Oregon’s citizens and our environment face numerous problems that will irreversibly degrade our health and quality of life if we don’t act soon.  Ocean pollution, the devastating impacts of global warming, and logging and drilling in our most pristine places have the potential to devastate the Oregon we know and love.  Yet the opportunity to create a clean energy economy that includes solar panels on every roof, buildings that create more energy than they use, and accessible public transportation is within our reach. Permanent protections for our coasts and other iconic landscapes are within the realm of the possible.

It takes independent research and tough-minded advocacy to win concrete results for our environment, especially when powerful interests are standing in the way. That's why Environment Oregon was formed. We focus exclusively on protecting Oregon’s air, water and open spaces. We speak out and take action at the local, state and national levels to improve the quality of our environment and our lives. 

Environment Oregon is campaigning to protect critical marine habitat and reduce water pollution through better development practices. We are promoting energy efficiency and clean, homegrown renewable power while we continue to find real solutions to global warming.

Job Description
We are seeking a State Director to lead our fight to preserve and protect Oregon’s environment. Environment Oregon’s state director will pick issues and develop and help implement campaigns to establish common-sense protections for Oregon’s environment, particularly in the areas of coastal and land preservation, reducing global warming pollution, and making the transition to a clean energy economy.  In addition the state director will be responsible for helping to build the depth and breadth of the organization, positioning us to win on current campaigns and building the wherewithal to take on even greater challenges in the future.

Responsibilities include:

•    Campaign Development: Creating a plan to win on our environmental campaigns; strategizing to gain political support for our agenda through research, advocacy, coalition-building, grassroots organizing, media publicity, and message development.
•    Advocacy: Bringing problems and solutions to the attention of decision makers including state legislators, the Executive branch, Oregon’s Congressional delegation and local officials.
•    Media Outreach and Organizational Visibility: Developing powerful messages and serving as the public spokesperson for campaigns and the organization through media events, news releases and editorial board meetings.  Developing our presence on the web, in key communities and in our printed materials to better educate and mobilize concerned citizens.
•    Coalition Building: Education and outreach to organizations and VIPs from all walks of life to add power and resources to our advocacy work and engage new constituencies.
•    Build Grassroots Power: Recruiting new members and activists and working with our existing membership to actively engage in our campaigns, mobilizing concerned citizens via email and other outreach strategies, using our campaigns to reach as many Oregon residents as possible.
•    Fundraising: Writing grant proposals and pursuing foundation funding and meeting with large donors  to bring financial resources and high level political support to our efforts to protect the environment. Working with our citizen outreach staff to build and develop our membership base.
•    Staff Recruitment and Development: Recruiting and training new staff to increase our impact.  Overseeing the organization’s program staff to develop and implement work plans, provide training and leadership development opportunities.

Qualifications
Candidates must have at least 5 to 8 years of relevant professional experience post-college. The ideal candidate will have experience in state-level political advocacy and organizing, a proven ability to recruit, train and develop staff, raise money, and demonstrated success in building relationships with the full spectrum of environmental and political stakeholders. Candidates should also have a demonstrated commitment to environmental issues and a track-record of leadership and academic excellence.  We're looking for a goal-driven and results-oriented individual who has excellent verbal, writing and analytical skills, the ability to debate and speak persuasively in a charged atmosphere, and enthusiasm for the work.

Salary and Benefits
Salary for this position is commensurate with a candidate’s relevant professional experience and/or advanced degrees.  A competitive benefits package includes health care coverage, educational loan assistance, a retirement plan, and paid vacation and sick days.  Opportunities for advancement, travel, and additional training are available.

Location
Portland, OR

To Apply
Send a compelling cover letter and resume to Margie Alt at careers@environmentamerica.org.  Please specify which position you are applying for in the subject line of the e-mail, and be sure to mention where you saw our job advertised.

Environment America is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status.