The Coos Watershed Association (Association) is seeking a Community Engagement Specialist to join the team!

The Association is seeking a qualified professional to join our dynamic team and fill the position of Community Engagement Specialist. This is an at-will, full-time (min 35 hours/week), hourly, non-exempt position with benefits. The Community Engagement Specialist will work both in the office and field. The Coos Watershed Association is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) provider.

About the Association:

The Coos Watershed Association (Association) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was established in 1994 by a diverse group of community members with a mission to support environmental integrity and economic stability within the Coos watershed by increasing community capacity to develop, test, promote, and implement management practices in the interests of watershed health. The Association is governed by a Board of Directors and managed by the Executive Director. To learn more about our work, please visit our website: cooswatershed.org. 

Why this Job:

This is your chance to be a part of an organization focused on the betterment of the community. The Association creates a local, nongovernmental network and funding resources so that community members and landowners can easily communicate their issues and opportunities and explore ideas and techniques for land management and watershed health.

The Association takes pride in our commitment to diversity and inclusion of our diverse team of program staff. We embrace and value differences in our culture, education, experience, physical ability, and unique perspectives in our workplace. We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to serving our community.

Position Summary: The Community Engagement Specialist is a bridge-builder who makes connections between plants, nature, and people. This work takes place both through direct service (e.g., booths at events, leading programs for youth and volunteers) and behind-the-scenes through activity and material development. All these tasks seek to give community members a way to engage with us, with a particular focus on native and invasive plant species and watershed stewardship activities designed and delivered through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position works most closely with the Outreach Program Manager and Plants Program Manager.

Essential Functions of the Positions: The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying future project opportunities. These duties are a representative example of position expectations; actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on funding and Association needs.

Tasks will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Help coordinate existing CoosWA events that educate individuals on key watershed issues, encourage a connection to nature, and empower them to make watershed friendly decisions in their daily activities. Event examples include but are not limited to monthly native plant nursery volunteer days, Earth Day events, invasive species clean-ups, outdoor movie nights, Nature and Nurture series, and storm drain stenciling.
• Work with the Outreach Program Manager to develop and lead new volunteer events that are engaging and accessible for new audiences and expand the Association’s network of partners.
• Represent CoosWA at community outreach events, such as Coos Bay Farmers Market, Mill-Luck Salmon Celebration, National Public Lands Day, Octoberfish, Cranberry Festival, etc.
• Co-plan the annual Coos Watershed Mayfly Festival in the spring.
• Support regional plant partnerships, such as Gorse Action Group (GAG) and South Coast Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA).
• Coordinate weekly stewardship and education programs for alternative high school students during the school year and local youth on the summer youth crew.
• Cultivate relationships and serve as liaison with school audiences to plan stewardship and education events and facilitate connections between schools and the Mayfly Festival.
• Coordinate and manage volunteers and serve as the main person of contact for community members interested in getting involved with our organization.
• Develop outreach materials that are clear, engaging, and accessible to a wide range of audiences (e.g., Weed of the Month flyer, handouts, brochures, interpretive signs, and social media/newsletter stories).
• Assist with the annual fundraiser.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with landowners, community members, funders, agencies, and other partners.
• Actively participate in staff and other team meetings.
• Create an inclusive work environment that contributes to a positive workplace.
• Contribute to outreach activities as requested.
• Participate in board activities as requested by the Executive Director.
• Communicate respectfully and effectively with other staff, supervisors, board members, and partners.
• Maintain a team player mentality and pitch in to ensure all aspects of the Association’s work are successful.
• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job. Education and coursework can substitute for years of experience. Typical qualifications would be:

Education: Associate's degree in natural resources or education, or a high school diploma with 1-2 years’ experience with plants/community engagement work.

Professional Experience: 

• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to maintain effective, professional, and collaborative relationships with staff, youth, and project partners.
• Excellent ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to be productive in a collaborative work environment.
• Ability to adjust to a variable work schedule based on project needs (i.e., early mornings, long hours, seasonal fluctuations, etc.) and ability to work in varied work environments and conditions (i.e., cold temperatures, hot temperatures, windy, wet, dry, etc.).
• Ability to work in the field in all types of weather (wind, rain, sun, heat, cold).
• Problem-solving, decision-making skills, and the ability to work independently with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A positive attitude with a flexible approach to work and willingness to work with others and take on new projects and tasks as needed.
• Ability to lift 40 pounds.
• Must have a current driver’s license, auto insurance, a reliable vehicle, and the ability to meet at varying job sites in the vicinity of Coos Bay.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in outdoor work
• Strong knowledge of native and invasive plant species in the Pacific Northwest
• Experience or strong interest in mentoring and supervising marginalized, underrepresented youth and community members
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office, graphic design (e.g., Canva, InDesign), and social media

Supervision: The Community Engagement Specialist is supervised by the Outreach Program Manager. This position does not supervise others.

Working Conditions: The Association’s office is generally open during normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, although our work hours span from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and may include nights and weekends, with some schedule flexibility available with approval. Employees’ presence may be required at designated internal and external meetings even if they fall outside your normal workday schedule. The equipment utilized includes standard office equipment, including a personal computer, with job-specific software and peripherals.

The above is not meant to be all-inclusive, and requirements may change according to the demands of this position. Nothing in this description restricts the Association’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Job descriptions may occasionally be updated, as necessary, to reflect evolving business needs.