Position Title:  Vice President (VP) of Communications & Development

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Portland, Oregon metro region or Seattle, Washington metro region → We are unable to pay for the cost of relocation. 

Starting Salary:$136K to $150K → Starting salary will be based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. 

Full Annual Salary Range for Level: $136K to $192K 

Posting Date:  Oct 3, 2025

Application Deadline:  Oct 26, 2025

Anticipated Start Date:  Between Dec 16, 2025 and Jan 6, 2026

Learn more about this position by listening to an Information Session HERE!

Who we are 

At Ecotrust, we work in partnership from California to Alaska toward a vision of a more just, prosperous, and climate-smart future. Across more than 30 projects and with hundreds of partners, our approach focuses on impact at the intersection of equity, the economy and the environment. Together, we uplift Indigenous leadership to respond to contemporary lands and waters management challenges, connect schools with local producers, provide technical support for community-centered businesses, and more. We welcome you to join us in the pursuit of radical, practical change. Learn more at ecotrust.org. 

Job Summary 

The VP of Communications & Development is responsible for building robust, comprehensive and sustainable fundraising and communications programs for the organization that match Ecotrust’s ambitious goals. This position provides leadership, direction, and coaching for the Development and Communications staff. In addition, they actively participate in the Leadership Team and Executive Team, provide strategic support and guidance to leadership (including Board of Directors) on development, communications, and community engagement efforts, and offer strategic leadership and support for other staff and programs at Ecotrust beyond the Development and Communications teams.

Who You Are

You are an experienced relationship-builder and team leader who loves connecting with others, has strong equity competencies and communication skills, and is highly motivated to help Ecotrust build a resilient business model and a compelling brand.

Primary Responsibilities

Organizational leadership

• Work closely with the Executive Director and leadership to ensure alignment between organizational objectives, support cross-team alignment and collaboration, discover and develop synergies, and determine ways to optimize resources across the organization.
• Collaborate with the Finance team on annual budget process and resource management. 
• Identify and address issues that affect the well-being and efficacy of the organization or have significant impacts on the success of communication and fundraising strategies. Proactively work as a strategic partner to identify solutions, address challenges, and pursue opportunities. 
• Collaborate with leadership and Board of Directors in making key strategic decisions affecting Ecotrust’s future, informed by the needs and insights of development and communications team members. 
• Provide analysis and present to the Leadership Team and the Board about development and communication strategies, activities, and impacts.

Department management

• Manage day to day and overall success of 3-6 direct reports by assigning accountabilities, clarifying and setting objectives and priorities, minimizing redundancies and building individual strengths, conducting annual performance evaluations, and supporting and advocating for their unique voices and ideas.  
• Assure sound fiscal and mission management of development and communication functions including oversight of budget creation and monitoring, the tracking and reporting on strategic goals and KPI’s, and ensuring accountability and compliance standards for all activities.
• Lead the development and execution of Ecotrust’s fundraising strategy, leveraging deep knowledge of the evolving philanthropic landscape and close collaboration with the Executive Team to meet organization-wide revenue goals.
• Build and manage the systems and infrastructure necessary to support fundraising operations and long-term growth.
• Advance innovative, integrated approaches to resource development that strengthen philanthropic support and complement Ecotrust’s investment and earned income efforts, working in partnership with senior leaders to maximize collective impact.
• Provide support, input, and resourcing for Communications Director to establish and implement communications goals and strategies.
• Recruit, manage and support the professional development of high-performing staff that are deliberate, culturally competent, and collaborative. 

Fundraising strategy and leadership

• Serve as the primary fundraiser and fundraising strategist for Ecotrust.
• Create individualized revenue targets as well as accountability and efficiency metrics for self and others on staff responsible for revenue generation, in alignment with strategic plan and long term financial sustainability. 
• Supervise and contribute to the development of all Ecotrust donor communications and  materials, including appeal campaigns, grant deliverables, annual reports, donor event and program collateral, and donation materials.  
• Model effective donor relationship management and engagement to the team, and guide staff on donor strategies from identification, qualification and engagement, to gift closing and stewardship.  
• Work with the Board Chair, Executive Director, Capital & Fundraising Committee Chair and others to ensure fundraising responsibility of the Board is being pursued and fulfilled. Serve as a resource to Board members who engage in prospect/donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. 

Communications strategy and leadership

• Develop the organization’s best-in-class communications program with the goals of advancing Ecotrust’s mission, centering racial justice in practices and products, and supporting our unique business model. 
• Along with the Communications Director, build brand recognition across channels to further increase awareness and understanding of Ecotrust and its mission to key audiences. 
• Work in collaboration with the Executive Director, as well as fellow Ecotrust VPs, to align communications team priorities with programmatic focus areas.
• Provide strategic guidance to resource the communications function at Ecotrust as it relates to organizational needs and expectations set forward by the strategic plan, and work to strategically enhance organizational communications capacity to meet these needs and expectations.
• Advise and guide activities related to crisis communications and reputational risk including advising the Executive Director and coordinating with the Communications Director on planning and response.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the organization or employee.

Key Qualifications and Transferable Skills

Transferable skills may be gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for positions where they do not meet 100% of the listed skills and qualifications. Even if you do not meet all of the requirements described, if you believe you are a good fit for the position, we encourage you to apply. A candidate will be assessed on their ability to successfully fulfill or quickly learn these functions.

