Community Science and Engagement

Reports to the Executive Director

Organization Overview

For more than 50 years, Oregon Shores (oregonshores.org) has served as the state’s leading voice when it comes to protecting the beaches, headlands, landscapes, and ecosystems that make Oregon’s coast so spectacular and loved. Our vision is a resilient Oregon coast where all people and nature thrive together. Our mission is to educate and empower people to protect our coastal ecosystems and communities.

Oregon Shores is committed to reflecting the community within which we work: the residents of the Oregon coastal region and those who visit, care, and connect to the coast. Our commitment to reflecting the community is not only about engaging the community in our programming, but also about ensuring our staff are connected to and reflective of our community. 

Position Overview

The Community Science and Engagement Manager is an integral part of the Oregon Shores team. This position is directly responsible for managing the CoastWatch mile adoption program,  facilitating community science projects, and coordinating large beach cleanups. This role is responsible for nurturing and maintaining our network of hundreds of dedicated volunteers, planning and implementing outreach events to increase our support base, and organizing those volunteers and supporters to engage in frontline advocacy work to support our conservation efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

Program and Project Management (35%):

• Continue to implement existing and new community science programs, including CoastWatch mile adoption and southern resident killer whale monitoring
• Facilitate virtual and in-person training, field trips, orientations, and events for community science projects, including the CoastWatch mile adoption program
• Plan and facilitate beach cleanups, especially for annual large-scale events, like the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area cleanup
• Coordinate with Education Manager to implement shared programs in K-12 schools
• Coordinate with external partners and agencies (e.g. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) to plan community science projects
• Collaborate with partners to implement community science projects at new sites, including the newly designated rocky habitat sites
• Ensure alignment of community science programming with Oregon Shores’ conservation initiatives
• Work with the Executive Director to facilitate implementation of large-scale projects, including the Sunset Beach marine debris art installation and the ongoing analysis 30+ years of CoastWatch mile reports
• Provide appropriate reporting and documentation of programs and projects to share with funders, the board, and any other relevant parties.

Volunteer and Supporter Engagement (25%):

• Collaborate with Oregon Shores’ conservation staff to disseminate information about Oregon Shores’ conservation campaigns; mobilize community members to participate in trainings, workshops, and calls to action; empower community members to engage in conservation advocacy
• Coordinate and manage all volunteer communications
• Keep volunteer database up to date
• Organize volunteer appreciation acknowledgements and events
• Build and maintain relationships with volunteers
• Recruit volunteers to participate in our community science and conservation advocacy programs

Community Engagement (25%):

• Build reciprocal relationships with local community members, including Latine, local Indigenous communities, Black communities, working-class communities, and other communities who have historically existed at the margins of local conservation work
• Table or present with partners, such as OMSI and the Oregon Coast Aquarium, at events and conferences that support Oregon Shores’ community outreach and engagement.

• In partnership with the Executive Director, build relationships with allied organizations, nonprofits, agencies, government entities, artists, and Tribes to develop long-term plans and programs that further Oregon Shores’ overall goals and strategic plan
• Build and enrich relationships with community science partners

Communications (10%):

• Collaborate with marketing department on social media, newsletter, and website content
• Capture experiences and narratives through ethical storytelling in partnership with community members
• Serve as a public spokesperson, as appropriate, for Oregon Shores community science and CoastWatch
• Facilitate Spanish language translation of CoastWatch and community science materials and web pages

Fundraising (5%):

• Search for possible grant opportunities to support your work; assist the Executive Director with writing grants and grant reports for relevant work
• Participate in Toast to the Coast annual fundraising event in Portland

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS or MS degree in environmental, conservation, natural resources, marine science, education, or similar related multidisciplinary field. Commensurate work experience will be considered
• Demonstrated ability to work with and communicate well with a diverse array of people and communities
• A commitment to learning about and implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts in working with community members and partners with a diversity of perspectives, values, and identities
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a remote setting, take initiative, spear-head projects from planning to completion, and produce results
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships in order to cultivate a collaborative work environment with individuals, communities, coalitions, and agencies
• Effective interpersonal oral and written communication skills including proficiency in technical and popular writing styles to appeal to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated experience with coastal resiliency and community science as demonstrated by lived experience, previous work experience, or volunteer work
• Experience working with a large volunteer base
• Driver’s license and willingness to travel coast-wide. Coastal trips will be necessary 3 times per month, on average.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Community organizing experience
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating meetings, workshops, and other collaborative learning events.
• Experience implementing outreach events related to natural resources or scientific communication, including tabling, giving presentations, etc.
• Experience working with a nonprofit organization
• Spanish language proficiency
• Experience  working with databases, spreadsheets, websites, social media, and other online systems.
• Experience partnering with historically excluded communities to amplify their stories and experiences
• Ability to interpret the findings of scholarly scientific research, communicate relevant findings to diverse local audiences, engage audiences in understanding the local impacts of that research, and to help stakeholders identify alternative choices of action.

Salary and Benefits:

• Starting salary range:  $58,000-$63,000 per year for full-time work, depending on experience and education level.
• Benefits: Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield medical, Beam dental, Beam vision, and Principal life insurance provided. Employer and employee each pay a percentage of the premium costs. Guideline 401k retirement plan provided

Location and hours:  

• Full-time, salaried, 40 hours per week OR part-time, hourly, 20 hours per week.
• We are looking for either a candidate desiring a full-time position, whose work will encompass the entire Oregon coast or two half-time candidates who, based on their geography, would divide up the coast while working in close collaboration.
• This job requires coastal travel
• All Oregon locations will be considered. Coastal locations preferred.
• Office: Oregon Shores is a virtual organization, with no fixed office. Candidates are expected to provide a home office or an equivalent remote location for their work with access to communication devices (e.g., a computer, internet, phone).

The qualifications in our job descriptions serve as guidelines rather than strict requirements. If this job excites your passions and you have many but not all of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply. We value a variety of experiences—whether paid, unpaid, volunteer, or lived—that contribute to the knowledge and skills needed for this role. Submitting an application gives you the chance to be considered and showcase how your unique background aligns with the position.

Oregon Shores is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified

candidates will receive consideration regardless of sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, gender, race, color, age, or any other characteristic. Oregon Shores is committed to reflecting the diversity of Oregon’s communities in our Board, employees, and contractors. We strive to ensure that our internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance our diversity goals.