Conservation Organizer

SUMMARY OF POSITION  
Friends of the Columbia Gorge is looking for a passionate, dedicated organizer who will help protect and enhance one of the true wonders of the world, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Friends is the only organization dedicated solely to the protection of the Columbia Gorge.

The conservation organizer is responsible for building, developing, and implementing grassroots and grass-top power to maintain the Columbia Gorge as an amazing place to live, work, and play. They help develop organizational strategies and campaigns to advance Friends’ mission as well as specific campaign goals. The conservation organizer works with Friends’ staff, partners, and community members to provide input on community organizing strategies and also develops organizing materials and assists in developing lobbying strategies and efforts. 

The conservation organizer also implements community organizing, education, and outreach strategies to advance Friends’ campaigns and deepen community engagement. This includes: meeting campaign plan deadlines and deliverables and public comment period deadlines; development and launching of Action Alerts; and communications with members, activists, and partners. The Conservation Organizer will work primarily in the following areas:

Build Grassroots and Grass-top Power

The Conservation Organizer seeks out ways to grow Friends’ supporter and volunteer base by:

• Recruiting new activists through outreach
• Hosting and attending events and tabling
• Recruiting and training activists to testify at public hearings, write comment letters, and letters to the editors
• Training and developing activist leaders
• Creating a leadership network to assist in organizing activities
• Communicating with members, activists, and community leaders regularly via phone, email, text, and in-person communications
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with Friends’ allies
• Striving to increase the diversity of Friends membership, allies, partners, and support network
• Other assigned duties

Implement Education and Outreach Strategies

The Conservation Organizer supports Friends’ Climate Change Project and Land-Use Protection campaigns This includes:

• Presenting to school groups, community groups, and participating in planning and implementing community engagement events.
• Writing Magazine Articles
• Developing Fact Sheets
• Represent Friends in its local coalition efforts
• Other assigned duties

Communicate with the Public, Members, Partners, and the Media

Occasionally, with prior authorization, this position represents Friends in the media. The conservation organizer may also:

• Conduct outreach to diverse communities, businesses, civic groups, students, and nonprofit organizations
• Hold periodic meetings to update activists on conservation efforts
• Attend and represent Friends in local government meetings with the assistance of the Conservation Director
• Other assigned duties

LOCATION
This position is based out of the Hood River, OR office with travel throughout the Columbia Gorge, including to offices in Portland, OR and Washougal, WA.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• College degree or equivalent experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite
• Experience with CRM, Advocacy Software and Communications tools

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Starting pay is $23.00 – $26.00 per hour, commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits include generous vacation time and holidays, generous health benefits for employee and dependents along with an employer matched retirement plan.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
The Columbia Gorge has been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial, stewarding the land and waters of this region long before European colonization and the western idea of environmentalism. Friends is dedicated to ensuring the Columbia Gorge remains a place of wonder for generations to come. Whether it is the land, water, wildlife, people, Tribes, or communities, each is dependent upon the others for the Gorge to truly thrive. This is not possible without representing and engaging tribal as well as other diverse communities and individuals who share a connection to this special place.
Read our full DEIJ statement here.

EEO POLICY
Friends is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected status in accordance with local, state and federal law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoffs, recalls, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Full time within the typical 9:00 – 5:00 office hours. Friends uses a hybrid model to be determined with the Conservation Director. The work environment includes desk work with a sit/stand option, using a computer extensively, some phone work, outdoor work including occasionally in inclement weather.

This position sometimes requires evening and weekend work plus occasional travel within the region for meetings, hearings, and events. This position is also expected to work both independently and within a team environment. The Community Organizer works with the Conservation Director to develop and review personal quarterly goals based on the organization’s values, campaign plans, Organizational Strategic Plan, and career development.

ADA STATEMENT
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.