Position: Conservation Outreach Specialist – South Region, Blue Mountain Land Trust

 

Location: John Day, Oregon

 

Reports to: Conservation Director – South Region

 

Position type: Three-quarter to full time, 30-40 hours a week.

 

Position term: Two years with long-term potential based on availability of resources.

 

Compensation: Target compensation is $35,000-40,000 per year based on full-time (40 hours per week) employment. For less than full-time employment, compensation will be reduced proportionately. Paid personal leave and health insurance is available. Compensation is dependent on qualifications.

 

To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to Amanda Martino at marti@bmlt.org. Applications will be accepted until August 31st. Interviews to begin September 10th.

 

Background

The John Day River Basin is an extraordinary landscape. It hosts the longest undammed river in Oregon, which flows through a rich mosaic of public and private lands that support significant wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, and cultural riches. A generational transfer of farms and ranches is underway across the state that has landowners contemplating future plans. Consequently, there has been an upswing in interest from landowners to voluntarily protect the agricultural heritage of their land, explore new income sources from their land, and preserve wildlife habitat. Blue Mountain Land Trust expanded its service area to the John Day Basin in July, 2017 and is actively working on several conservation easement projects in the region. BMLT is hiring an Outreach Specialist to promote and explore conservation opportunities in the John Day area, and to educate private landowners and local stakeholders about conservation easements.

 

Position Summary

The Outreach Specialist promotes private land conservation efforts in four counties in eastern Oregon (Grant, Wheeler, Sherman, and Gilliam). The Outreach Specialist works with local conservation partners, BMLT’s south region conservation committee, the John Day Partnership and interested landowners to promote private land conservation through conservation easements and other voluntary conservation programs.

 

The Outreach Specialist will also be responsible for community outreach activities for the land trust with local partners and the community in order to build visibility, increase community and member engagement and strengthen financial resources.

 

The Outreach Specialist reports to the Regional Conservation Director – South Region and will work closely with partner conservation organizations in the South region. The position will be housed within the John Day office and will require substantial travel to BMLT’s main office in Walla Walla, Washington and throughout the South region.

 

Duties

  • Develop and maintain expert knowledge of private land conservation options and applicable funding sources and other voluntary stewardship programs promoted by BMLT and partner
  • Communicate conservation options to landowners through both in-person presentations and printed
    • Discuss land protection goals with interested landowners and work with the BMLT Regional Conservation Director – South Region to pursue conservation easements and other conservation initiatives within the South
      • Maintain close working relationships with members of the regional Conservation Committee, the John Day Partnership and other organizations with related missions working within the region to cultivate landowner interest in voluntary land protection and restoration
    • Educate other conservation professionals in the area about the use of conservation easements and other conservation practices to preserve private
    • Oversee BMLT’s John Day area Learning on the Land education series to ensure its continued success, high quality programming, relevance to the community, and focus on local and current conservation issues. Ensure the program acts as a pipeline for new members and fundraising opportunities

–          Build relationships with diverse partners by working with community groups to develop joint programming.

  • Develop, implement, and revise as needed, a comprehensive multi-year fundraising plan, including a diversified source of funders, and targeted fundraising
  • Apply to grants, complete grant reporting and evaluations as needed, and research new funding opportunities as they

 

Qualifications

  • A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communications, environmental studies, or an applicable field of
  • Strong interest in, understanding of and commitment to private land conservation and the landscapes of Eastern
  • A record of working collaboratively with diverse interests, especially in rural
  • Understanding of rural community
    • Strong communication and presentation skills, and the ability to connect with multiple stakeholders, including landowners, contractors, political figures and
  • Demonstrated ability to attract support, build relationships and develop strategic partnerships.

 

  • Ability to make public presentations, represent BMLT in public spaces and at community events.
  • Well organized, detail-oriented, able to set priorities and take initiative without direct supervision.
  • Experience in fundraising and grant writing.
  • Willingness to work an occasional weekend or evening hours as needed.
  • Willingness to be flexible and adaptive when needed.
  • Ability to travel 50% of time, sometimes over long distances by car.