Description
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, and occasionally works with Oregon’s congressional delegation and local elected officials. The role 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 our 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 are 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 are able to manage multiple campaigns and have excellent follow through. You have a passion for making change and are able to work in coalition with both like-minded and unlikely allies.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Legislative Advocacy (~35%)
Serves 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
On an as-needed basis, supports other major policy campaigns which may involve advocating before regulatory and administrative agencies or before local or federal decision-makers
Keeps OEC program staff, Director of Programs, Executive Director and Communications Director regularly informed of legislative issues and engages them at useful and necessary points
Serves on statewide task forces
Relationship Building (~35%)
Builds strong relationships with legislators and candidates of all parties from across Oregon and, to a lesser extent, with local and federal politicians
Builds strong professional relationships with key individuals in Oregon’s executive branch to move OEC’s agenda forward
Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with key interest groups and individuals, building broad support for OEC program goals and objectives and leveraging our strengths to support partner organizations’ work
Policy Analysis and Campaign Planning and Execution (~20%)
Coordinates staff work to develop and finalize our legislative agenda
Develops and leads legislative strategic approach for securing OEC’s priorities
Assists in analyzing, investigating, and refining potential legislative proposals, with an equity and inclusion lens
Reviews proposed ballot measure endorsements for relevancy to OEC’s mission and makes recommendations; supports ballot measure campaigns, as needed
Engages OEC’s board for strategy, guidance, and advocacy
Other Responsibilities (~10%)
Works with OEC staff to produce testimony, fact sheets, press releases, opinion pieces, and other documents as necessary
Leads and develops trainings and shares tips on effective advocacy for OEC staff, emerging leaders board, and partners
Supports OEC fundraising activities as requested, e.g., by presenting progress reports and meeting with potential donors
Actively works to strengthen OEC’s public presence and visibility, both independently and in coordination with other staff members
Responsible for tracking compliance with state and local lobbying disclosure requirements
Other responsibilities as needed
Qualifications:
Required Experience, Education and Certifications
Minimum four years of professional experience in lobbying, advocacy, with at least one year of direct legislative work
Proven ability to build broad-based support among elected officials and key stakeholders for proactive policy changes
Demonstrated experience in collaborative work with diverse organizations, including communities of color and other historically underrepresented populations to achieve policy outcomes
Valid driver’s license
Required Skills, Abilities and Qualities
Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to work under pressure; ability to manage multiple projects while keeping a “big picture” strategic view
Excellent interpersonal skills; an eagerness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment; positive, flexible attitude
Excellent communications (verbal and written)
Able to maintain a general level of knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues
An understanding of the impacts of institutional and structural racism and bias
Ability to self-motivate, take the initiative and problem solve; ability to work independently
Detail-oriented with high standards for accuracy
Demonstrated commitment to expanding cultural awareness and advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and as part of programmatic work; a commitment to continued learning and working against institutional and structural racism
A 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 Qualifications
Existing relationships with Oregon legislators and policy stakeholders
Experience working in a non-profit setting with a mission-driven staff and board
Prior experience with environmental and/or environmental justice policy issues
Experience working with the media
Experience with advocacy campaign strategy
Relevant Associate’s or Bachelor’s or advanced degree
Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Other Details:
Travel: This position requires a daily presence in Salem during the legislative session, and requires occasional statewide travel including overnight or multiple days. An OEC vehicle is currently available for Legislative Director travel during session. OEC encourages travel by sustainable modes, e.g., walking, bicycling, taking transit, carpooling, but some trips may require driving. This position therefore requires a valid driver’s license.
Work Schedule: This role requires the ability to be flexible about one’s schedule and work hours, including frequent evening and weekend hours and daily travel during legislative sessions. When the legislature is not meeting, OEC’s standard hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00. This role may require excess hours in order to achieve deliverables, especially during legislative session.
Physical: This job operates in a professional open-floor office environment with a moderate level of noise associated with personal conversations and office machinery. The employee must be able to see, hear and talk and have the physical ability to move around, lift light objects, and use standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets.
Salary and Employment Benefits:
The starting salary range for this position is $88,750 – $110,00 per year. Starting salary offers are made based on an assessment of the candidate’s skills, experience, and abilities in relation to the job description, and also in relation to peer roles in the organization.
OEC endeavors to increase all staff wages annually to account for cost of living as well as to recognize and honor experience gained over time. We review and adjust the organizational pay scale every 2-3 years. Employees can expect to move up in the range for their position’s pay grade as they gain more experience in their roles.
OEC offers a collaborative, team-oriented, flexible, family-friendly workplace. Excellent benefits include:
Generous paid leave, including
4 weeks of vacation (3 in first year)
Fridays off in August
winter holiday week between 12/25 and 1/1 each year
9 additional fixed holidays
4 personal days
12 sick days annually
401k contribution (up to 6% after the first year)
Employer-paid medical and dental coverage for employee, with significant employer support for dependents’ coverage
At OEC, you will learn a lot, laugh a lot, and feel great about helping Oregon communities become better, healthier places to live.
Job Posting Summary:
Title: Legislative Director
Status:
Regular
FLSA Classification:
Exempt
Hours:
1.0 full-time equivalent
Reports to:
Executive Director
Location:
Portland, OR (With frequent trips to Salem, OR)
Work Type
Hybrid (at least Tuesdays and Thursday in our Portland, OR office)
Supervisory Responsibilities:
None
Opening Date:
December 22, 2025
Closing Date:
Application deadline 1/19/26
Starting Salary Range:
$88,750 – $110,000
ADA Accommodations:
If you identify as a person with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please email info@oeconline.org or call 503-222-1963 x100 for assistance.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Oregon Environmental Council provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender assignment, gender identity or expression, national origin, (dis)ability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
