Bark is seeking an energetic team member to strengthen Bark’s ongoing advocacy to defend and restore Mt. Hood National Forest in alignment with environmental justice principles.

Employment Status: 1.0 Full-Time Exempt

Salary: $50,000 – $53,000; vacation, sick leave, medical and dental insurance, eligible to take sabbatical after three years

Location: Portland, OR – Hybrid Remote (home office) and Traditional (Bark office)

Start Date: September 27, 2021

ABOUT BARK 

Located in Portland, Oregon, Bark was founded in 1999. Our mission is to transform Mt. Hood National Forest into a place where natural processes prevail, where wildlife thrives and where local communities have a social, cultural, and economic investment in its restoration and preservation. Bark is a resource for community action to protect Mt. Hood National Forest and surrounding federal lands and works to build the power of the engaged public.

Our name originates from the “barker” who stands before the public and uses persistent outcry to call attention. We are a group of Barkers, ensuring that the public hears about all events, good and bad, occurring in the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Bark seeks to add staff members who thrive in brave spaces, working with diverse co-workers, volunteers, and community partners. People find connection to forests, water, and wildlife for many, often personal, reasons. Even in conflict, we honor this connection and hope to find common ground for a just and equitable future. If you are a person with strong values, matched with empathic view of the world, we hope you’ll apply!

Bark does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors who are willing to engage in this process of equity, justice, and accountability with us.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 

Bark is engaged in a continual process to identify inequity in our work and organizational culture, to support individual growth and recognition of unique experiences and perpetuation of systemic oppression, and to sustain an inclusive and diverse space where people are committed to ending oppression.

Barkers share a deep love for the forest and recognize that people have a wide range of perspectives and experiences that connect us all to the forest. Bark grew out of a history of direct action, public lands advocacy, and an understanding of the legal system. Much of these origins are heavily represented by a white, colonizer perspective. While we have made gains to shift this dominant perspective and create a workplace that is welcoming and comfortable for people from diverse backgrounds, we acknowledge that we have much more work to do.

POSITION SUMMARY  
Coordinate and grow ongoing Forest Policy and Advocacy efforts for Bark by maintaining meaningful influence and engagement with agencies, decision makers and the public regarding management projects and policies on Mt. Hood and advocate for environmental justice in the management of national forests and other federal public lands.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (other duties may be assigned):

National Forest Policy Engagement and Government Relations (~50%)  

• Research, provide analysis, and participate in Bark’s work to influence on the ground outcomes of Forest Service/BLM management projects.
• Provide analysis and guide strategies for Bark’s ongoing advocacy in alignment with strategic goals.
• Support policy writing for new initiatives as appropriate.
• Represent Bark at agency meetings and pertinent community meetings.
• Steward relationships with agency, local, tribal and federal representatives, and coordinate briefings year-round.

Advocacy Communications (~20%) 

• Provide executive summaries and talking points for staff, Board and volunteers on key advocacy issues.
• Partner with the Development team to set advocacy communications strategy, including key messaging, media, public relations, and online engagement.
• Position Bark as a thought leader and resource on restorative, environmentally just forest management for Mt. Hood National Forest, especially regarding public processes.

Outreach and Organizing (~10%) 

• Educate elected officials, community leaders, and the public on national forest policy issues.
• Coordinate with the Associate Director to represent Bark in coalition spaces.
• Guide Bark’s advocacy efforts to empower diverse communities in forest policymaking.

Legal Liaison (~10%) 

• Research and propose legal strategies to fulfill Bark’s strategic plan.
• Communicate via written memoranda potential legal strategies to the Forest Watch Committee, staff, and Board of Directors.
• Collaborate with other organizations and lawyers to forward legal challenges, and act as the liaison between contracted lawyers and Bark.

Miscellaneous (~10%) 

• Communicate with Bark’s board of directors through regular reports and informal updates as needed.
• Participate in administrative & fundraising activities as needed.
• In-forest activities as needed.

DESIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• 1+ years of direct work experience in advocacy, government relations, public affairs and/or involvement with campaigns aimed at influencing policy change.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to and/or leading environmental justice campaigns/efforts/initiatives.
• Strong skillset in collaborative decision-making and accountability, demonstrated ability to pivot between working independently, and in mutually supportive work relationships to achieve shared goals.
• Strong relational, analytical, writing, and verbal skills for communicating organizational advocacy goals with government employees, politicians, diverse stakeholders, and Tribal leadership.
• Interest in the overlap of science, policy and social justice.
• Experience engaging with federal land management law, policy and agencies, specifically the processes of the National Environmental Policy Act.
• Experience developing and managing efforts to influence policymakers and external stakeholders.
• Ability to think strategically and use judgment in decision-making.
• Excellent public engagement skills with a passion for the organization’s mission.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 and virtual meeting platforms.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability to work in office environment as needed, which requires ability to perceive and communicate with others and prepare and manage documents.
• Must be able to maintain the following for several hours at a time: use of computer or similar technology, phone, stationary position as required.
• Ability to communicate in person, over the phone and/or via computer.
• Travel between locations and move through the forest landscape as needed. A valid driver’s license is required.

Level of Authority: Reports to Associate Director

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION 

Bark is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a flexible, friendly, team-based environment with immediate opportunities to shape organizational strategies, competitive salary ($50 – 53,000 for this position, depending on experience and location), and benefits package, including health, vision, and dental, paid vacation days on top of all federal holidays, paid sick leave, and a paid long-term leave policy (1 month family/sabbatical leave accrued for every 3 years of employment).