Job Description

Forest Bridges: The O&C Forest Habitat Project (https://www.forestbridges.org), a 501(c)(3) non-profit with headquarters in Roseburg, Oregon, is excited to recruit its first Community Engagement Coordinator to develop and manage its community engagement and volunteer program across western Oregon. Forest Bridges brings people together to embrace sustainable forest habitat management solutions for the 2.6 million acres of O&C forest lands in 18 western Oregon counties. (To learn more about these special lands, click here.)

Since its founding in 2015, FB has been developing a volunteer, grassroots collaborative process to build trust among individuals and groups to embrace and advance a common vision of policies and proposals (collectively, Principles of Agreement) specifically aimed at O&C lands. The proposals address climate change, disease, economic stress, habitat degradation, management, wildfire resistance and issues impacting human health and well-being (e.g., wildfire smoke). They are intended ultimately to bridge the diverse environmental and management perspectives of conservationists, environmentalists, the forest industry, recreation, residents, governments and tribes to effect consistent, predictable, sustainable forest management on O&C lands.

The Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) plays a pivotal role helping FB live its mission, and reach its strategic program and justice, diversity, equity and inclusion (JEDI) goals, by deepening its presence, relationships and partnerships in the 18 counties that contain O&C forest lands. The position holder will plan, facilitate and document community-engagement meetings of diverse stakeholders to grow a grassroots public base of supporters (known as Friends of Forest Bridges). They will also recruit, train and manage a cadre of community-based volunteers to support FB’s meetings and other local efforts. This new role will focus initially on building the program in Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties in late 2022 and all of 2023, then expand it into other counties in future years.

Community Engagement Meetings are a face-to-face consultative tool, in which Forest Bridge’s shares its proposals and carefully listens to the public’s feedback, answers questions, and stimulates dialogue and a call to action—e.g., become a Friend of Forest Bridges. Friends receive FB’s quarterly newsletter, which informs them of the FB collaborative’s policy development work, forest planning activities, and other efforts intended to shift the paradigm on the O&C lands. The CEC will catalyze and support the process of people with different viewpoints coalescing around common goals and gaining trust for each other and the forestry proposals.

Specific Duties:

• Recruit, retain and manage volunteers at planned county sites. Volunteers support the CEC in organizing and executing community engagement meetings, including identifying, inviting, and following up with invitees; promoting the meetings in the community; planning/securing event spaces, and helping to secure sponsorships/donations.

• Plan and execute an overall community engagement strategy and events throughout the year, in coordination with the Executive Director, other FB staff, Board members, and volunteers. A series of meetings (up to three) may be held in each area, typically a major town or city that draws the public from that area.

• Tasks include planning logistics together with volunteers at event locations; confirming and supporting FB presenters and technical resource staff/volunteers; developing meeting agendas, handouts and presentations (as needed); developing and coordinating event publicity and communications (including flyers, website pages, press releases, etc.); traveling to, setting-up and working at the events (including presenting content and facilitating dialogue); documenting event results (photos, newsletter articles and videos for use on social media); and thanking all participants in a timely manner.

• Maintain records of FB’s Friends in the Forest Bridges Friends database the total updated on the Forest Bridges website.

• Contribute written content and photos to donor reports, FB social media accounts and quarterly newsletters centered on efforts and results in community engagement, recruitment and cultivation of Friends of Forest Bridges, and JEDI efforts and results.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Summary:

The ideal candidate for this position will have professional or lived experience connecting authentically with diverse communities, including urban/metropolitan and rural communities. In addition, they will understand, and have a deep commitment to, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and accessibility work, as well as trauma-informed practices. They must be able to effectively represent Forest Bridges’ mission, Principles of Agreement and work, communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing and with individuals and groups in-person and in virtual settings, and have proven project management and event coordination skills.

Specific Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Two or more years working with/managing volunteers, as a community organizer, or equivalent education

• Facilitation/collaboration skills, experience and training

• Strong interpersonal, listening, writing, document development (e.g., brochures, newsletters), and speaking/presenting skills

• Project management experience

• Demonstrated trustworthiness, empathy, commitment, transparency, reliability, and credibility

• Conflict resolution and/or mediation skills

• Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JEDI) awareness/training

• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Experience working with diverse groups of people

• Attention to detail and proven ability to coordinate meeting logistics

• Computer skills, including Google and Microsoft applications

• Social media and website savvy

• Excellent time management and organizational skills

• Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge and familiarity with western Oregon forest issues and their resolution; sustainable forestry education and experience

• Trauma-informed practices

• Experience with contact database software

• Positive attitude, flexibility, and a sense of humor

Recruitment Schedule:

Application Period: Opens September 19, 2022. Open until filled.

Deadline for first consideration: October 14, 2022

Application Screening: October 15 – 23, 2022

Interview Schedule: late October-early November 2022

Desired hiring timeframe: December 2022 – January 2023

Job Location, Compensation and Benefits:

The CEC is intended to be based at Forest Bridges Head Office: 522 SE Washington Ave. Roseburg, OR 97470

Will consider other Western Oregon locations along the Interstate 5 corridor.

Status: At Will; Full-Time (1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week); occasional weekends and evenings.

Salary Range: $68,000 – $75,000 per annum, depending on experience

Benefits:

o Individual Health Insurance (100% employer paid)

o Vision and Dental Insurance (100% employer paid)

o 401(K) Matching Contribution package (joint employer-employee contributions)

o 11 Paid holidays (consideration for floating a portion)

o Paid-time-off (PTO) package’

Travel Reimbursement: FB staff use their own vehicles to travel in the program region and are reimbursed according to Federal Mileage Reimbursement rate.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $68,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Experience:

• Presentation skills: 1 year (Required)
• Organizational skills: 1 year (Required)
• Computer skills: 1 year (Required)
• Time management: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: On the road

Job search applicants please contact hiringsearch@forestbridges.org.

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