Conservation Organizer

Background

Friends of the Columbia Gorge was founded in 1980, with members in Oregon, Washington, and beyond dedicated to preserving, protecting, and stewarding the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. With offices in Portland and Hood River, Oregon and Washougal, Washington, the organization uses an array of tools (advocacy, litigation, land acquisition, 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

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 nonprofit 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 Support

The Conservation Organizer seeks 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 editor

• 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

Monitor Local Government Actions for Potential Conservation Impacts

The Conservation Organizer monitors county and city actions to ensure those actions don’t harm Gorge resources, including:

• Tracking Local Government Actions: Regularly monitoring city and county government meetings, including planning commissions and county commissions, to identify potential threats to conservation and public land access.

• Building Relationships with Local Leaders: Meeting with elected officials, planning staff, and key decision-makers to educate them on Friends’ conservation priorities and advocate for strong land-use protections.

• Recruiting and Supporting Advocates: Identifying and engaging community members who can serve as advocates in their local jurisdictions, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to speak out for conservation.

• Coordinating Friends’ Participation: Ensuring that Friends is present at important local government meetings, either by attending directly or by mobilizing staff, volunteers, and community partners.

• Providing Public Comment and Advocacy: Drafting testimony, action alerts, and public comments in response to policies and proposals that could impact Gorge resources.

Implement Education and Outreach Strategies

The Conservation Organizer supports Friends' climate change and land-use protection campaigns. This includes:

• Presenting to school groups, community groups, and participating in planning and implementing community engagement events.

• Developing communications for Friends’ various channels (fact sheets, magazine, action alerts, etc.)

• Representing 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

• Other assigned duties

Preferred Qualifications

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

Compensation & Benefits

Starting pay is $24.00 - $27.00 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.

Location

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.

Read our full DEIJ statement.

EEO Policy

Friends is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on 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 Conservation 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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Application

Please send cover letter, resume, and writing sample of less than 1,000 words to careers@gorgefriends.org with Conservation Organizer in the subject line, and where you saw the posting. Deadline for submission is April 28, 2025.

About Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Ensuring the Gorge remains a vibrant, living place—wondrous, wild, and open to all—is at the core of what we do. Friends of the Columbia Gorge works to protect, preserve, and steward the Columbia Gorge for future generations.

We are the only conservation organization entirely dedicated to protecting and enhancing the scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Columbia Gorge. For over four decades, we have successfully advocated to protect the Gorge from irresponsible development, purchased scenic and sensitive lands for long-term preservation, and worked with community partners to foster a larger culture of Gorge stewardship by connecting thousands of students and volunteers to the Gorge’s wonders.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge is an equal opportunity employer.
Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.