Oregon Program Director

~ Wood, water, wildlife, and wonder. ~

Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) delivers landscape-scale private forest conservation in the West and develops innovative incentives for forest conservation at the national level. PFT works to conserve irreplaceable private forest landscapes and secure the vital forest resources on which we all depend. We do so in ways that reward private landowners, boost local economies, and restore resilient forest ecosystems. PFT has pioneered payments for ecosystem services in multiple ways, from climate, water, and energy policy, to carbon markets, to working forest conservation easements and regulatory efficiencies.

PFT has conserved 265,000 acres regionally, and developed, acquired, and stewarded conservation easements on 100,000 acres of forestland in California and Oregon. We also manage 12,000 acres for timber, water, climate, and habitat values. Our projects are outstanding not only for their scale, but for their landscape impacts and high standards for delivering multiple public benefits.

Headquartered in the verdant Presidio of San Francisco, PFT has a satellite office in Sacramento, CA, and plans to open one in Portland, OR. PFT has a collegial environment filled with bright minds that generate groundbreaking ideas and work hard to implement them. We also appreciate the value of work/life balance. More about PFT.

Position Overview

The Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) has an opportunity available for a conservation professional to represent PFT in Oregon, and to expand PFT’s programs and program delivery in Oregon and, as appropriate, in Washington. This position also has a fundraising and constituency-building responsibility, helping build PFT supporters and support in Oregon. The position is based in Portland, Oregon, and requires travel within Oregon and to our San Francisco home office.

Reports to:

• The President and serves as part of PFT’s Management Team.

Location:

• Portland, Oregon. Travel required both within Oregon and to main offices in San Francisco on a regular basis.

Responsibilities

• Establishing a PFT office in Portland, Oregon
• Representing PFT in agency, collaborator and policy fora
• Organizing and implementing landowner and other stakeholder outreach to expand engagement and partnership opportunities generally. Represent PFT with government agencies, elected officials, and other policy-makers in Oregon, consistent with PFT policy programs, goals, and positions.
• Organizing and implementing a strategic outreach plan to private forestland owners, foresters, other resource managers, and other Oregon forest stakeholders to actively develop conservation easement projects with PFT. Including:
  • One-on-one visits with landowners; organizing/attending other meetings
  • Producing, attending, and/or presenting at conferences and workshops (including PFT’s “Estate Planning for Family Forestlands” or other outreach workshops);
  • Writing articles; producing other materials and, working with other PFT staff on articles and other media.
• Participating as the local team member in the acquisition of specific conservation easements or other interests in forestlands.
• Working with PFT Stewardship staff to assist in monitoring and management of all acquired conservation easements or other interest in Oregon forestlands.
• Contributing to the database of potential and current Oregon (and Washington) conservation projects and other contacts.
• Maintaining program area records and files securely and in good order.
• Helping develop annual and long-term Oregon forestland conservation planning and goal-setting and participate in PFT’s strategic planning.
• Assisting in preparation of annual budget for this program, including revenue and expenses. Manage the annual budget during the fiscal year.
• Working closely with PFT’s President, Development Team and Co-CEO to develop grant funding and fee-for-service revenue for program area and specific projects. Assist as needed in preparation of grant/contract proposals.
• Participating in developing annual and long-term forestland conservation goals as part of PFT’s strategic planning.
• Providing assistance and support, as appropriate, to local land trusts in their forest conservation projects and outreach efforts that expand understanding of forest conservation in Oregon. This includes providing training workshops to other land trusts on best practices in designing and managing conservation easements on working forestlands, forest carbon projects, and other related topics.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in land conservation, with a preference for experience in forest or working lands conservation and related public policy.
• Knowledge of forest management preferred.
• Outstanding communications skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated superb organizational and administrative skills.
• Ability to work against strict deadlines and juggle priorities.
• Proven ability to work independently, with accountability and regular reporting within a team-oriented environment.
• Patient, outgoing, with a good sense of humor.
• Proven team orientation, good interpersonal skills.
• BA/BS degree in a related field; advanced degree in law or natural resource science or management preferred.
• Skills in Mac OS X operating system preferred. High level of comfort with internet tools and basic Microsoft Office applications.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to lift 25 pounds are required.
• Commitment to conservation and to PFT’s mission.

Compensation: Pacific Forest Trust offers an excellent salary and benefits package, and appreciates the value of work/life balance.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter and resume and indicate “Oregon Program Director” in the subject line.