Application Guide
How to Apply for Ports and Community Engagement Campaigner
at Friends of the Earth
🏢 About Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth is a leading environmental justice organization with over 50 years of experience advocating for systemic change. They prioritize grassroots community partnerships and have a strong track record in holding corporations and governments accountable. Working here means contributing to impactful campaigns that directly affect frontline communities.
About This Role
This part-time, remote role focuses on engaging port-side communities affected by maritime shipping and port operations, particularly around environmental and public health impacts. You'll collaborate with community partners and advocacy groups across multiple US regions to advance local education and policy campaigns, making a tangible difference in environmental justice.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might include virtual meetings with community partners in different regions to coordinate outreach events, reviewing policy documents related to port operations, and drafting educational materials for local workshops. You'll also collaborate with the Ports and Policy Engagement Campaigner to align on campaign strategies and provide backup support as needed.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Friends of the Earth Is Looking For
- Experience in community organizing or grassroots outreach, especially with frontline or environmental justice communities.
- Knowledge of maritime shipping, port operations, or related environmental health issues.
- Strong communication and facilitation skills for working with diverse stakeholders, including community members and advocacy groups.
- Ability to work independently in a remote, part-time capacity while coordinating across regions and teams.
📝 Tips for Applying to Friends of the Earth
Highlight any direct experience with port-side communities or environmental justice campaigns in your resume and cover letter.
Demonstrate your understanding of the intersection between environmental issues and social justice, as this is core to Friends of the Earth's mission.
Mention your availability for up to 25 hours/week and your comfort with remote, part-time work.
Tailor your application to show how you can support both community engagement and policy-focused campaign work.
Include specific examples of how you've built relationships with community-based organizations or coalitions.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your passion for environmental justice and experience working with frontline communities.', 'Your understanding of port-related environmental and health impacts, and how they affect local populations.', 'Your ability to collaborate with diverse partners and work flexibly across regions.', "Your alignment with Friends of the Earth's values and commitment to systemic change."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review Friends of the Earth's current campaigns, especially the Oceans and Vessels program.
- → Learn about key port-side environmental justice issues in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Northwest, and Gulf Coast regions.
- → Understand the organization's history and its unionized staff structure (NPEU).
- → Familiarize yourself with recent reports or actions related to maritime shipping and community health.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to connect your experience to environmental justice or community engagement specifically.
- Overlooking the part-time and temporary nature of the role; ensure you address your availability.
- Submitting a generic application without referencing Friends of the Earth's specific mission or campaigns.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Friends of the Earth!