Community Advocacy Manager

Community Advocacy Manager

Team: Advocacy

Reports To: Director of Policy & Advocacy

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Status: Full-Time

Salary Range: $77,500 - $80,000

About Verde

Verde partners with communities most impacted by environmental injustices to develop solutions that create economic and collective well-being. We primarily work in NE Portland, but our advocacy efforts span across the state.

We advocate for environmental action that improves air quality, energy efficiency, transportation, and water. We organize people to provide knowledge about environmental challenges in their neighborhood and share ways for them to take action to improve their community.

Our team invests in clean energy solutions that provide relief from the burdens of high utility bills and extreme weather. We develop large scale community solar projects, expand green infrastructure at homes, and install affordable home heating and cooling upgrades.

To learn more about our work visit our website verdenw.org.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for coordinating with Verde staff, community members, partner organizations, and other Stakeholders, including state agencies and governmental representatives, to represent and advance Verde's environmental justice values and policy priorities.

This position leads advocacy, coalition-building, and community engagement efforts rooted in land use, housing, and transportation justice using a holistic approach to creating thriving neighborhoods centering the voices and leadership of frontline communities.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume as a single PDF document online here and select that you are applying for the Community Advocacy Manager position. Applications must be submitted by August 30, 2026 to ensure your application is reviewed. Email jobs@verdenw.org with any questions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Program & Partnership Development

• Develops and maintains content knowledge to support Verde's strategic direction in land use, housing, and transportation justice policy and advocacy.
• Cultivates, establishes, and sustains Verde's relationships with relevant partners and coalitions.
• Builds internal and external relationships with community members, stakeholders, and decision-makers to achieve policy and campaign wins.
• Identifies and uplifts intersections between transportation, land use, and housing to develop holistic, community driven approaches to thriving neighborhoods.

Advocacy Strategy

• Supports and empowers Verde community members to participate and lead in local, regional, and state advocacy efforts.
• Represent, and at times, supports Verde staff in their various coalitions, and advisory boards and committees in relation to land use, housing, and transportation.
• Engages in local, regional, and statewide policy development and lobbying activities to advance land use, housing, and transportation justice priorities, including drafting and delivering verbal and written testimony, meeting with legislators and agency staff, and developing community driven policies and campaigns (currently including 82nd Ave Coalition and Move Oregon Forward).
• Coordinates with Verde staff to track and engage with rulemaking and implementation processes at local and state agencies that are identified as opportunities and/or threats to Verde's strategic goals.

Capacity Building & Communications

• Lead and support Verde staff to develop and facilitate education materials and training to build community capacity around environmental justice and thriving neighborhoods.
• Support organizing and recruitment of community members to support Verde's policy priorities.
• Supports the Advocacy team and Verde staff in developing environmental and neighborhood justice-related PCEF engagement and project proposals.
• Develops content as requested by the Development & Communications team for fundraising and support effective communications and storytelling

Administrative/Organizational Support

• Perform routine administrative functions that support the individual program, department, or the organization itself and support in the adoption of new policies, processes, and procedures

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises 1-2 employees and carries out supervisory responsibilities following the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Education & Experience

Formal education is not a requirement of this role (a bachelor's degree or Juris Doctor (JD) is not required, though related education or a law degree can be helpful). This position requires three years of related experience. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be used to satisfy these requirements.

Qualifications & Skills

• Coalition Building and Maintenance: The ability to identify, engage, and sustain relationships with diverse partners, aligning interests and priorities toward shared goals through effective facilitation and relationship management.
• Curiosity: A genuine interest in exploring new topics and policy issues parid with a drive to continuously build knowledge to better inform and strengthen the work.
• Communication: The ability to effectively convey information and ideas through written, verbal, and non-verbal means.
• Interpersonal Skills: The ability to interact and communicate effectively with others in various professional settings.
• Relationship Building: The ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Planning and Organizing: The ability to develop and implement plans, set priorities, and manage resources to achieve goals.
• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new situations, environments, and changing priorities.
• Problem Solving: The ability to analyze situations, identify problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.

Travel Requirement

This position requires frequent (up to 25% of the position) travel related to the job duties above. Travel can be expected between the Greater Portland Metro Area and Salem. Travel will primarily consist of day trips.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Verde is a hybrid workplace and individuals working in the office can expect to work in moderate noise environments. When working remotely, employees are responsible for ensuring that there is little to no interference in work functions and that precautions are taken to ensure data confidentiality of the organization. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

• Move regularly throughout the day in an office environment.
• Prolonged periods sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 25 pounds.
• Communicate regularly throughout the day via email, messages, and phone calls.
• The typical noise level is moderate.

Benefits

An overview of benefits currently offered include: full health, vision, dental and $225/month toward dependent care health insurance cost, and 403b retirement account with employer contribution after a year of employment, paid time off, and flexible paid leave.

Paid Time Off Includes:

• 2 weeks of Vacation (yearly) and at fourth year of employment 3 weeks of Vacation
• Sick Time
• 14-paid Holidays
• A Winter Break (December 24th - 31st)
• 4 Personal Days

All employee benefits are regularly reviewed by Verde's Human Resources team and are subject to change. All benefits are based on full-time employment and part-time employment still qualifies for all benefits, apart from reduced paid time off.

NOTE

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.