Executive Director

Anthropocene Alliance (A2) is the nation’s largest coalition of frontline communities fighting for environmental protection. We represent almost 400 member-communities in all U.S. states and territories. The breadth and depth of our interventions make us distinct in the environmental field: By educating, organizing and supporting grassroots leaders and their communities, we are at the forefront of the movement to stop the use of fossil fuels and restore threatened ecosystems.

Our 2025-28 Strategic Plan outlines steps we intend to take to expand our impact. These include state and federal movement building as well as local organizing, initiating national campaigns in collaboration with other non-profit organizations, and supporting community-based programs in renewable energy. We also aim to develop more democratic means to identify grassroots priorities and make bigger investments in written and photographic documentation. (We have begun a long-term collaboration with the renowned Magnum photo-consortium.)

Our current Executive Director, Harriet Festing co-founded the organization in 2017, with her husband, Dr. Stephen F. Eisenman. They recently moved to England to help care for elderly parents. Thus, A2 is seeking a new ED to carry forward the strategic plan. The Executive Director answers to a supportive 12-member Board of Directors composed of activists, academics and other professionals, and grassroots leaders.

We aim to hire an energetic, courageous, and compassionate director who is as comfortable on the road visiting community leaders as reviewing budgets and directing a staff of 16. Most of all, the new Executive Director must be able to advance the Strategic Plan (including our major, community organizing initiative), fundraise for the organization, and help our community leaders as they seek to achieve environmental and climate justice.

Our team is currently organized into four groups: Finance and Operations (led by our Chief Operations Officer); Field Organizing; Grant Writing and Technical Assistance; and Communications. Staff includes a wildlife ecologist, federal finance and operations specialist, IT administrator, two field organizers, communications experts, project navigator, and grant writer. All staff is trained in community organizing as part of their general skill set. Once the new ED is in place, it is expected that after a three-month step-down period, Harriet will stay as half-time Director of Development, at the discretion of the new ED. She will help ensure continuity of relations with A2’s generous funders.

The Executive Director will work remotely, although A2 is currently setting up field/satellite offices.

Expected Qualifications

• Knowledge and commitment to the ideals of environmental protection and a desire to help mobilize people to the cause
• Understanding of grassroots movement building, community organizing and campaigns
• Ten years management experience in organizations with a staff of 8 or more, and a budget over $1.5 million.
• Experience developing relationships with local, state and federal government officials, elected leaders, and the media
• The ED must reside in the U.S., and be comfortable traveling to community leaders
• Highly organized and able to track and manage multiple projects at once
• Flexible, and willing to work odd hours in response to members’ needs
• Brave, empathetic and a good listener

Prefer but not required:

• Speak and read Spanish
• Experience raising funds from philanthropic foundations
• Established connections to funders and partners engaged with the environmental movement