Global Plastics & Petrochemicals (Senior) Campaigner

POSITION TITLE: Campaigner or Senior Campaigner, Global Plastics & Petrochemicals

CAMPAIGN FOCUS: Global Petrochemical Strategy Coordination for the BFFP Movement

PROGRAM: Fossil Economy

SUPERVISOR: Campaign Manager, Global Petrochemicals

LOCATION: Remote (or in our Geneva, Switzerland or Washington, DC office)

SALARY RANGE: Campaigner: USD $61,000 - $75,000/year (depending on qualifications)

Senior Campaigner: USD $75,000 - $94,000/year (depending on qualifications)

DURATION: This is a one-year contract with the potential to extend based on renewed funding

DEADLINE: November 5, 2024

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

As pressure to decarbonize energy and transport mounts, petrochemical production - from plastic to agrochemicals and other fossil fuel-derived chemicals - is the fossil fuel industry’s Plan B. Addressing petrochemicals is therefore a key component of any global strategy to stop plastic pollution and to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

The Break Free from Plastic (BFFP) movement’s EU-transatlantic petrochemical task force and global working group have made significant progress towards developing a strategy and creating a joint work plan and coordinated activities. The overall and long-term goal is to stop the petrochemical build-out for plastic production and manage the decline of the petrochemicals industry towards a just transition, with a goal of reducing and ultimately phasing out virgin fossil plastic production.

The Global Plastics & Petrochemicals Campaign Campaigner (or Senior Campaigner) will be responsible for advancing this work together with other CIEL staff members and BFFP’s global coordination team, enabling partners in different regions to lead the implementation of relevant projects and activities, and creating synergies across movements, including with those focused on oil and gas. The position will be based in CIEL’s Fossil Economy program, supervised by the Global Petrochemicals Campaign Manager, and will work closely with colleagues in CIEL’s Fossil Economy, Climate & Energy, and Environmental Health programs to enable an effective and collaborative implementation of the joint strategies.

The position requires work within international coalitions and movements and across timezones, as well as extensive international travel, occasionally for periods of 2+ weeks (health guidance permitting).

While the job duties are similar for a Campaigner or Senior Campaigner, a Senior Campaigner is expected to bring significantly more expertise and experience in leading international coalition work and movement building on relevant subject matters. A Senior Campaigner will also be expected to take leadership in and facilitate campaign development and strategy setting and take a more prominent role in representing CIEL in external and media spaces. The job title will be determined based on the qualifications of the candidate.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Campaign Coordination and Implementation (55%):

• In conjunction with the CIEL supervisor, relevant CIEL staff, and the BFFP coordination team, facilitate and coordinate the implementation of the agreed BFFP global petrochemical strategy, overseeing relevant work and advocacy across regions to advance measurable progress towards strategic priorities and objectives, ensuring the highest quality work product:
  • Build, coordinate, strengthen, and/or mobilize diverse members, facilitate strategic conversations, and ensure significant movement participation in key and coordinated activities in support of the shared strategy.
  • Liaise with leadership in the BFFP movement.
  • Lead joint planning to develop audacious and achievable goals, actionable plans, and indicators of progress.
  • Coordinate the design and updating of the BFFP petrochemical strategy to educate and mobilize various movement partners to advance campaign goals.
  • Lead, organize, and coordinate relevant events.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of relevant policies, industry trends, political and regulatory frameworks, and issue areas.
  • Maintain effective working relationships with relevant partner and member organizations and movements/networks, including frontline/grassroots partners, as well as government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and/or other stakeholders.
  • Represent CIEL (and when relevant, BFFP) before policymakers, in media interviews, and at public events to contribute to strategic objectives.
• Coordinate with the CIEL Communications Department (and when relevant, the BFFP Communications Hub) to develop and distribute materials and compelling content that advance campaign goals, including fact sheets, press releases, webinars, videos, and other informational materials. Engage in media and communications activities will be performed in line with the agreed communications protocol jointly developed by CIEL and BFFP for this purpose.

Project Management (40%):

• Manage the BFFP Petrochemical Coordination project, including tracking its budget and key elements, and preparing reports and follow-up proposals in coordination with CIEL’s development department.
• Facilitate information flow within the CIEL Fossil Economy program, other CIEL programs, and across BFFP membership.
• Advise and oversee identified projects essential to advancing the BFFP petrochemical strategy.
• Lead or seed and support the implementation of key projects to achieve the goals of the BFFP Petrochemicals strategy.
• Perform other job-related duties as requested or assigned by the CIEL supervisor

Administration (5%):

• Maintain timesheets and submit them on time.
• Meet regularly with the CIEL supervisor and BFFP global coordinator for annual and quarterly work planning
• Meet periodically as requested, with CIEL program director, CIEL leadership, and other team members at CIEL and BFFP.
• Participate in weekly staff and team meetings and other organizational activities at CIEL, including an annual staff performance evaluation.
• Meet target dates, prioritize tasks, and ensure high-quality work.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Campaigner: 3 years of relevant experience in advocacy campaigning, strategic campaigning, movement building or related coordination.
• Sr. Campaigner: 5 years of relevant experience in advocacy campaigning and strategic campaign coordination, movement building or related coordination.
• Experience with plastics and/or petrochemicals in an advocacy setting, and familiarity with the drivers and impacts of climate change and the fossil fuel industry.
• Strong alignment with the principles of environmental justice and BFFP movement values of trust, respect, diversity, inclusion, and equity.
• Project management skills, including delivering multiple priorities by target dates, and demonstrated experience working with flexible timelines and clear deliverables.
• Able to work both separately and collaboratively, in close coordination across teams.
• Comfort working with and facilitating generative conversations for a wide range of constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to distill key messages from technical information, legal arguments, research, and proposals, and translate them to different audiences.
• Comfort admitting what you don’t know and recognizing that seeking and receiving feedback is part of the learning process.
• Awareness of how your words and actions affect others, openness to and respect for others’ perspectives.
• Able to travel internationally, and for extended periods of 2+ weeks (public safety guidelines permitting).

Desired Qualifications:

• Professional proficiency in French and/or Spanish
• Experience in/knowledge of working cross-culturally, with a preference for experience in/with Africa, Asia Pacific, or Latin American and Caribbean.

Location note: This position may be eligible to work from the following locations:

• Remotely from a non-US country, depending on the country and provided you can work within South/North American and African/European time zones AND have obtained your own legal work authorization. Due to restrictions, not all countries will be eligible for remote hiring.
• Hybrid from our Geneva, Switzerland office provided you have the ability to legally work in Switzerland (i.e., a citizen of EU/EFTA member states)
• In our Washington, DC office or elsewhere in the United States (some jurisdictions excluded) provided you have the ability to legally work in the US.