POSITION: Conservation Fellow

REPORTS TO: Campaign Manager

LOCATION: Bend, Oregon

CLASSIFICATION: Two-year position, full-time, FLSA Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting, defending and restoring Oregon’s high desert. The Conservation Fellow will work as a vital part of ONDA’s staff to drive campaigns to protect public lands and waters in eastern Oregon.

The Conservation Fellow will work collaboratively with members of the ONDA’s Conservation and Communication teams to research, develop and deploy strategies and tactics that help secure permanent protection for the rugged canyons and vast, wild expanses of Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, designate dozens of miles of Owyhee rivers, streams and creeks as Wild and Scenic Rivers, advance ONDA’s mission to conserve eight million acres of Oregon’s high desert and contribute to national conservation priorities to protect 30 percent of the United States by 2030, and build a community of conservation advocates to support protection and appropriate management of public lands, waters and wildlife in the Owyhee and across the region.

The ideal candidate will be energized by learning new things and working in a fast-paced and fluid environment, possess outstanding interpersonal skills, and have excellent problem solving and time management capabilities. The successful candidate will be someone who brings an inclusive, team-oriented spirit and a passion for public lands to the role.

Fellowship Activities and Responsibilities:

• Activate and engage a broad network of conservation, tribal, outdoor and recreation advocates and partners to support protecting public lands in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, and dozens of miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers in the Owyhee backcountry

• Connect with local, state and national leaders to educate them about the places, values, threats and the urgent need and unprecedented opportunities to conserve the region’s public lands and waters

• Contribute to regular coalition meetings and conference calls on the Owyhee and Wild and Scenic Rivers campaigns

• Launch a strategic communications effort to educate and elevate the importance of the Owyhee region’s public lands and waters to the public, news media and other constituencies

• Participate in updating our strategic communications plan for the Owyhee Canyonlands lands and Wild and Scenic Rivers; develop and update outreach materials, messaging, website content, articles and blogs on the region; assist ONDA to contact news outlets and generate earned media coverage

• Vet desert river and stream segments proposed for federal designation, and actively update ONDA’s natural resource data with the values associated with these waters and the need to protect them

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to ONDA’s mission and a desire to learn about the non-profit conservation sector

• Strong interest in developing skills and experience in conservation leadership, community organizing and mobilizing, natural resource management, and public lands policy and conservation

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills

• Experience using technology and online tools and applications

• Strong collaborative spirit and desire to work with other staff, partner organizations and the community

• Strong attention to detail and organization and the ability to complete tasks efficiently

• Commitment to embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in their work

• Comfortable spending time in an office setting, working remotely (if needed) and exploring Oregon’s high desert places

COMPENSATION

The annual salary for this position is $45,000. ONDA provides a full benefits package, including health benefits, matching retirement contributions, flexible work schedule, and generous paid vacation, sick and family leave. ONDA will also reimburse up to $500 for moving expenses incurred relocating to Bend for this position.

TO APPLY

We are striving to eliminate bias in our hiring. Please submit materials as follows: Send a cover page that includes your name, contact information and educational details. Please do not include this information anywhere else in your application materials. Also submit a cover letter (unsigned), resume (without your name), and the contact information for two professional references. Combine the cover page, cover letter, resume and contact information into a single PDF file and send to conservationfellow@onda.org no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, October 23, 2020.

ABOUT OREGON NATURAL DESERT ASSOCIATION For three decades Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) has connected people to their public lands and championed the conservation and stewardship of central and eastern Oregon’s wild lands, waterways and wildlife. ONDA’s mission is to protect, defend and restore Oregon’s high desert. From championing land protection to speaking out for fish and wildlife, ONDA’s members and supporters sustain the natural character of Oregon’s high desert. ONDA envisions a high desert in Oregon where eight million acres of public lands are conserved to ensure that fish and wildlife thrive and wild places exist for all people to treasure and explore, now and always. www.ONDA.org

ONDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer ONDA is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and seeks to create an inclusive environment for all volunteers, partners, collaborators and employees. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law. Please review our commitment to fostering justice in environmental conservation at www.ONDA.org/justice.