Executive Director

Executive Director

Friends of Tryon Creek (FOTC) is a nonprofit organization located in Tryon Creek State Natural Area, a 670-acre green space in southwest Portland. Our mission, in partnership with Oregon State Parks, is to inspire every community to identify, cultivate, or reclaim their relationship with nature in this cherished urban forest.

FOTC was founded in 1970 by a group led by Lucille Beck and Jean Siddall, who led an effort to stop the area from development. Today, FOTC has a formal Cooperative Association agreement with Oregon State Parks. FOTC has recently completed a 5-year strategic plan in which it has adopted a new vision and mission. The organization has established new programming and an educational space within the cherished urban forest to benefit future generations and to truly serve all communities, and is now poised to continue this transformational work.

You are an ethical relationship builder with a proven record of fundraising and managing a diverse staff team. You have a vision for the Tryon Creek State Natural Area community and forest. You will be able to demonstrate mutually beneficial relationship building experience with marginalized communities and Tribes. FOTC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We anticipate a diverse application pool and encourage all BIPOC, immigrants/refugees, marginalized communities, and folks from various socioeconomic backgrounds to apply.

Studies have shown that transgender, non-binary people, BIPOC, and women are less likely to apply for positions unless they feel they meet all desired attributes. We gladly provide accommodations to anyone whose specific disability could prevent them from participating in the recruitment process or applying, please reach out to staff@tryonfriends.org to request assistance.

Position Description

The Executive Director oversees all operations, fundraising, budgeting, programs, and administration while ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations and the Cooperative Association agreement with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). This role communicates and coordinates with staff, OPRD, partner organizations and volunteers so that Friends can fulfill its mission and vision, protect the park for future generations, ensure high quality environmental education programs and provide a meaningful place to explore, volunteer and recreate. The Executive Director manages a team of highly skilled and motivated professionals.

Principal Accountabilities / Essential Functions

Ensure Friends of Tryon Creek's successful execution of its mission by performing the following major job functions:

• Organizational Leadership and Vision (20%):
  • In collaboration with the Board of Directors and Staff, establish a compelling, long term strategic direction for the organization, annual plans and common goals for programming and stewardship of FOTC's relationship with OPRD.
  • Manage and motivate staff, board, partners, and community towards common goals and vision.
  • Ensure that the quality of FOTC's efforts and the importance of the mission is broadly known and understood through outreach, public relations and collaborative relationships with the whole community, other stakeholders, supporters, and partners of the park.
  • Navigate evolving environmental, fiscal, and community landscapes with ease.
• Fundraising and Resource Development (40%):
  • Ensure financial stability by developing and executing annual fund development plans with the Development team.
  • Align the development plan with the strategic plan and focus on building relationships with individual donors, strategies to cultivate annual gifts, major gifts, planned gifts, and annual memberships from individual donors.
  • Oversee public and private grants in collaboration with the Development Team.
  • Ensure organizational sustainability through financial stewardship and expertise in budgeting, financial management, and resource allocation.
• Human Resources and Operations (20%):
  • Implement and manage daily operations, including programs, finances, and human resources to execute the mission and strategic plans.
  • Recruit, mentor, and retain diverse and talented staff and board members including management of annual staff workplans.
  • Ensure facilities, IT resources, and materials are adequate for efficient operation.
  • Manage and lead the Board of Directors, providing clear communications, support, and guidance.
• Program Management (20%):
  • Ensure the delivery of high quality and relevant programs to support the vision of FOTC and the cooperative association agreements with OPRD.
  • Work with staff to ensure that programs for youth and families meet all health and safety requirements.
  • Support partnerships with community organizations to make the park accessible and welcoming to all.
  • Provide meaningful volunteer opportunities to support programming and strengthen relationships with FOTC and the Tryon forest.
  • Contribute to the organization's progress in promoting diversity and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming environment for staff and park visitors.

Essential Function Requirements

Demonstrated skills:

• Leadership abilities and high professional standards of ethics and integrity.
• Participatory management style, experience working effectively with diverse volunteers and staff, and proven skills in problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Fund development, major gift programs and grant management.
• Cultural competency and ability to work with culturally specific organizations, communities of color and Indigenous communities.
• Ethically represent themselves and the organization to a diverse set of partners, donors, community members, and Indigenous communities or Tribes.

Ability to:

• Communicate persuasively in oral and written communication, including public speaking.
• Coordinate activities of staff members and provide relevant coaching.
• Translate mission and vision into short- and long-range strategies and policies.
• Account to a council of policy makers, including the Board of Directors.
• Maintain cooperative association agreements and steward collaborative relationships with OPRD.

Working knowledge of:

• Environmental, conservation, and outdoor education programs and issues.
• Risk management and risk mitigation strategies for delivering programs to the public including children.
• Proficiency in donor database systems and Microsoft Suite.
• Effective marketing and public relations.

Advanced knowledge of:

• Strong fund development experience.
• Non-profit business practices, including fiscal management, budgeting, human resources.
• Working and building collaborative partnerships with marginalized communities, building capacity for and implementation of structural measures that strengthen Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or the equivalent lived or work experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in the non-profit sector, environmental organization preferred.
• Management of a diverse team.
• Successful fundraising through individual donor, grant writing and major gift roles in the non-profit space.

Core Works Hours/Environment/Location:

• This position is listed as a full-time, exempt position.
• Work is generally completed during regular business hours: Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm, but weekend and evening work is expected occasionally throughout the year to attend FOTC hosted events and board meetings.
• Due to FOTC being a place-based organization, with most staff working onsite regularly throughout the week, frequent interaction with park visitors and relationship building with staff, visitors and OPRD, this is an in-person position.

Benefits:

• Full medical (100% paid for employee) and Standard Dental plan
• Simple IRA retirement plan eligibility after 6 months, with an employer match (3% match)
• 12.5 paid holidays
• 22.5 days paid time off (accrued at 15 hours per month) for the first two years of employment
• Sick leave accrues at 1 hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked

To apply, please send a resume (highlighting skills relevant to position) and cover letter (stating interests and qualifications), no more than 2 pages, no photos/images) to: hiring@tryonfriends.org. Applications are requested by Monday, July 13, 2026, but the position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged. We intend to make a hiring decision by September 2026. Please have three references available upon advancement in the hiring process.