End Food Waste Campaign Associate

The Public Interest Network; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Time Off

Commuter Benefit

401(k) Match

Parental Leave

Disability Insurance

Student Loan Assistance

Job summary

The Public Interest Network is seeking an End Food Waste Campaign Associate in Portland, OR to join our zero waste team and advance policies that reduce food waste and protect the public interest.

As an entry-level role, you will educate the public, organize coalitions, and work with volunteers while traveling as needed. The position provides exposure to advocacy, media and grassroots organizing with room for growth.

Qualifications

• Entry-level candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Ideal candidates will have leadership experience, top-notch writing and public speaking skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly and be available evenings and weekends.
• Experience in organizing or advocacy is valued.

Responsibilities

• Educate and mobilize the public to support campaign goals.
• Build coalitions across organizations and constituencies.
• Earn traditional and social media attention for the campaign.
• Organize events and recruit volunteers and staff.
• Lobby elected officials at city, state, and federal levels.
• Research and write reports to influence public debate.
• Recruit new volunteers, interns and staff for the team.
• Run a grassroots office in the summer and meet fundraising goals.
• Participate in broader organizational projects and trainings.

Skills

Leadership

Writing

Public speaking

Job description

End Food Waste Campaign Associate

Department: Program

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Portland, OR

Compensation: $40,000 / year

Description

PIRG is hiring an End Food Waste campaign associate to join our zero waste team, to work with us to stand up for consumers and the public interest.

We waste too much food. America throws away roughly 30% of the total food supply every year. By one estimate, if all of the food wasted each year in the U.S. came from a single farm, that farm would be roughly the size of California and New York state combined.

Given the amount of time, energy, and resources involved in growing, processing, and transporting food, the last thing we should do is throw it away, especially if it is still good to eat. We are hiring a campaign associate to educate, organize and build support across the political spectrum for policies that would reduce food waste and make better use of these valuable resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Educate and mobilize public support: Conduct online and in-person outreach to educate the public on our issues and ways to get involved.
• Build powerful coalitions: Reach out to a broad range of organizations and affected constituency groups across the political spectrum to build and demonstrate support for our campaign goals.
• Earn traditional media and social media attention: Organize news conferences and write opinion pieces. Build a following on social media for your campaign.
• Organize events and work with volunteers: Organize webinars, community events and public meetings. Recruit organizations and members of the public to attend and participate.
• Lobby elected officials: Meet with decision makers - from city council members to state and federal legislators to regulatory staff - to make the case for and demonstrate support for our campaign goals.
• Research and write reports: Catalog and analyze data relevant to the issue and our policy proposals to help influence public debate and earn media attention for our cause.
• Recruit new people to your team: Help build your team by recruiting volunteers, interns and full-time staff.
• Run a grassroots campaign office each summer: Run a campaign office for the summer, knocking on doors to raise money to support our campaigns, build our organization and membership, and help build critical and timely grassroots support to win key campaigns. Your responsibilities will include meeting your own fundraising goals and managing a team of paid staff. You may be assigned to a different office location for the summer and should be flexible to move.
• Take part in organizational projects and trainings: Beyond your own campaign, you may be called on to help other teams on priority campaigns and tactics, ranging from clean energy to clean water to right to repair. You may travel and participate in regional and national trainings and other in-person or virtual projects as needed. This is not a standard "9-5" or "clock in, clock out" position.

Qualifications

Entry-level candidates are encouraged to apply. Though we expect you to take your campaign and run with it, we provide training on advocacy and organizing skills, as well as oversight by an experienced advocate. Ideal candidates will have leadership experience, top-notch writing and public speaking skills, an eagerness to learn, and be ready for a challenge. We value organizing experience, including building campus or community groups. Candidates must be able to travel regularly and be motivated to work when needed, which may sometimes be in the evenings and on weekends.

Details

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for this position is $40,000 in the first year. PIRG offers an excellent benefits package.

• medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• time off
• a commuter benefit program
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• parental leave
• long term disability insurance
• may include needs-based student loan assistance

Location

Portland, OR

Why work with PIRG?

Check out 10 reasons: https://pirg.org/why-work-with-us/

Our Mission and Values

PIRG is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change. Visit https://pirg.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Please do not use AI to help draft your cover letter or responses to our application questions. We want to know how you think and write.

PIRG is an equal opportunity employer.