative relationships, content for trainings and outreach materials
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook), Outlook, One-drive, and Teams
• Excellent time management, organizational and written and oral communication skills
• Passion for biking and active transportation
• Availability to work weekend days and evenings as necessary

Desired Qualifications

• Proficient in Spanish
• Experience developing and leveraging skilled volunteers to deliver campaigns and initiatives
• Prior Experience working in sales, environmental public education, and/or community organizing
• Familiarity with the business sponsorship community and community leaders in the City and County of Santa Cruz
• A passion for accelerating climate action at a scale and speed appropriate to the challenge

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, talk and hear, and use a computer keyboard and monitor. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. 

Work Environment: The work environment is an office setting and time in the field at events and other business related functions.

Compensation: Ecology Action offers a competitive salary and a generous benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision and flexible spending benefits; a 401k-retirement plan with a 4% match; and group life insurance. Driving an insured personal vehicle on company business is required, and mileage reimbursement is provided at the Federal rate.

More About Us

Ecology Action is an award-winning non-profit consultancy that provides innovative solutions to the energy, water, and transportation challenges of cities, governments, and utilities across California. We have four decades of experience helping people make simple yet profound changes that have big environmental impact.  We believe that when individuals and businesses make simple changes in their behavior they drive large scale changes that benefit people and the planet.  This translates into reduced carbon emissions, stronger businesses, healthier communities and a sustainable future for all.  Together, we help people, businesses and communities act now.

Ecology Action believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success and should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. This position description outlines primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but is not intended to be a comprehensive description of job responsibilities. We expect each employee to offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Ecology Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in its workforce. Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work directly as an employee for any employer in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Ecology Action does not offer a company paid relocation program.