Administrator

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé founded the Small Planet Institute in 2001 to dig to the root solutions of global challenges. Our bright and cheery Cambridge office is located just steps from the Harvard Square T. The institute strives to foster an empowering vision in which we can all find meaningful action. We call it “Living Democracy,” enabling each of us to act effectively on emerging solutions from electoral politics and economic life to the environment, hunger, agriculture, and beyond. Our vision is a future where all communities are thriving with dignity, fulfilling essential human needs for personal power, meaning, and connection. Frances Moore Lappé is the author of Diet for a Small Planet and other books and publications. She has also been featured in the Boston Globe, Washington Post, and other major outlets.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Small Planet Institute is seeking an Administrator to oversee use of our Cambridge office, including all personnel, operational, financial, and strategic aspects. The Administrator works closely with Frances in key aspects of our work, including publication strategy and outreach to share our solutions-oriented messages to an ever-wider audience through many forms of media, as well as in setting priorities, and creating a strong office community. The Administrator manages all calendars, speaking engagements, and events, as well as recruits and oversees our interns and contractors. This position oversees finances with the help of an off-site accountant.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with Frances to help set priorities, strategy, and measure progress.
• Foster an energizing, effective, respectful, focused, and collaborative work environment.
• Coordinate Frances’ calendar and media/speaking engagements, including contract negotiations, travel arrangements, and event promotion.
• Recruit, train, and supervise interns and, occasionally, part-time staff and contractors to contribute to ongoing writing, special projects, and other organizational needs.
• Oversee our digital communications, including social media, websites, published articles, and our quarterly e-newsletters.
• Ensure coverage of Frances’ needs for research, copy-editing and fact-checking for her blogs, articles, reports, and books.
• Manage organizational payroll and budget, supported by our accountant, and prepare monthly and annual financial reports for Board of Directors.
• Manage office space & equipment and ensure technology support.
• Note, this position does not involve organizational fundraising.

DESIRED BACKGROUND, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS

• An undergraduate degree in business, political science, environmental studies, food policy, or related field; Graduate work would be a plus.
• Superb operational, organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills with attention both to detail and to creating to a supportive environment for our office space.
• Excellent multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Interpersonal and people management skills, including strong verbal and written communication. Previous experience in team management preferred.
• Excellent project management and team building skills.
• Bookkeeping, payroll, and budgeting experience.
• Self-directed yet comfortable with teamwork. Ability to excel with minimal direction and supervision, while able to follow directions when given.
• Proficiency and/or willingness to learn common computer programs and sites (Wix, Mailchimp, Gusto, Box, Google Drive, etc.).
• Previous experience providing administrative support and/or managing an office.
• A passion for democratic social change, Frances’ work, and the mission of the Small Planet Institute.
• COVID-19 vaccination.

JOB LOCATION + TIME COMMITMENT

This is a part-time (20-hour/week) in-person position 9am-1pm ET, Monday – Friday, at our Cambridge office. Occasionally work hours may vary to meet deadlines. Communication availability during off-hours is preferred but not required. Small Planet Institute is conveniently located near the Harvard T, and our office is informal, spacious, and cheery. Address: Small Planet Institute, 2nd floor upstairs at 12 Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.

BENEFITS

• Pay: $30/hour.
• Connection with—and inspiration from—many others doing important democracy, food, & climate work.
• And, of course, the opportunity to work one-on-one with Frances as her primary collaborator and partner.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

www.smallplanet.org

HOW TO APPLY

To apply please submit your resume and cover letter to info@smallplanet.org. We seek to fill the position for a January 8th start date and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Thank you for your interest!