Scott Carlson
Who We Are

Job Opportunities

Who We Are

Job Opportunities

Author: Lori Howk

The mission of the Wild Salmon Center (WSC) is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim. We do this by establishing a local presence and/or providing technical and financial assistance to local partners to help them secure the health of the most productive salmon ecosystems on earth. We depend on the best conservation science to guide pragmatic, implementable solutions to sustain wild salmonids, as well as the human communities and livelihoods that depend on them. 

Wild Salmon Center is an international organization with programs in Alaska, the Russian Far East, Sakhalin Island, Kamchatka, Japan, British Columbia, and the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. The home office is located in Portland, Oregon in the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center. 

WSC is the leading group working to protect the strongest wild salmon rivers around the entire North Pacific – salmon strongholds. We focus on wild salmon because they are an iconic and powerful conservation symbol, wild to the core, with an incredible life story. When you protect salmon, you support the life of whole watersheds and everything in them, including people. We build alliances with and work alongside the most effective local and regional partners in the North Pacific.

WILD SALMON CENTER IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Events and Donor Engagement Coordinator

The Position

As Wild Salmon Center’s constituent and donor base has grown, there’s an increasing need to provide strategic engagement opportunities to foster a deeper understanding of WSC’s mission and conservation impact. To meet this growing need, WSC is opening a new and exciting position within the Development team to take over the planning, logistics, and execution of advocacy and fundraising events and field visits for major funders. The Events and Donor Engagement Coordinator will create and plan a diverse array of event and engagement opportunities across the Pacific Rim, including advocacy events to rally the public during key campaign moments, fundraising dinners in major cities, and visits for groups of donors to experience WSC’s program areas and remote watersheds.

This position will work with the Development team to prioritize, coordinate, and plan WSC’s advocacy and fundraising events and executive presentations, as well as collaborate with key program staff to curate culturally informed, high-impact field visits to program sites. To be successful, the person in this position will enjoy working simultaneously on multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment, where the abilities to rise to a challenge, prioritize competing requests, show initiative, exercise independent judgment, and maintain strong project management skills and attention to detail are essential. Strategic and creative thinking are also key. This position is based in Portland, Oregon.

Responsibilities

  • Comprehensively coordinate WSC events, including the development of programming and run-of-show schedules, invitation creation and tracking of RSVPs, vendor coordination, on-site management, and follow-up to attendees.
  • In collaboration with fundraising and program staff, develop itineraries and manage logistics for major donor field visits that showcase WSC’s conservation impact while incorporating cultural connections that are relevant and unique to each program area.  
  • With assistance from Sr. Manager of Corporate and Donor Relations, coordinate all external presentations for CEO which includes assisting with the drafting of PowerPoint presentations, venue coordination, and tech support as needed.
  • Research, propose, and secure possible event venues and vendors for functions based on budget, geography, accessibility, aesthetic appeal, and availability.
  • Develop benchmarks for success prior to an event, evaluate their effectiveness post-event and incorporate improvements into future planning.
  • Track and report on overall event and outing expenses regularly.
  • Assist with soliciting in-kind donation requests to support events as needed.
  • Recruit and manage event volunteers as needed.
  • Manage WSC’s events and donor site visit calendar, while ensuring new event commitments will help meet strategic programmatic or fundraising goals.
  • Prepare relevant briefing materials for both attendees and staff ahead of events and outings.
  • Research and propose new event formats or engagement opportunities to meet emerging programmatic and fundraising goals.
  • Help represent WSC at tabling event opportunities as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

  • Minimum of 2+ years of relevant event planning experience that highlights impact and incorporates creative storytelling.
  • Exceptional communication skills, written and verbal.
  • Ability to work in collaboration with diverse stakeholders. 
  • Great time-management and organizational skills.
  • Ability to anticipate and identify gaps in information and take action to find solutions.
  • Effective team player with a demonstrated collaborative working style.
  • Willingness to be flexible and think strategically as new opportunities and competing needs arise.
  • Proficiency with PowerPoint and collaborative web-based communication tools (Zoom, Google suite).
  • Flexibility and willingness to work occasional night and weekend hours and travel for events, as needed.
  • Some nonprofit experience preferred.
  • Enthusiasm for the mission of Wild Salmon Center and an understanding of environmental issues strongly preferred.

Education
Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred, or equivalent experience.

Compensation
Pay range for this position at 1 FTE is between $56,000 – $60,000, commensurate with experience.

Additionally, a comprehensive benefits package, designed to help our employees stay healthy and plan for their financial future, includes:

  • 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (includes employee/spouse or employee/dependent(s), as well as a partial premium for full family coverage)
  • Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • High-matching 401(k) plan
  • 11 paid Holidays with additional generous PTO
  • Flexible Spending Account (health & dependent care)
  • Support for continuing education
  • Cell phone allowance & monthly stipend
  • Flexible hybrid work schedule
  • Outstanding work culture

To Apply:
Submit cover letter and resume (2-page maximum) to [email protected] and include, Events and Donor Engagement Coordinator” in the subject line. Please include in your cover letter where you learned of this recruitment.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE POSITION IS FILLED.

Volunteer with Us

Want to make a difference in protecting some of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems across the northern Pacific Rim? All volunteer opportunities are on hold until further notice, but check our volunteer page for future opportunities.