FOREST CAMPAIGNER

FOREST CAMPAIGNER

Position: Forest Campaigner
Organization: Ancient Forest Alliance
Location: Vancouver Island or Lower Mainland (home office). Must be willing/able to travel to Victoria occasionally.

Duration: Full-time, permanent contract position
Salary range: $55,000-60,000 per annum
Deadline for applications: Sunday, May 2, 2021
Start date: May 17, 2021

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is a registered non-profit society dedicated to protecting BC’s remarkable and endangered old-growth forests while ensuring a sustainable, second-growth forest industry. The AFA has grown rapidly since our founding in 2010, reaching international audiences through our hard-hitting advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns. We specialize in public education and engagement, building alliances with key allies, research, and lobbying governments to achieve policy change for BC’s ancient forests. In 2020, the NDP provincial government made a promise to overhaul BC’s forest policies and increase protection of old-growth forests. By joining the AFA at this pivotal time, you could be part of one of the greatest old-growth conservation wins in BC’s history.

Position Overview:

The AFA is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Forests Campaigner to help develop and implement innovative campaigns that raise awareness, inspire action and influence decision-makers. Reporting to the Executive Team, the Forests Campaigner is responsible for building alliances and working cooperatively with First Nations leadership, engaging “non-traditional” allies, lobbying the BC government to enact legislative changes, and mobilizing citizens through traditional and digital channels. Based from the candidate’s home office anywhere on Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland, this critical role will support the delivery of major campaign projects designed to significantly impact outcomes for old-growth forests, biodiversity and communities. Bring your well-honed people skills, passion for nature, strategic thinking and creativity to the task of protecting BC’s spectacular ancient forests.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the AFA team to develop strategies and execute online and offline organizing tactics to mobilize citizens, raise awareness, push for policy change, and engage key allies
• Help coordinate campaign projects (e.g. external research) and manage project timelines and budgets.
• Engage and build relationships with First Nations leaders and governments, municipal leaders, and community groups to support efforts to protect old-growth forests and diversify local economies
• Meet and negotiate with key partners, stakeholders, government and industry officials, and non-traditional allies (e.g. chambers of commerce, tourism associations)
• Organize and deliver public events, presentations, rallies, forums, hikes and meetings
• Help plan and develop persuasive media releases, newsletters, and other campaign materials
• Engage the news media and act as a spokesperson for the old-growth campaign
• Explore and help document endangered old-growth forests.

Essential Skills & Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in a similar role working on an environmental or social justice campaign
• Understanding of issues related to environmental conservation, climate change, BC’s forest sector, forest ecology, and/or BC politics
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing online and offline campaign and organizing strategies and tactics
• Experience engaging and working with impacted communities (local governments and grassroots groups), Indigenous leadership, and other allies (e.g. in the business sector, scientific community, etc.)
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.

The successful candidate(s) is someone who:

• Is passionate about old-growth conservation
• Thinks strategically while considering social, political, economic, and other relevant factors at play
• Is skilled at making complex ideas understandable and appropriate to specific audiences
• Experience working with Indigenous leadership and impacted communities
• Is mature, independent, and has sound judgement
• Has strong organizational and project management skills
• Takes initiative, is highly self-motivated, and works independently, while also being a strong contributor to a vibrant team
• Can work effectively under pressure and prioritize in order to meet deadlines.

Why work for the AFA?

• Save the remaining old growth forests in BC
• Tight-knit, highly motivated, and supportive team
• Friendly and flexible work environment
• Occasional team trips to beautiful, remote old-growth forests
• Opportunities for professional development
• The chance to learn about and contribute meaningfully to an important cause during a critical time.

How to apply:

The deadline to apply is Sunday, May 2, 2021

Please submit your application to Andrea at [email protected] with “Application: Campaigner” in the subject line.

Please send a cover-letter and resume/CV in one PDF document with only your first and last names in the file name.

No phone calls please. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The AFA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, sexual orientation or nature of disability. Please feel free to self-identify in your application if you would like to.