Food and Agriculture Campaign Associate

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 healthier and more 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 over the last 50 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.

Friends of the Earth’s Food and Agriculture Program is working to rapidly transition our food system to one that is sustainable, healthy and just. 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 while advocating for local, equitable, humane, organic and regenerative food production. We also work to ensure the safe and precautionary management of chemicals and emerging technologies.

Position Overview

We are seeking to hire a talented and dedicated individual to help support Friends of the Earth’s BeeAction campaign. The position will support the BeeAction policy and markets campaigns and initiatives that focus on education, organizing and building power to eliminate the use of toxic pesticides, protect pollinators and advance a healthy, sustainable and just food system.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement strategic campaign plans (including research, outreach, public education, online and offline organizing, traditional and social media, and markets and policy advocacy) in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Campaigner, Senior Staff Scientist, Communications team and other stakeholders.
• Organize, collaborate with and mobilize a broad, diverse and powerful base of allies in support of Friends of the Earth’s BeeAction campaign.
• Educate members of Congress, the administration, state and local legislators and institution policy makers on pollinator health, pesticides and agriculture issues.
• Conduct research and analysis to develop reports and articles, factsheets, web content and other campaign materials on pollinator health, food, agriculture and pesticides to educate allies, opinion leaders, policymakers, the press and the public.
• Coordinate and organize events such as rallies, petition deliveries, panel discussions, film screenings and weeks of action.
• Represent Friends of the Earth at public events to support campaign objectives and reach key audiences.
• Engage and train activists and volunteers.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• One year of experience in campaigning, organizing, policy advocacy (not necessarily environmental), and/or legislative work at the federal or state level.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Occasional local, regional and national travel.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a fast-moving and results-oriented team, with a diverse group of coalition partners, and in a changing environment.

Preferred Skills

• A demonstrated commitment to the environment and social justice.
• Knowledge and experience with the legislative process.
• 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.
• Ability to balance and successfully complete a wide range of activities including advocacy, research, communications, policy development, and organizing.

To Apply

E-mail cover letter, resume and short writing sample to jobs@foe.org with the subject heading “Sustainable Food Campaign Associate.” 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.