Portland, OR

Position Title: Senior Writer 

Organization: Western Rivers Conservancy

Location: Portland, OR

Organization Overview: Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) buys land along the West’s finest rivers and streams to conserve habitat for fish and wildlife, protect key sources of cold water and provide public access for all to enjoy, Western Rivers Conservancy is the only organization dedicated exclusively to saving the great rivers of the West through land acquisition. The conservancy buys critical properties along rivers and streams to conserve habitat, protect key sources of cold water and provide public access for all to enjoy.

Western Rivers Conservancy partners with long-term stewards like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state parks, tribes and universities to ensure conservation results are permanent. Western Rivers Conservancy has created sanctuaries for fish and wildlife and secured recreational access along more than 200 rivers and streams around the West. 

Position Overview: The Senior Writer will be responsible for producing clean, persuasive copy for a variety of communications and marketing purposes, from newsletter pieces and magazine articles, to appeal letters and project case statements. In a collaborative setting, the Senior Writer will produce compelling pieces that capture the heart of WRC’s mission and convey the impact of their work to multiple audiences. As part of a small communications team, the position will also assist with non-writing duties such as proofing content produced by other staff and helping maintain WRC’s media database. The Senior Writer will report to the Communications Director, work closely with WRC’s Associate Writer and Communications Specialist, and collaborate with WRC’s development team. The position will be based in Portland, Oregon.

Duties:

• WRC’S print and electronic newsletters
• Press releases
• Donor engagement pieces including Eddied Out and River of the Month
• Project descriptions for WRC’S annual Report From the Field
• Project one-pagers, four pagers, briefing books, etc
• Fundraising appeal letters and email appeals
• Long-form blog posts
• In-depth articles about WRC, its work and its impact on the great rivers of the West
• Case statements, pitch pieces and presentations
• Video narratives and voiceover text
• Project summaries for targeted audiences
• Persuasive headlines, taglines, intro copy and calls-to-action for a variety of materials and audiences
• Edit, research, fact-check, and proof content produced by other staff
• Use Adobe Indesign to revise and update copy within a range of project marketing materials
• Work with associate writer to maintain and improve WRC’S reporter and media contact database
• Assist with social media copy (primarily Instagram and Facebook)
• Assist with broader communications strategy
• Assist as needed with non-writing projects as part of  a small communications team

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least three years of proven conservation and/or outdoor writing experience
• A demonstrated ability to write compelling, persuasive content for a range of audiences and purposes in both long and short form
• Passion for rivers and conservation
• The ability to capture the essence of WRC’s conservation projects on river landscapes across the West using fresh, original copy and an authoritative voice
• The ability to absorb, apply and work creatively within the constraints of WRC’s brand voice
• Experience with and interest in social media
• The ability to prioritize tasks, work efficiently under pressure and meet demanding deadlines in an often fast-paced environment
• Experience with, or willingness to learn, applications such as Indesign, online email marketing tools, website CMS and project management software
• Comfort with Microsoft Office application

Salary: $72,000 – $85,000 depending on experience

Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; earlier applicants may receive priority consideration.

How to Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume and three conservation- or outdoor-themed writing samples that showcase your work. Please use the “Apply Now” link at the top of the online application to submit your application materials via email. Applications may also be mailed to: Hiring Committee, Western Rivers Conservancy, 71 SW Oak St, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97204.