Posted: 8/24/2015

Location: Portland Metro

Closing Date: 9/18/2015

Industry: Communications, Environment, Nonprofit

Type: Full Time

Description:
ABOUT TROUT UNLIMITED
Today, Trout Unlimited (TU) is a national organization with more than 150,000 volunteers organized into about 400 chapters nationwide. This dedicated grassroots army is matched by a respected staff to organizers, lawyers, policy experts and scientists, who work out of more than 30 offices. Our mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Our vision is that, by the next generation, Trout Unlimited will ensure robust populations of native and wild coldwater fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters.

POSITION SUMMARY
TU seeks a dedicated and self-motivated individual to serve as its Pacific Northwest Volunteer Coordinator. This individual will join TU’s Volunteer Operations team and assist with the development, introduction and provision of a wide range of services, tools and resources designed to engage, inform and empower TU’s volunteer base in accomplishing TU’s mission of coldwater conservation in the region.

The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the country’s most productive trout, salmon and steelhead habitat. It is also the home of some of TU’s largest state councils, dozens of local chapters, thousands of members, and multiple staff-run programs and campaigns. In this role, the Pacific Northwest Volunteer Coordinator will serve as a principal point of integration between TU’s national programs and its grassroots base in the region.

The main objectives for this position are:

To help chapters and state councils strengthen their own organizational capacity in order that they become even stronger, more effective grassroots organizations, particularly as it relates to conservation advocacy. The job will require a high degree of coordination and outreach among volunteer leaders and conservation staff at the local, state and national levels.

As the primary point of contact for volunteer leaders in the region, be a friendly and familiar face of TU, committed to delivering high-quality customer service in a timely and comprehensive way.

A successful candidate will have a deep passion for trout and salmon conservation issues, as well as experience with organizational and leadership development. It is very important that the candidate possess strong written and verbal communication skills, can manage multiple projects simultaneously, and is willing to travel. The position location is negotiable within the Pacific Northwest region, with a preference for someone centrally located or in an area with an existing TU office. Pay will be commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Working closely with council leadership, increase volunteer capacity within the region by:

-aiding in the development and growth of new chapters in locations where appropriate;
strengthening existing but weak chapters through leadership development and organizational planning;

-facilitating various trainings/ workshops for volunteers on topics such as leadership, communications, effective advocacy, membership engagement, succession planning, etc… Responsibilities will consist of developing presentations, handling all trip and event logistics, communication and coordinating efforts with key volunteers and conservation staff to ensure the delivery of meaningful programs that are “on topic” with the needs of the chapter or council;

-developing and implementing volunteer recruitment programs aimed at growing and diversifying our active volunteer leader base within the region through both traditional and alternative engagement models (i.e. virtual affinity groups;)

-promoting the successes of high functioning chapters and encouraging sharing of best practices amongst chapters/councils in the region and within the broader TU; and

-supporting the use of technology applications that enhance communications and lead to greater sense of community and engagement.

Facilitate volunteer engagement in TU’s conservation work in the region by:

-assisting the region’s councils and chapters in creating or refreshing strategic plans that are consistent with TU national’s plan, grounded in science, and integrated with national conservation programs to achieve basin or species scale conservation objectives or advocacy campaign goals;

-working with regionally based staff to identify grassroots advocacy and engagement needs and opportunities and coordinate execution of grassroots activities across the campaigns and projects to ensure that they are complementary;

-enhancing existing and developing new communication tools between TU staff and the region’s grassroots leadership and from the volunteer leaders to the membership; and

-assisting with funding efforts to sustain the position into the future.
This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS
-Bachelors degree
-Formal training in or extensive experience with organizational development and/or leading change within an organization
-Strong interpersonal, consulting and coaching skills
-Data analytic skills and an ability to use survey-guided development
-Training design, group facilitation, and conflict resolution skills
-Experience with developing and delivering leadership training programs
-Understanding of and ability to work with volunteers and volunteer organizations
-Experience with community organizing and volunteer management
-Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
-Familiarity with and a passion for coldwater fish conservation issues in WA and OR
-Ability to listen to and reconcile diverse viewpoints
-Comfortable working independently and as part of a team in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization
-Fluency in Microsoft Office suite of applications and use of the Internet
-Experience with database management a plus
-Excellent verbal and written communication skills
-Highly organized and attentive to detail
-Good sense of humor
-Deep ties to the Pacific Northwest region preferable

This position will require:
-frequent travel
-evening and weekend hours

Application Guidelines/Contact:
If you think you would enjoy the team atmosphere that comes from working for a growing organization with a strong volunteer base and broad conservation mission; if you want to ensure that the trout and salmon rivers and streams you love to spend time on remain intact for future generations; if you’re excited to share this passion with others then email your resume, cover letter and list of references to, Kyle Smith at ksmith@tu.org by Sept. 18, 2015.

Please fill out this voluntary form and submit it as an attachment to this email address.

TU is an Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer pursuant to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act & Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistant Act.

TU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates in this search. TU hires staff without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.

Salary:
DOE

Application Url:
http://www.tu.org/about-tu/jobs-internships/pacific-northwest-volunteer-…