Who We Are:
We’re a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental organization with deep roots dating back to 1968. Our work is grounded in fostering equitable, forward-thinking solutions to the environmental challenges facing us today – and tomorrow. We envision a future where every Oregonian enjoys equitable access to the healthy air, water, climate and community needed to thrive. To realize this vision, we’ve built a team of tireless champions to support policies and practices centered in environmental protection and justice.
We’re in it for the long haul — but we’re not in it alone. We partner with coalitions and organizations across the state to actualize real change. Together, we’re charting a course toward a world where our environment is protected, communities flourish, and the planet is cherished for generations to come. Join us in our mission to safeguard Oregon's natural legacy, and create a more sustainable future for all. We build teams, celebrate successes, launch impactful campaigns and have fun along the way.
Position Summary:
Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) is hiring a Community Engagement Manager to build awareness of Oregon’s major environmental challenges, strengthen partnerships with diverse stakeholders, expand OEC’s audience and membership base, and serve key constituencies in support of equitable and impactful solutions. The Community Engagement Manager will collaborate closely with OEC’s Programs, Communications, and Development teams to support our environmental health, climate, transportation, and water goals. This role manages and supports OEC’s Emerging Leaders Board, an ambassador board of young professionals.
A key part of the Community Engagement Manager position will be identifying and communicating opportunities for individual Oregonians, small businesses, environmental justice, community-based organizations, rural and local governments to leverage state, federal, and local funding for clean energy, water infrastructure, climate-smart transportation, and community resilience. The Community Engagement Manager will also support existing community engagement opportunities, such as OEC’s community science pilot studies, workshops, and other opportunities to comment publicly on environmental programs.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate possesses exceptional communication skills and is able to foster meaningful connections with diverse community members. You have a deep understanding of community dynamics and are adept at identifying creative opportunities for engagement and collaboration. A visionary thinker with a passion for social impact, you are skilled in designing and implementing initiatives that drive community adoption of environmental initiatives. You are resourceful and adaptable in team settings with experience serving diverse and low-income communities with a focus on environmental justice. Above all, you are genuinely passionate about making a difference for the environment and empowering others to create a more inclusive and connected community.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Supports Access to Resources and Programs (~30%)
- Works with program team to track federal and state programs that support clean energy, toxic-free homes/workplaces, clean and just transportation, and safe and plentiful water
- Develops relationships with state agency program administrators
- Assists target audiences in navigating funding application processes
- Proactively reaches out to target audiences to assess barriers and share opportunities
Education (~20%)
- Educates the public, OEC members and key constituencies through website and digital communications, personal interactions, and other communications
- Aids in developing materials and resources for public education events, such as nontoxic cleaning workshops
- Works with the marketing and communications team to develop educational materials, including but not limited to blogs, fact sheets, “how-to” toolkits for target audiences, and tabling materials
- In coordination with program directors and the marketing and communications team, support website updates and other programmatic educational tools such as OEC’s eco-healthy home kit
- Works with the marketing and communications team to translate materials into target languages
Outreach (~35%)
- Engages OEC members, community groups, businesses, local governments, and other stakeholders to further OEC’s mission
- Assists in maintaining and identifying new coalition partners, with a focus on community-based and environmental justice groups
- Assesses, makes recommendations for, and participates in statewide outreach opportunities, including but not limited to state fairs, festivals, green business conferences, and community events
- Facilitates webinars, coalition meetings, community forums and other events
- Organizes and participates in "visibility" events, such as tabling
- Helps generate media coverage and identify potential community spokespeople
- Builds broad support for OEC’s program goals, project objectives, and the organization as a whole
Emerging Leaders Board (15%)
- Serves as main staff liaison to the Emerging Leaders Board
- Runs recruitment for new cohorts
- Staffs monthly meetings
- Guides project work, including selection of events and activities
- Turns out people to OEC and ELB events
Qualifications:
Required Experience:
- Minimum two years of professional experience in community outreach, engagement, communications, or related field
- Experience working with culturally diverse organizations and/or communities
Required Skills, Abilities, and Qualities:
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills; demonstrated ability to engage in culturally sensitive communications
- A passion for community engagement, community benefit and the environment
- Demonstrated commitment to expanding cultural awareness and advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and as part of programmatic work; a commitment to continued learning and working against institutional and structural racism
- Ability to mobilize people, including nontraditional allies and constituent groups
- Strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects without losing sight of the “big picture”
- Self-motivation and initiative; proven ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills; an eagerness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment; flexible attitude
- A passion for OEC’s mission and the environment
- Energized to support Oregon Environmental Council’s Values and Beliefs and workplace culture as described in our Team Charter
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel statewide
Desirable Additional Qualifications:
- Experience working in a nonprofit setting with a mission-driven staff and board
- Fluency in Spanish or another language
- Grassroots organizing experience
- Experience engaging with rural partnerships and rural communities
- Exposure to public policy development and advocacy
Other Details
Travel: This position requires regular travel for ~30% of the position, including some overnight or multiple days. OEC encourages travel by sustainable modes, e.g., walking, bicycling, taking transit, and/or carpooling, but some trips may require driving. This position therefore requires a valid driver’s license.
Work Schedule: Our office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM, however this role requires the ability to be flexible about one’s schedule and work hours, including occasional evening and weekend hours and occasional overnight travel. This role may occasionally require excess hours in order to achieve deliverables.
Physical: This job operates in a professional open-floor office environment with a moderate level of noise associated with personal conversations and office machinery. The employee must be able to see, hear and talk and have the physical ability to move around, lift light objects, and use standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets.
Salary and Employment Benefits:
The full salary range for this position is currently $60,000 - $79,000 per year. Starting salaries are usually in the first half of the full range. Offers are made based on an assessment of the candidate's skills, experience, and abilities in relation to the job description, and also in relation to peer roles in the organization.
OEC endeavors to increase all staff wages annually to account for cost of living as well as to recognize and honor experience gained over time. We review and adjust the organizational pay scale every 2-3 years. Employees can expect to move up in the range for their position's pay grade as they gain more experience in their roles.
OEC offers a collaborative, team-oriented, flexible, family-friendly workplace. Excellent benefits include:
- Generous paid leave, including 4 weeks of vacation (3 in first year), Fridays off in August, 11 fixed holidays, 4 personal days, and 12 sick days annually
- 401k contribution (up to 6% after the first year)
- Employer-paid medical and dental coverage for employee, with significant employer support for dependents’ coverage
At OEC, you will learn a lot, laugh a lot, and feel great about helping Oregon communities become better, healthier places to live.
To Apply:
Please complete an application via our website HERE. We will start to review applications on May 6th, three weeks after the initial posting date. This position will be open until filled.
ADA Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please email info@oeconline.org or call 503-222-1963 x100 for assistance.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Oregon Environmental Council provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender assignment, gender identity or expression, national origin, (dis)ability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.