Portland, OR metro area or Columbia Gorge

Position Title: Conservation Organizer

Organization: Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Location: Portland, OR metro area or Columbia Gorge

Organization Overview: Friends of the Columbia Gorge was founded in 1980 and has more than 5,000 members in Oregon, Washington, and beyond dedicated to preserving, protecting, and stewarding the Columbia Gorge. With offices in Portland and Hood River, Oregon and Washougal, Washington, the organization uses an array of tools (advocacy, litigation, land acquisition, community partnerships and public education) to ensure the Columbia Gorge remains a wondrous and vibrant place. In 2005, Friends launched the Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust, a 509(a)(3) supporting organization, to acquire spectacular landscapes within the Columbia Gorge.

Position Overview: 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.

Duties: 

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

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Start Date: April-May 2024

Salary/Pay:  $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.

How to Apply: Please use the online application to view the full job description as well as how to apply.