Full-Time Forests and Climate Campaigner
Job Description
About Oregon Wild:
Oregon Wild is a non-profit organization with a mission to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters as an enduring legacy for future generations.
Founded in 1974, Oregon Wild’s victories include safeguarding over 1.8 million acres of Wilderness and 1,800 miles of Wild & Scenic Rivers through federal legislation, protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of old-growth forests, and the preservation and recovery of numerous endangered species, from coho salmon to gray wolves. Oregon Wild enjoys a national reputation as a groundbreaking organization that is both highly strategic and effective, with strong policy expertise. Oregon Wild is consistently included in Oregon Business magazine’s “100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon” list, based on survey results from our staff.
Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Oregon Wild is committed to building a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization and society, and we are actively recruiting and encouraging applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and communities to apply for this position. We recognize that important voices have been missing from the environmental movement for far too long and the need to create a more welcoming environment at Oregon Wild and in the conservation community. Our organization believes that by embracing, respecting, and valuing individuals regardless of their race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry or any other factor, we can become a stronger, more effective defender of Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters. Read more about our organizational values here: www.oregonwild.org/values
General Position Summary:
The Forests and Climate Campaigner will join growing regional and national campaigns to restore and protect America’s carbon giants – mature and old-growth forests. Working in partnership with our Forests and Climate Policy Coordinator, the person in this position will focus on three major tasks: 1) developing and carrying out grassroots campaigns to strengthen protection for forests as a natural carbon solution; 2) creating greater awareness among climate activists about the importance of protecting America’s forests as a carbon and climate solution; and 3) expanding the activist base for forest and climate protection among key communities.
To accomplish these goals, the Forests and Climate Campaigner will play a key role in supporting and growing existing grassroots coalitions working on these issues. The person in this position will represent Oregon Wild in coalitions with forest, climate, and environmental justice organizers; draft action alerts, fact sheets, talking points, and social media content; help activists engage in state and federal policy decisions; and get creative to help elevate efforts to protect forests for their climate benefits.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in grassroots or political campaigns, and have the following professional characteristics:
- Experience organizing and carrying out webinars, public presentations, rallies, and other public events.
- Experience recruiting, educating and motivating volunteers and activists to participate in policy processes.
- Experience building and supporting diverse coalitions.
- Strong advocacy writing skills, including experience writing fact sheets, talking points, alerts, LTEs, op-eds and similar materials.
- Experience with electronic communications platforms, text messaging alerts and email management systems (EveryAction preferred).
- Experience with utilizing various social media platforms in service of advocacy campaigns.
- A deep commitment to the mission of Oregon Wild and a passion for protecting forests, promoting environmental justice, and fighting climate change.
Essential Functions / Major Responsibilities
Grassroots Campaigns
- Develop, write, and implement email, text, and social media alerts to generate grassroots pressure on decision makers for both Oregon Wild members and allied organizations.
- Generate and track activist participation in town hall meetings, legislative hearings, and state agency public meetings and virtual events held by key decision makers. Provide draft testimony and talking points for others to work off of. Take detailed notes during meetings.
- Develop and write letters to the editor, op-eds, and opinion columns promoting forests as a natural carbon solution.
- Develop, write, and post content supporting the campaign to the Oregon Wild website, blog, and social media assets.
- Organize occasional field tours, hikes, and other events to educate decision makers, reporters, and opinion leaders.
- Support Oregon Wild communications and marketing staff as needed on video projects, press releases, reporter briefings.
- Track state legislation related to forests, tracking actions/votes of state legislators (following up on both positive and negative actions regularly, and building relationships with legislators over the long term).
Forests and Climate Education
- Expand existing coalitions (and build new ones) with grassroots organizations who share the goal of protecting forests as one strategy for combating climate change, with a special emphasis on groups representing indigenous communities and environmental justice advocates.
- Organize and carry out webcasts, in person events, and panel presentations that educate climate activists in the Pacific Northwest about the importance of forests as a natural carbon solution. Partner with national organizations to host similar events.
- Develop and write social media toolkits, fact sheets, web pages, blog posts and other educational materials for distribution and use by climate advocates
- Work with coalition partners to generate grassroots communications to key decision makers. When possible, organize grassroots lobby days and similar events.
- Track the news cycle nationally/internationally on forest/climate related issues.
- Build out a media list of reporters that cover forests, climate and related topics. Regularly update them on bad regional timber sales and other threats to forests from a climate perspective.
Expand the Oregon Wild Base
- Ensure that organizing and grassroots work elevates the campaign while also fostering support for Oregon Wild and building activist loyalty to the organization.
- Support development, communications, and marketing staff with content needed for fundraising or awareness building for Oregon Wild.
- Organize occasional webcasts on forest climate issues for Oregon Wild supporters.
- Help convert activists to Oregon Wild members and donors.
Pay and Benefits:
This is a full time exempt position with flexible geographic location within Oregon with a preference for the Portland, Eugene, or Bend areas. The salary range for this position is $45,000 to $55,000 per year. Benefits include paid medical, dental, vision, alternative care, and life insurance; 403(b) retirement plan option; and generous vacation and other paid time off including 10 paid holidays, an initial four weeks of vacation that increases with tenure, and sabbatical eligibility after five years. This position will report to the Conservation Director.
Instructions for applying:
Please fill out this form (https://forms.gle/pwBBU1HWKE9A42gP8) and separately submit a cover letter, resume, and references consolidated into a single PDF or Word document to [email protected]. Review of completed applications will begin on March 4 and continue until the position is filled.
Important Note About COVID-19
Oregon Wild is a fully vaccinated workplace, and COVID-19 vaccination is required upon hire unless a reasonable accommodation is requested and granted. We have extensive paid sick leave that can be used for vaccination appointments and possible side effects from these vaccines. Please be aware of this requirement upon applying for this position.
How to Apply
Please fill out this form (https://forms.gle/pwBBU1HWKE9A42gP8) and separately submit a cover letter, resume, and references consolidated into a single PDF or Word document to [email protected]. Review of completed applications will begin on March 4 and continue until the position is filled.Apply for this Job
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