Legislative Director

Who We Are

We’re a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental organization with deep roots dating back to 1968. Our work is grounded in fostering equitable, forward-thinking solutions to the environmental challenges facing us today – and tomorrow. We envision a future where every Oregonian enjoys equitable access to the healthy air, water, climate, and community needed to thrive.

To realize this vision, we’ve cultivated a team of tireless champions to support policies and practices centered in environmental protection and justice. We build coalitions, celebrate successes, launch impactful campaigns, and have fun along the way. OEC seeks diverse perspectives and partnerships and welcomes and includes all races, ethnicities, affiliations, identities, and experiences.

We encourage candidates with diverse lived experiences to apply.

Position Summary

Oregon Environmental Council is seeking a Legislative Director to lead our efforts to secure and defend public policies that align with our mission. The Legislative Director works to advocate for OEC’s policy agenda and increase our presence and effectiveness within the Oregon Legislature, administrative agencies, and executive branch. Occasionally, this role also works with Oregon’s congressional delegation and local elected officials.

The Legislative Director represents OEC full-time in Salem during legislative sessions and interim committee days, coordinating and providing strategic guidance on the work of our program directors on specific legislation. Between sessions, the Legislative Director cultivates relationships with bipartisan legislators and candidates, designs and delivers legislative briefings around Oregon, and works with program staff to promote OEC’s policy agenda through other venues. This position requires travel throughout Oregon.

This role works under the supervision of the Executive Director and coordinates closely with the Director of Programs, but with a high level of autonomy.

Ideal Candidate

You are politically savvy and gifted at building relationships. You are a good storyteller who can quickly learn essential information and communicate in a compelling way. You have high integrity and are a credible source of information. You can manage multiple campaigns and have excellent follow-through. You are passionate about making change and are able to work in coalition with both like-minded and unlikely allies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Legislative Advocacy (~35%)

• Serve as OEC’s primary voice in the Oregon Legislature. This includes tracking relevant legislation, coordinating testimony and other advocacy work, negotiating, providing rapid response information to decision-makers, and presenting testimony.
• Support other major policy campaigns as needed, which may involve advocating before regulatory and administrative agencies or local/federal decision-makers.
• Keep OEC program staff, the Director of Programs, Executive Director, and Communications Director regularly informed of legislative issues and engage them as necessary.
• Serve on statewide task forces.

Relationship Building (~35%)

• Build strong relationships with legislators and candidates of all parties from across Oregon and, to a lesser extent, with local and federal politicians.
• Develop strong professional relationships with key individuals in Oregon’s executive branch to move OEC’s agenda forward.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key interest groups and individuals, building broad support for OEC program goals and leveraging our strengths to support partner organizations’ work.

Policy Analysis and Campaign Planning and Execution (~20%)

• Coordinate staff work to develop and finalize our legislative agenda.
• Develop and lead legislative strategies for securing OEC’s priorities.
• Assist in analyzing, investigating, and refining potential legislative proposals with an equity and inclusion lens.
• Review proposed ballot measure endorsements for relevancy to OEC’s mission and make recommendations; support ballot measure campaigns as needed.
• Engage OEC’s board for strategy, guidance, and advocacy.

Other Responsibilities (~10%)

• Work with OEC staff to produce testimony, fact sheets, press releases, opinion pieces, and other documents as necessary.
• Lead and develop trainings and share tips on effective advocacy for OEC staff, the Emerging Leaders Board, and partners.
• Support OEC fundraising activities as requested, e.g., presenting progress reports and meeting with potential donors.
• Actively work to strengthen OEC’s public presence and visibility, both independently and in coordination with other staff members.
• Track compliance with state and local lobbying disclosure requirements.
• Perform other responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

Required Experience, Education, and Certifications

• Minimum four years of professional experience in lobbying, advocacy, and/or legislative work.
• Demonstrated experience incorporating the perspectives of communities of color in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Valid driver’s license.

Required Skills, Abilities, and Qualities

• Proven ability to build broad-based support among elected officials and key stakeholders for proactive policy changes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; eagerness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment with a positive, flexible attitude.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with diverse organizations and constituents.
• Ability to maintain general knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects while maintaining a strategic view.
• Self-motivation, initiative, and problem-solving abilities; ability to work independently.
• Detail-oriented with high standards for accuracy.
• Understanding of the impacts of institutional and structural racism and bias.
• Commitment to expanding cultural awareness and advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and as part of programmatic work.
• Passion for OEC’s mission.
• Energized to support Oregon Environmental Council’s Values and Beliefs and workplace culture as described in our Team Charter.
• Willingness and ability to work long hours during legislative sessions.

Desirable Additional Qualifications

• Existing relationships with Oregon legislators and policy stakeholders.
• Experience working in a nonprofit setting with a mission-driven staff and board.
• Prior experience with environmental and/or environmental justice policy issues.
• Experience working with the media.
• Advocacy campaign strategy experience.
• Relevant advanced degree.

Other Details

Travel

This position requires a daily presence in Salem during the legislative session and occasional statewide travel, including overnight or multiple-day trips. An OEC vehicle is available for Legislative Director travel during the session. Sustainable travel modes are encouraged.

Work Schedule

This role requires flexibility regarding work hours, including frequent evening and weekend work and daily travel during legislative sessions.

Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional, open-floor office environment. The employee must have the physical ability to move around, lift light objects, and use standard office equipment.

Salary and Employment Benefits

The full salary range is $76,500–$107,000 per year. Starting salaries typically fall within the first half of the range, based on skills, experience, and abilities.

OEC offers:

• Generous paid leave, including 4 weeks of vacation (3 in the first year), Fridays off in August, 11 fixed holidays, 4 personal days, and 12 sick days annually.
• 401(k) contribution (up to 6% after the first year).
• Employer-paid medical and dental coverage for employees, with significant employer support for dependents’ coverage.

To Apply

You will need a cover letter and resume. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis every two weeks, and the position will remain open until filled.