Job Title:          Associate Director of Urban Conservation

Department:    Conservation and Rehabilitation

Reports to:       Director of Conservation and Rehabilitation

Supervises:       Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP) Co-Manager, Advocacy Program Coordinator

Classification:  Exempt (Salaried) 1.0 FTE

Job Band:         G

Compensation:  $80,600

Benefits Include:

• Medical insurance: 100% payment of premiums for medical and dental insurance, for employees only
• Competitive leave benefits which include two (2) weeks paid vacation during a staff member’s first year of employment, accrual of eight (8) hours paid sick time per month, eight (8) recognized paid holidays as well as 40 hours of flexible holiday time per year, and family leave.
• 401(k) 3% match 
• Ability to attend free or subsidized courses at Bird Alliance of Oregon
• Substantial discount at our Nature Store, including optics
• Opportunity to work in one of the most beautiful forests in Oregon

About Bird Alliance of Oregon

Bird Alliance of Oregon has been a leading voice in conservation for over a century. Through conservation advocacy, environmental education, and wildlife rehabilitation, we promote the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife and their habitats. We are located in a 172-acre wildlife sanctuary next to Forest Park, just minutes from downtown Portland. 

Bird Alliance of Oregon believes that inspiring all people to love and protect nature is best achieved when we embrace diversity as a value and practice. In the same way an ecosystem needs many types of plants and wildlife, an organization thrives when it includes a diversity of people and perspectives. We recognize that inequities are widespread and create gaps between our present reality and our aspirations. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment, reflecting the diversity of our community in our board, staff, volunteers, and members; ensuring our internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance our diversity goals.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Urban Conservation is a mission-driven individual, who will develop and implement strategies that integrate nature into urban landscapes, expanding access to greenspaces that will ultimately improve the quality of habitat for wildlife, as well as the quality of life for human inhabitants that depend on these spaces. In conjunction with the Director of Conservation and Rehabilitation, the Associate Director of Urban Conservation will maintain and strengthen Bird Alliance of Oregon’s existing urban conservation programs and partnerships, and will strive to find new and innovative ways to further expand on these within the Portland Metro community and beyond. 

This position is required to handle a variety of projects and tasks, manage personnel, support program partnerships, interact with board members and volunteers, collaborate with the Conservation Advisory Committee, and represent Bird Alliance of Oregon’s urban conservation priorities, at large. The role requires a strong commitment to grassroots based advocacy, environmental justice, and volunteer engagement is essential, along with a passion for creating meaningful experiences and opportunities for underserved communities, especially historically marginalized communities of people of color.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a high level of knowledge and expertise about the birds, wildlife, ecology and natural history of the Pacific Northwest and its diverse habitat types.
• Develop and lead Bird Alliance of Oregon’s urban conservation policy and advocacy agenda which includes; 
• developing policy positions, 
• serving on advisory committees, 
• developing strategic campaigns, 
• leading special projects, 
• building inter/intra departmental coordination, etc.
• Manage and collaborate with BHCP and Advocacy program staff to monitor each program’s progress, support high level planning, and identify and demonstrate the accomplishments and values of the program as it relates to community leadership in urban conservation work.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with local environmental and community organizations, culturally specific groups, and public agencies to find new opportunities to support one another, and strengthen existing partnerships that continue to move the urban conservation agenda forward.
• Adaptively collaborate with the Columbia Land Trust, who jointly manages the BHCP, to strengthen, support, and further evolve the program partnership.
• In conjunction with the Engagement Department, build and foster relationships with key donors, especially those who advocate for community-centered urban conservation in historically underrepresented communities.
• Work with the Director of Conservation and Rehabilitation, the Executive Director, Director of Finance and Director of Engagement to support the department’s annual budgeting process, ensuring adequate funds are raised to meet program needs and that Urban Conservation programmatic expenses are managed accordingly. This includes leadership and collaboration on the preparation and management of grant proposals.
• Engage with elected officials and public agency staff on policies, programs, and legislation relevant to local urban conservation initiatives.
• Interact and build relationships with the media on urban conservation subject matter that arises.
• Manage and assess team’s performance, providing feedback, and opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Develop and advance priority special projects both within the urban conservation department and organization.
• Serve on an expanded leadership team/working group for Conservation and Rehabilitation/the whole org to focus on integrating programs from Engagement Department
• Shares responsibility for informing the work plans for sanctuary management and community science programs, their alignment with urban conservation priorities, and provides high level collaboration and guidance with relevant staff as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years combined education and experience working in conservation, in environmental policy/design/science/law, or public administration.
• Strong knowledge of Pacific Northwest Flora and Fauna.
• An experienced multitasker, who can work on various complex projects that, at times, have conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Supervisory experience, including leading, motivating and inclusively managing a team of diverse individuals, who all perform unique, yet equally important roles in working toward Bird Alliance of Oregon’s mission.
• Experience working with and developing partnerships with community groups, agencies and nonprofit organizations.
• Must be able to travel to and from our Cornell Campus and around the Portland Metro region even when public transit is not an option.

Work Environment/Conditions

• The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. The work environment characteristics described here represent those that the employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to perform essential duties.
• Regular communication in-person and electronically.
• On-site office hours required weekly.
• Occasional travel for organizational events, in order to meet with community partners and city officials as well as occasional travel to our other locations in Eastern Oregon and on the Oregon coast for departmental trips.
• Some evening and weekend work may be required.
• Occasional work in outdoor environments
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds as needed.
• Busy shared office spaces in a campus with Sanctuary trails, Nature Store, the Wildlife Care Center, and Education activities on site.
• Must be comfortable with shared office and shared desk space if necessary.
• Primary responsibilities involve working on a computer, typing, looking at screens, meeting virtually and in person, listening, communicating, occasional sight visits, and leading outings.  

Cultural Competencies:

Bird Alliance of Oregon is committed to maintaining an anti-racist organizational culture. We are committed to training all staff  and Board members on cultural competency and diversity, equity, and inclusion. We see staff with a high degree of cultural competency or lived experience working with communities of color, people who are disabled, and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, as vital for all positions in our organization. We seek staff with comfort and curiosity in engaging in conversations around issues of identity, belonging, and systemic oppression.

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.

Diversity Statement:

Bird Alliance of Oregon believes that inspiring all people to love and protect nature is best achieved when we embrace diversity as a value and practice. In the same way an ecosystem needs many types of plants and wildlife, an organization thrives when it includes a diversity of people and perspectives. We recognize

that inequities are widespread and create gaps between our present reality and our aspirations. Audubon is committed to:

• Reflecting the diversity of the community in our board, staff, volunteers, and members.
• Ensuring our internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance our diversity goals.
• Empowering people to make positive changes in their community and environment.

A core priority moving forward is to infuse equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) into all of the goals and work of the organization. This position will play an important role in achieving the organization’s EID goals through engagement with staff, board members, donors, volunteers and the public. We recognize that in order to serve diverse communities we must also have diversity represented in our staff. 

Equal Opportunity Employment

Bird Alliance of Oregon is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and members of other historically underrepresented communities. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the process. Please advise in writing at the time of application.Bird Alliance of Oregon does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. All Bird Alliance of Oregon employees are expected to serve diverse audiences and help advance our diversity strategies.