Senior Advocacy Manager

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT  

June 26, 2026 

Open Position: Senior Advocacy Manager 

Are you passionate about community engagement, advocacy, and connecting people to the outdoors?  The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) is looking for someone to advocate at every level of government to secure strong policies and funding for the PCT and access to the outdoors.  

The Senior Advocacy Manager will lead PCTA’s legislative and grassroots advocacy efforts to advance policies that protect the Pacific Crest Trail, national trails, public lands, and recreational access. This position will engage and mobilize the public through compelling communications, outreach, and advocacy related efforts to build broad coalitions; and by creating action opportunities for communities around conservation and outdoor recreation issues that matter to them. To accomplish this, the Senior Advocacy Manager will collaborate with PCTA staff across program areas to ensure alignment with priorities and strategies.    

The Senior Advocacy Manager will work effectively with elected officials, agency leaders, and diverse community members.  This work and collaboration will occur through generating written materials, participating in virtual and in person meetings, and creating engagement opportunities.  This position will be responsible for crafting compelling, passionate campaigns, public materials, and messages that drive tangible policy outcomes. 

The Senior Advocacy Manager is a full-time position.  

In this position you will have the opportunity to lead: 

Legislative Advocacy: 

• Develop and execute strategies to influence local, state, and federal legislation and budgets to better support the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, trails programs at large, and public lands.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with elected officials, staff, agency leaders, and partner organizations.

• Monitor relevant policy developments and provide timely analysis and recommendations.

• Collaborate with necessary PCTA staff and partner organizations to analyze and/or draft proposed legislation.

Community Engagement and Mobilization: 

• Design and lead a PCT-focused volunteer advocacy network to support targeted legislative, policy, and community campaigns.

• Educate and rally community members to speak on behalf of the protection of the PCT experience and public lands.

• Train and empower volunteers to engage effectively with their communities, lawmakers, and media.

• Organize and manage annual advocacy trips to Washington, D.C. for PCTA staff and volunteers. This includes drafting talking points and leave-behind materials that support budget and legislative priorities for PCTA and the larger trails community.

• Collaborate with PCTA’s Trail Operations staff to support regional and local advocacy efforts, including drafting materials and coordinating in person, local events.

Public Campaigns and Communications: 

• Write and implement persuasive public campaigns that build political and community support for the PCT and public lands priorities.

• Author articles, op-eds, and policy communications that advance the PCTA’s mission and policy priorities.

• Represent the organization through public speaking engagements, presentations, coalition events, and press/media engagement.

• Collaborate with PCTA’s Marketing and Communications and Philanthropy staff to design and deploy campaigns to increase awareness, advocacy volunteer engagement, and fundraising. Work closely with other program areas to offer opportunities for advocacy volunteers to engage with other parts of the PCTA such as volunteering or donating.

Partnerships and Coalitions: 

• Actively engage in broad, nonpartisan coalitions to strengthen the collective public lands and trail recreation movements.

• Collaborate with partner organizations, outdoor recreation groups, and community advocates to shape local and national response to public lands projects and policies. Align PCT-focused strategies with regional and national groups to amplify impact.

• Participate with partner organizations, such as the Partnership for the National Trails System, to advance the management of trails and public lands to ensure their protection and enjoyment for generations to come.

See full job description on our website at: https://www.pcta.org/about-us/jobs/  

What makes you a great fit for this position:  

• Minimum 5 years of experience in legislative advocacy, government relations, reporting, or public policy work related to environmental, conservation, or outdoor recreation issues.

• Demonstrated success engaging with elected officials at multiple levels of government.

• Proven experience in grassroots organizing or volunteer network management across a large geography.

• Exceptional writing and communications skills, with published examples highly weighted

• Strong public speaking and diplomatic skills; adept at working across political and cultural boundaries.

• Strategic, self-directed, and collaborative, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a remote work setting.

Physical Requirements: 

• The ability to work at a computer for several hours at a time

• The ability to occasionally walk up to five miles on uneven ground to visit trail projects

Typical Working Conditions and Travel: 

The Senior Advocacy Manager is a PCTA headquarters position, currently located in Sacramento, CA. This position is eligible to work remotely from a location in California, Oregon, or Washington near a major airport or near a PCT community with access to a regional airport.  The Senior Advocacy Manager will be expected to attend in-person meetings and events to conduct their work including local, regional, and national travel for advocacy visits. A valid driver’s license is required. 

Salary and Benefits 

This is a full-time exempt position. The salary range is between $85,000 and $100,000 per year. Starting wage is dependent on the level of experience. 

Benefits package: 

• Full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and mental health coverage

• Paid life and long-term disability

• Paid time off, including 12 holidays plus one floating holiday

• 2 weeks’ vacation (amount increases with length of service)

• 12 sick days per year

• 2 hours of weekly wellness time

• 5 additional days of paid personal time to enjoy time outside

• Eligible for 401(k) plan after six months of employment

• Fun, friendly work atmosphere

• Discounts on many outdoor industry brands

• Professional development opportunities

To Apply: 

The deadline to apply is July 20, 2026. Apply online at PCTA.ORG. Upload a Resume and Letter of Interest. Please include your name on every document you submit. For example, label them as “Your Name Resume” or “Your Name Letter of Interest.”  

First round of interviews will be held via phone the week of July 27st followed by a panel interview via Zoom the week of August 10th. A final interview will take place in person the week of August 24th at the PCTA Sacramento Headquarters office. The anticipated start date for this position is between late September or beginning of October. A full job description for this position and more information about Pacific Crest Trail Association at www.pcta.org. For questions, contact Megan Wargo at MWargo@pcta.org.   

About the Pacific Crest Trail and the PCTA: 

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. One of America’s National Scenic Trails, the PCT reveals the beauty of the desert, the glaciated expanses of the Sierra Nevada, and the deep forests and commanding vistas of the Cascade Range.  

 The mission of the PCTA is to advocate for the Pacific Crest Trail as an inspirational outdoor experience, to connect people to the PCT, and to conserve the trail. PCTA’s many stakeholders include hikers, equestrians, volunteers, members, donors, trail communities, public land managers, and many other partners.  

  

 PCTA is an equal opportunity provider.