Executive Director - Forest Park Conservancy

Reports to: Board of Directors (via Board Chair)

Hours: Full-time, Exempt, 40 hours, Monday – Friday with occasional weekend or evening events.

Location: Portland, OR. In-person.

About Forest Park Conservancy

Forest Park Conservancy (FPC) works to conserve the greater Forest Park area by protecting and restoring these ecosystems for present and future generations. The organization offers inclusive programs that engage and educate the community while promoting safe, responsible, and equitable access to nature. As the nonprofit partner helping to steward one of the nation’s largest urban forests, Forest Park Conservancy plays a vital role in balancing ecological health, public use, and long-term conservation.

Forest Park Conservancy is entering an important new chapter. Following several years of transition, the organization is focused on strengthening institutional stability, deepening strategic alignment, and clarifying its long-term vision and role within the broader conservation sector. With a deeply committed staff, board, passionate volunteers, and strong community relevance, FPC is poised to build on its impact with experienced, steady leadership.

Forest Park is one of Portland’s crown jewels encompassing over 5,200 acres of trails, habitat, and outdoor splendor. Leading Forest Park Conservancy means shepherding a brand that represents both ecological stewardship and the joy of shared outdoor experience. The work is serious and meaningful, but it is also rooted in a deep appreciation for the beauty and connection that Forest Park inspires.

About You

You are an experienced nonprofit executive who brings both confidence and humility to leadership. You have guided organizations through complexity and change, and you understand that clarity and stability are built through consistent presence and follow-through. You value collaboration, but you are also comfortable making clear decisions, setting priorities, and guiding teams through ambiguity with steadiness and care.

As a steady leader, you bring a passion for environmental work, with a track record of strengthening small nonprofits, including success in fundraising and cultivating relationships with business and community partners. You know how to build, renew, and sustain donor and partner relationships, including re-engaging supporters as an organization enters its next phase of growth. You are energized by public partnerships, adept at navigating complex stakeholder environments, and skilled at representing an organization with credibility, clarity, and integrity.

In this role, you are motivated by the opportunity to lead with purpose and long-term vision, while also rolling up your sleeves to get the work done. You strengthen organizational confidence while helping chart a unified strategic direction for staff and board. You believe in creating healthy boundaries between governance and management, supporting staff well-being and retention, and aligning mission ambition with organizational capacity. Most of all, you are drawn to the responsibility of helping to steward treasured urban forests, strengthening an organization that protects them, and leading with intention for the future. You are energized by representing one of Portland’s most iconic natural spaces and working alongside passionate staff, committed volunteers, and an engaged board. You understand that while the work requires discipline and strategic rigor, you also share the joy that these urban forests bring to the community.

Position Overview

The Executive Director (ED) provides strategic, operational, and visionary leadership for Forest Park Conservancy. Reporting to and collaborating closely with the Board of Directors, the ED oversees all aspects of the organization’s mission delivery, financial management, partnerships, and staff operations. The ED serves as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for Forest Park Conservancy, advancing conservation, stewardship, community engagement, and equity across all programs and initiatives.

The Executive Director ensures leadership continuity, sharpens mission alignment with organizational priorities, and guides a unified strategic direction for Forest Park Conservancy. This includes aligning staff and board around clear goals, strengthening governance practices and role clarity, and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability.

This role requires an experienced nonprofit executive with strong fundraising leadership and the ability to navigate complex relationships with public agencies, donors, and community partners. The Executive Director will lead with clarity, discipline, and empathy, supporting staff well-being while representing Forest Park Conservancy with credibility and confidence in the broader conservation and civic landscape.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior nonprofit leadership experience, including experience as an Executive Director or equivalent senior executive role.
• 3+ years financial oversight experience, including budgeting, forecasting, and reserve management.
• 3+ years experience in fundraising, including major donor cultivation and institutional partnerships.
• Experience with volunteer-focused organizations and working in partnership with public agencies or municipalities.
• Familiarity with Portland’s environmental, conservation, and nonprofit landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support staff in complex and dynamic environments with clarity and care.
• Experience working effectively with boards, including strengthening governance practices and accountability.
• Track record of exceptional communication, relationship-building, and public leadership skills.
• Valid driver’s license, access to a reliable car with automobile insurance, and an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in forest conservation, land stewardship, natural resource management, or closely related environmental fields.
• Experience managing or overseeing conservation easements or land holdings.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Proven success leading organizations through periods of change and growth.
• Medical and Dental insurance (Kaiser Permanente)
• SIMPLE IRAwith employer contribution up to 2% of salary
• 12 paid holidays
• Sabbatical Leave
• Sick and Bereavement Leave
• Jury Duty

How to Apply

Full Job Description and application instructions:

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