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Screening Director

Co-op America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a just and sustainable society by harnessing economic power for positive change.  Our unique approach involves working with consumers, investors and businesses.  Our workplace reflects our goal of creating a more cooperative, environmentally sound economy.  We have a participatory decision-making process, which aims to build consensus within the departments and teams.

Co-op America’s Green Business Division currently includes seven staff members and serves over 4,000 green business members.  The Co-op America Green Business Network (GBN) is the first, largest, and most diverse network of accredited green businesses making commitments to social and economic justice, healthy local communities, and environmental sustainability in the U.S.  To become members, all businesses must pass a robust social and environmental screening process. 

The Co-op America Green Business Network is the business membership program of Co-op America.  The mission of GBN is to carry out one of the four primary strategies of Co-op America -- to help socially and environmentally responsible businesses emerge and succeed.  We accomplish this by:

• Expanding their markets through promotion and consumer education;
• Helping them market their social and environmental responsibility more effectively;
• Providing money-saving benefits and services;
• Showing them practical ways to make their business more socially and environmentally responsible;
• Building bonds among the members to strengthen the green business movement and provide opportunities for practical/synergistic support.

This position plays the lead role in managing the screening process for business members and in educating the public about this process. This is an excellent position for non-profit management and an unparalleled opportunity to develop social and environmental policies and practices with businesses in the green and fair trade movements.

Duties and Responsibilities

A.   Screening and Approval Processes for Green Business Network Members

1.  Strategic Development (approx. 10%)

• Work with Deputy Director of Division to develop strategic and operating plans and budgets for the screening process.
• Lead effort to continuously improve the screening process.
• Explore partnerships (i.e., B corp, individual professionals, university groups) that can expand screening and potentially build change exponentially.
• Initiate and work with other staff and social change partners to develop effective educational and support strategies to help businesses build social justice and environmental sustainability into their daily operations.

2.  Team Management (approx. 10%)

• Manage improvements in overall process and manual in consultation with Board, screening team, tech team, and other staff as needed.
• In consultation with staff and Board, guide team in processes to develop policy guidance regarding key challenges or priorities.
• Continue development of a panel of experts to support the team in the review process. Supervise all screening positions.

3.  Screening Process (approx. 50%)

• Manage the review of all applications to insure appropriate research and presentation to the Committee on social and environmental policies and practices.
• Ensure accurate administrative processing of applications.
• Build expertise in important content areas that grow out of screening priorities.

B.  Co-op America Corporate Responsibility Program Advisor (approx. 5%)

1.  Act as advisor to Co-op America program staff working on other corporate social responsibility research issues, including:

• Co-op America’s Responsible Shopper Program (www.responsibleshopper.org), which provides analysis of the impacts of the largest U.S. based corporations for consumers.
• Corporate Innovators Programs, which assesses corporations for possible participation in our Green Festivals, based on sustainability leadership criteria.

2.  Provide expertise for the Co-op America board on strategic aspects of screening.

3.  Work with other staff and social change partners to develop effective strategies to educate and support businesses on how to build social justice and environmental sustainability into their daily operations.

C.  Publications (approx. 10%)

• In coordination with the NGP team, set milestones and final goals for listings to be included for the National Green Pages.
• Hire and supervise Business Division Listings Coordinator Intern.
• Work with GBN Membership Coordinator to ensure proofing completed for layouts of the NGP.

D.  Events (approx. 10%)

• Participate in ongoing planning, preparation, and implementation of the Green Business Conferences.  
• Represent Co-op America on screening and corporate responsibility issues at our Green Business Conferences, Green Festivals and other sustainability leadership events.

E.  General Staff Responsibilities (approx. 5%):

• Participate in general staff meetings, the annual Operating Plan process and fulfillment sessions.
• Serve on special teams or committees as needed.
• In consultation with the screening team, prepare annual operating plan info that identifies revenue goals and strategies.

Qualifications

• Masters in Sustainable Business Development or 3-5 years of equivalent experience in working with socially and environmentally responsible businesses and fair trade communities.
• Proven ability to work in a highly collaborative environment.
• Experience in managing multiple projects and concurrent deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Supervisory experience.
• Excellent problem solving skills.
• Comfortable speaking in public.
• Ability to attend/travel to Green Festivals and Green Business Conferences.

Benefits include medical, dental, vacation, sick days, holidays, mental health days, pre-tax child-care credit, flexible hours.  Co-op America is an equal opportunity employer.  People of color and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to: denise@coopamerica.org

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