Land Trust Director

Background

Friends of the Columbia Gorge was founded in 1980, with members in Oregon, Washington, and beyond dedicated to preserving, protecting, and stewarding the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. With offices in Portland and Hood River, Oregon, and Washougal, Washington, the organization uses an array of tools (advocacy, litigation, land acquisition, community engagement, and public education) to ensure the Columbia Gorge remains a wondrous and vibrant place. In 2005, Friends launched the Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust, a 509(a)(3) support organization to acquire spectacular landscapes within the Columbia Gorge. The 509(a)(3) has a board of trustees made up of Friends’ board members and non-board members tasked with carrying out the mission for Friends of the Columbia Gorge through its land trust work.

Summary of position

The land trust director oversees the direction and vision of Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust, interacting with all Friends’ programs across our fast-paced organization and maximizing the capabilities of Friends’ communications, fundraising, lobbying, and outreach to achieve the land trust’s goals. Leadership and organizational skills are essential, as is the knowledge of conservation, real estate, and land-use matters.

The land trust director oversees the acquisition, management, and disposition of lands held by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust and manages staff to carry out those responsibilities. The director supports a board of trustees responsible for governance of the land trust. The position also oversees the short and long-term stewardship of trust’s preserves, as well as stewardship of key public lands in concert with public partner agencies. The director supervises staff engaged in the implementation of our Gorge Towns to Trails vision of a 200-mile loop trail around the Columbia Gorge connecting communities to wild places, along with the stewardship manager and preserves manager.

The director is the ambassador, voice, and guiding star for the land trust. The position requires a skilled communicator working with co-workers and trustees, agency staffers, elected officials, the media, and donors.

Activities

Program Management (75%)

• Works with the executive director and trustees to set a proactive agenda for the land trust: documenting high-priority properties, keeping staff and trustees abreast of potential acquisitions, conveyance opportunities, and land management issues;
• With executive director, leads trustees and staff through strategic planning processes;
• Ensures Friends complies with the Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and manages LTA Accreditation renewal;
• Ensures acquisitions of fee simple and easement properties, overseeing projects from initial landowner contact through completion;
• Works with public agencies to transfer land trust held properties to those agencies; and
• Manages and provides tools for success for land trust staff.

Outreach (10%)

• Serves as the land trust’s representative and/or spokesperson at meetings, conferences, press conferences, etc.;
• Develops and maintains successful working relationships with officials and agencies that purchase land in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area;
• Develops and maintains mutually beneficial networking relationships with other land trusts and local realtors; and
• Serves as primary contact with the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts, Washington Association of Land Trusts, and the Land Trust Alliance.

Fundraising (5%)

• Works with the executive and philanthropy directors and key individuals to carry out a development plan for raising funds adequate to meet the Trust’s needs; and
• Investigates and pursues federal and state funding to secure, dispose of, and manage lands.

Required qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of experience with land trusts, real estate, community development, finance, or related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multitask;
• Creative, self-motivated individual who works well alone and in groups;
• Commitment to the protection and enhancement of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area;
• Familiarity with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and Accreditation process preferred;
• Knowledge of the Pacific Northwest conservation and political climate preferred; and
• Ability to work some non-standard hours including weekend or evening events.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range is $105K – $115K, commensurate with experience and education. Excellent benefits include generous vacation time and holidays, generous health insurance for employee and dependents along with an employer-matched retirement plan.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) work and organizational culture

The Columbia Gorge has been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial, stewarding the land and waters of this region long before European colonization and the western idea of environmentalism. Friends is dedicated to ensuring the Columbia Gorge remains a place of wonder for generations to come. Whether it is the land, water, wildlife, people, Tribes, or communities, each is dependent upon the others for the Gorge to truly thrive. This is not possible without representing and engaging tribal as well as other diverse communities and individuals who share a connection to this special place. Read our full DEIJ statement here.

Read our full DEIJ statement.

EEO Policy

Friends is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with local, state, and federal law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoffs, recalls, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Working Environment

Full time within a typical Monday through Friday office hours. Other hours would include earlier morning, evening, or weekend work for events or meetings. Friends currently works in a flexible hybrid environment and staff work with their supervisors to determine their schedule working from home or the office. Friends’ offices are interchangeable for staff and include workstations with sit/stand options. This position will spend time working in front of a computer. This position also includes regular outdoor work.

Application

Please send cover letter and resume to careers@gorgefriends.org with Land Trust Director in the subject line. Application materials reviewed upon receipt. Deadline for applications is September 29th, 2024.