Communications Manager Position Opening

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) 

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) seeks an organized, collaborative, and mission-driven individual with a passion for agricultural land conservation and rural communities to serve as our Communications Manager. Job responsibilities include: cultivating OAT’s brand and public presence; coordinating communications across social media, web, email, written content, earned media, and public outreach; maintaining and growing constituent trust; and ensuring that communications advance OAT’s programmatic and fundraising priorities.

About Us 

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) is a statewide, 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that partners with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of Oregon’s economy, communities, and landscapes. We work collaboratively with regional and statewide partners to permanently protect farm and ranch land in priority geographies within Oregon.

We also partner with regional leaders to:

• educate farmers, ranchers, service providers, and the public about protecting and passing on agricultural land;
• increase the capacity of peer organizations to protect agricultural land; and
• advocate for programs and incentives that support agricultural land protection.

Position Description 

Compensation: $70,000-$75,000 DOE, plus generous benefits

Reports To: Executive Director

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Location: OAT staff work remotely with periodic in-person meetings around Oregon

Core Accountabilities

The Communications Manager serves as the organization’s steward of brand, voice, messaging, and narrative, aligning communications efforts across channels to support OAT’s mission and long-term strategic goals. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mission-driven communications, with demonstrated experience stewarding organizational voice and supporting fundraising, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. They will bring the ability to translate strategy into clear, compelling storytelling across mediums—such as social media, video, press, and written content—that builds trust, strengthens brand consistency, and advances both programmatic and development goals.

Storytelling, Digital Presence & Campaigns

• Lead storytelling that advances fundraising, engagement, and relationship-building campaigns.
• Grow and steward digital audiences through clear, values-driven content across web and social platforms.
• Manage and evolve OAT’s website to remain engaging, accessible, and user-centered.
• Ensure storytelling reflects the diversity of Oregon’s agricultural communities and positions OAT as a trusted voice.

Content Production, Media & Accessibility

• Oversee development of visual and written assets, including photo, video, print, and branded materials.
• Manage public and media relations, including press releases, inquiries, and earned media opportunities.
• Coordinate mailings and print materials that support visibility and individual giving.
• Champion accessibility and inclusivity across all communications, applying current best practices.

Communications Strategy & Brand Stewardship

• Partner with the Executive Director to lead and implement OAT’s communications strategy in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Maintain a comprehensive communications plan covering engagement, storytelling, reputation, and crisis communications.
• Steward OAT’s brand identity and narrative, ensuring consistent voice, tone, visuals, and messaging across channels.
• Guide staff and partners in using OAT’s brand consistently in collaborative or co-branded materials.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience in nonprofit or mission-driven communications, including content planning, audience engagement, and brand positioning.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex or policy-oriented topics into clear, accessible, and compelling language for diverse audiences.
• Strong technical skills across platforms, including social media management, short-form video creation, press release writing, and basic graphic design; comfortable producing and adapting content across digital, print, and multimedia formats.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational, multitasking, and project management skills; able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a collaborative approach to teamwork.

• A passion for OAT’s mission to protect Oregon’s agricultural lands and support farmers and ranchers.

OAT welcomes applications from interviewees who might not have all of the desired experiences, skills, or attributes at this time, but are interested in acquiring them. If you feel that you meet or can grow into most of the above qualifications, please apply!

Leadership Profile

Oregon Agricultural Trust values our team members as whole humans. We treat each other with respect and compassion, honor each other’s diverse backgrounds and perspectives, get excited about each other’s successes and innovations, and enjoy working towards shared goals together. While we work remotely, we meet virtually each week for team meetings where we have fun, learn about each other, develop opportunities for cross-program partnerships, and strategize together. We also meet virtually at least every week with our direct supervisor and programmatic team to stay accountable and strategic in our activities. Leadership supports the personal and professional development and advancement of each of our team members through substantial professional development opportunities (including the ability to apply for tuition reimbursement) and regular performance meetings with supervisors.

Leaders on our team exemplify these core attributes:

Work/Life Balance - Enjoys working strategically towards organizational goals, with attention to excellence in all intermediate tasks, and sets boundaries where necessary to prevent burnout. Holds space for time outside of work, and asks for support when needed to balance work and non-work time and energy.

Integrity and Trust - Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent themself for personal gain.

Interpersonal Savvy - Is easy to approach and talk to; is a good listener; spends the extra effort to put others at ease; can be warm, pleasant, and gracious; builds rapport well with with people up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably. 

Composure - Is cool under pressure; can handle stress; is considered mature; is not knocked off balance by the unexpected; doesn't show frustration when resisted or blocked; does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; is a settling influence in a crisis. 

Process Management - Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient work flow; can see opportunities for synergy and integration where others can't; can simplify complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources. 

Outcome Focused - Delivers the highest-quality products and services which meet the needs and requirements of internal and external customers; is committed to continuous improvement through empowerment and management by data; knows what to measure and how to measure it; leverages technology to positively impact quality.

Decision Quality - Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of their solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions. 

Action Oriented - Enjoys working hard; is action oriented and full of energy for the things they see as challenging; seizes more opportunities than others.

Strategic Agility - Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans. 

Managing Vision and Purpose - Communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; talks beyond today; talks about possibilities; is optimistic; creates mileposts and symbols to rally support behind the vision; makes the vision sharable by everyone; can inspire and motivate. 

Benefits

OAT strives to support our staff with a generous benefits package, including*:

• Health & Vision Insurance: Regence/VSP with 100% coverage for the employee and 50% coverage for partner and/or family
• Dental Insurance: Ameritas Dental Plan with orthodontic coverage
• 401K: Up to 5% employer match
• Life Insurance: $50,000 policy
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Health FSA and Dependent FSA available for employee contribution
• PTO and Office-Closures: Starting at 20 days PTO per year, plus 16-17 days of office-closure/holidays with flexible leave for religious, medical, and bereavement
• Flexible Work Hours with work-from-home and phone stipends available

* Benefits and plan features are subject to change.

Application

Open until filled, but applications are preferred by Sunday, March 9, 2026. First interviews will begin by the week of Monday, March 16, 2026.

Submit résumé and cover letter in one pdf addressed to Nellie McAdams, Executive Director, via email to jobs@oregonagtrust.org. Please refer any questions to this email address as well. 

No phone calls, please.

OAT is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or age.