Fair Trade USA Resource Development Assistant , Oakland

Fair Trade USA is a non-profit, mission-driven organization that tackles social and environmental sustainability with an innovative, entrepreneurial approach. We empower farmers and workers to fight poverty, improve the lives of their communities, and protect the environment. We are the leading independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.

As a member of the Resource Development team at Fair Trade USA, you will have one of the most meaningful, rewarding, and impactful jobs in the world of social enterprise!

We’re looking to expand our team to include someone who:

• Believes deeply that our current approach to the planet and its people doesn’t work, and wants to make things better
• Enjoys operating in an innovative, fast-paced and rapidly-changing environment
• Understands how business works and how business-decisions are made, so we can figure out the best way to bring Fair Trade to scale to benefit more farmers and farm workers
• Is quick-on-their-feet in developing mutually beneficial solutions
• Communicates as effectively with farmers and workers as they do with business executives
• Has a strong work ethic and requires minimal direction

If that describes you, we’d love to meet!

Overview of position:

The Development Assistant plays a critical role by providing administrative and program support to the Development Department and participating in all fundraising activities including prospect research, donor relations, direct mail appeals, special events, etc.

Specific duties include:

• Perform online research and identify donors and funders aligned with Fair Trade for All programs.

• Ensure donor files, funding and prospecting worksheets are up-to-date and organized.

• Prepare donor and foundational correspondence, including acknowledgments, recognition and responses to general e-mail and phone inquiries.

• Support Development Specialist with annual appeal mailings, on-line campaigns, promotions, e-newsletters, and blog postings.

• Coordinate design and development of communication materials, i.e. fundraising brochures, etc

• Maintain accurate entry and management of donor records in Salesforce and donor database.

• Build, generate, and analyze donor reports from Salesforce on a bi-monthly basis and upon request.

• Conduct phone and skype interviews and surveys in Spanish with farmers in Latin America.

• Accurately translate documents between English and Spanish and provide interpretation, as needed.

• Gather, analyze and compile farmer survey data into tables, charts, graphic and PowerPoint.

• Provide administrative support to Development Department.

• Actively solicit in-kind donations, goods and services, as appropriate.

• Support Director with organizing any fundraising, donor cultivation or Board events, as needed.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, International Development, Economics, or Political Science/International Relations.

• Minimum of 1 year prior work experience in a fast-paced office environment in a development, marketing, communications, or administrative role.

• Spanish language proficiency (must be able to speak, interpret and translate Spanish fluently).

• Lived, worked, or traveled abroad to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competency.

• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Demonstrated experience in MS Office, Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously, take initiative and meet deadlines.

• Ability to analyze available information for coordinating efforts and solving problems.

• Demonstrates common sense, good customer service skills, flexibility and teamwork.

• Legally eligible to work in the United States; no sponsorship provided.

Preferred:

• Experience working as a coffee barista or waiter/waitress for at least a 12-month period a PLUS.

• Experience working or volunteering in a non-profit focused on high quality work and low overhead.

• Experience working with databases, specifically SalesForce.

• Experience in graphic design using Adobe Indesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.

How to apply:

Please send a cover letter (1 page max), resume (1 page max) and writing sample (3 page max) to the attention of Laurie Lyser through our website’s Careers section at www.fairtradeusa.org . Please do not mail any letters, make any calls, send faxes, or drop by our office. Due to the volume of applications, we regret that we cannot personally respond to all applicants. Applications are accepted until March 1, 2013. Applicants must be able to start no later than April 1, 2013.