Activist Development Officer

The Activist Program Officer reports to the Activist Program Manager to facilitate the involvement of all Action Team staffers, as well as other staff and non-staff specialists, in support of the program. The Officer will work with other Greenpeace departments who engage activists and volunteers (The Grassroots team, Online Communications team, Development and others as relevant) to identify creative ways in which Greenpeace supporters can participate safely in direct actions with Greenpeace in a wide variety of roles.

The Activist Program Officer is a member of the Greenpeace USA Action Team. As a member of the team they are required to work in a close team dynamic, and will be responsible (as will other team members) for the productivity of the team as a whole. The Action Team at Greenpeace USA is responsible for supporting the Campaigns Department in developing and deploying direct-action field activities, the management of our action warehouses and equipment, and the training, recruitment and co-ordination of our direct action activists.

The Activist Program Officer will also coordinate field events, direct actions and other activities as directed by the Action Team Director.

The position will be based out of the San Francisco equipment center, where many of the trainings take place and where training gear is housed and maintained. The successful candidate will work with the SF Warehouse-based Actions Coordinator to facilitate and maintain the space.

Due to the nature of the job and expected heavy fieldwork, the Activist Program Officer is expected to travel extensively and experience a highly dynamic, flexible working environment.

1. Travel on regular basis through USA and internationally as required.
2. Recruit and develop professional relations with new activists.
3. Recruit skilled professional and technical specialists as needed.
4. Steward and cultivate Greenpeace’s relationship with activists during non-active periods.
5. Consult with Action Campaigners to identify future action capacity needs.
6. Involve fellow action team members in the activist development program as appropriate to their areas of expertise.
7. Solicit the input of other activist coordinators inside and outside of the organization.
8. Participate in international workgroups concerning recruitment protocols and standards.
9. Work closely with Activist Program Manager in maintaining database of activist profiles including information on skills, trainings, action experience, legal history, exposure history, driving record, etc.
10. Expand and improve the use of skilled staff and external in the training of activists in special skills required for executing and participating in large-scale non-violent direct action.
11. Design operational plans to efficiently roll out large-scale non-violent direct actions and public events by engaging the highest number of supporters in non-violent direct actions.
12. In cooperation with the Grassroots department Officer and staff, design and implement a long-term plan to train and develop Greenpeace Frontline Program, Student Network, and Online activists for participation in non-violent direct actions.
13. Ensure effective and consistent interface with Grassroots Dept. concerning recruitment efforts, identifying training and crossover needs.
14. Ensure Grassroots and Project Hot Seat trainings and activities include action team input and support as needed.
15. Maintain active relationships with other activist and volunteer groups and networks regarding opportunities for activists, and develop new sources for recruiting activists as necessary.
16. Provide input into the development and implementation of the activist’ training program to the Activist Program Manager, and as needed act as a trainer, especially in one’s field of expertise.
17. When coordinating an action, work in conjunction with the Activist Program Manager to plan and execute training and rehearsal projects related to the preparation for that action.
18. Other duties as assigned by the Manager.

1. Responsible for the logistical planning, preparation, coordination and execution of review-level and evaluation-level direct actions, direct communications, environmental protests, investigations, tours, ships-based actions in the US, and other interventions.
2. Ensure that all personnel in direct actions strictly apply health and safety procedures.
3. Ensure that all Actions Team-planning processes are adhered to. Responsible for administrative duties pertaining to the Actions Team procedures in the preparation, execution and follow-up of action, including updating action personnel data, loss/damage insurance claims, etc.
4. Responsible for all financial aspects of action projects, including budget proposals, cost control, dealing with invoices and producing after-project budget reports.
5. Ensure that technical and logistical debriefs are conducted after every action, and any relevant information is fed into the evaluation report.
6. Ensure that actions are comprehensively reviewed and/or evaluated as per internal evaluation process.
7. Responsible for ensuring the Activist Program Manager is informed of all personnel-related issues upon completion of an event, including legal issues and administrative issues.
8. Responsible for ensuring the Equipment and Warehouse Manager is informed of all action equipment-related issues upon completion of an event, including the return/replacement of seized equipment and updating equipment-logbooks.
9. Responsible for working closely with the Equipment and Warehouse Manager on all equipment-related matters in connection with the planning, preparation, coordination and execution of direct actions, direct communications, environmental protests, investigations, tours, ship-based actions in the US, and other interventions.
10. Supervise and coordinate contractors and volunteers working on projects as required

BA/BS degree or equivalent experience

• Experience working with and managing activists and/or activist networks.
• Excellent communication skills
• Three years of volunteer management with a proven track record of developing and creating leadership opportunities for volunteers.
• Proven ability to manage projects and budgets with attention to detail from start to finish.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to connect with cross section of society/diverse groups: cultures, age groups, etc.
• Ability to plan and organize recruitment drives.
• Ability to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of recruiting program.
• Ability to formulate and manage project budgets
• Proven candor when giving feedback to potential activists.
• Ability to develop and mentor people.
• Ability to negotiate with vendors and service specialists

• Minimum of three years experience in logistical coordination
• Excellent strategic thinker
• Skilled in conflict resolution
• Experience with personnel management
• A high degree of initiative
• Commitment to non-violent direct action as means of affecting change
• Willingness to travel both within the US and internationally

• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• People from underrepresented racial, gender and economic groups are encouraged to apply.