• Authentic Commitment to Ecotrust’s Mission to inspire fresh thinking that creates economic opportunity, social equity, and environmental well-being. Demonstrated experience advancing racial equity and addressing climate change.
• Topical Familiarity with at least one area of our work (tribal forestry, coastal fisheries, Indigenous leadership, community capital, food systems, etc)
• Professional Experience: 10+ years of relevant experience in fundraising, business development, marketing, communications and/or sales (ideally in the region).
• Supervisory Experience: 5+ years supervisory experience with proven ability to provide mentorship, coaching, and skill-building support for direct reports.
• Fundraising: Demonstrated track record of securing six and seven figure contributions; extensive experience with individual donors and foundation funders.
• Donor Management: Desire to be visible and engage partners at the highest levels, manage relationships, and secure revenue.
• Compelling Communications: Memorable, powerful, absorbing, or otherwise impactful writing, design, responsible storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Crisis Communications: 5+ years of relevant experience leading crisis communications strategies and activities that are dynamic, high pressure, and require detailed confidentiality.
• Justice Competencies: Experience with trauma-informed approaches, owning and learning from mistakes, and skills in facilitation.
• Relationship Competencies: Demonstrated expertise with collaboration, transparency and patience; exhibits an empowering versus controlling leadership style.
• Financial Management: Demonstrated expertise over the financial environment impacting the organization, accounting for the varying and overlapping needs of the organization, workforce, partners, and communities.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to holistically analyze information, data, interactions, influences, and factors as part of an interrelated system. 
• Accountability to Impact: Takes responsibility for organizational fundraising and communications outcomes and impacts on colleagues, partners, impacted parties, and the community. 
• Adaptive Leadership: Modifies and shifts approaches and strategies to address challenges that do not have quick, singular, or technical solutions. 
• Vision: Experience crafting a vision for fundraising and communications that centers the experiences of marginalized individuals and groups and applies insights gained from colleagues’ lived experiences.
• Tech: Experience with constituent database applications (Raiser’s Edge a plus); proficiency with Google suite, Microsoft Office applications, and virtual meeting software.
• Growth Mindset: Ability to lead on all communications and development efforts to expand our reach as well as increase giving, particularly unrestricted giving.
• Emotional Intelligence: Ability to navigate challenging dynamics, both organizationally and nationally; extensive skills and resilience in navigating conflict and competing priorities.

Preferred but not required qualifications:

• Existing Connections: Engagement in an existing network that can support our development and communications goals (donors, media, existing partners, etc)
• Strategic Communication: Experience developing short- and long-term strategies for communications that connect with impacted parties, embody values, and propel goals forward.
• Resourcing: Proficiency organizing and planning people, financial, time, and information resources in the best interest of both organizational mission and holistic colleague well-being.
• Events: Experience leading and operationalizing events to increase community engagement.

Additional Information 

This is a full-time, exempt position. Please be aware that applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

We believe great benefits make work better: Ecotrust offers equity-centered benefits that strive to recognize employees as whole people and prioritize their overall wellbeing. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance with employee contributions scaled to income, tax-deferred and Roth retirement plans with employer base contributions, term life insurance, and disability coverage. Ecotrust invests in employees' professional development and personal growth. We also offer plentiful paid time off, including summer Fridays, and an annual all-staff gathering in person.

Working conditions:

• Ability to travel up to 20% of time (mostly in Washington, Oregon and California but occasionally in Alaska), sometimes to remote locations. 
• Availability to work some evenings and weekends, and have a safe driving record, access to reliable transportation, and a valid driver’s license.
• If Portland Metro-based, you may work from home and/or the office and are encouraged to come into the Portland office at least weekly to maintain team connection and in-person collaboration. If outside of the Portland metro area, you should have the ability to travel to the Portland office at least quarterly.

Ecotrust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a diverse staff of qualified, highly-skilled, and creative individuals is necessary to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. Individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other People of Color, people who are queer, trans, non-binary, people with disabilities, people who are immigrants, veterans, people from poor and working class backgrounds, and people who are/have been system-impacted are strongly encouraged to apply.

Click here to learn more about equity at Ecotrust. 

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please reach out to jslavik@ecotrust.org  in advance to request assistance. 

How to Apply: Apply via our careers page on Rippling Recruiting. No cover letter is required. Instead, please answer brief narrative questions provided in the application. 

The Selection Process: In an effort to be as transparent as possible in our selection process as well as to help expedite bringing new staff on board, below is a timeline of key events:

• Application deadline: 10/26
• Review of Resumes: 10/17-10/29
• First Round Interviews: Week of 11/3
• Second Round Interviews: Week of 11/10
• Reference checks: 11/24-11/25
• Extend offer: 11/26-12/1

While we will proactively communicate these dates and any changes to you throughout the process, please consider placing tentative holds on your calendars for the first and second round interviews.

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Learn more about this position by listening to an Information Session HERE.

To mitigate privileged access to information about the position, our policy is that hiring team members may not meet with candidates who are considering applying for that role. Instead, we offer the information session as a way to equalize access to information about the role for all candidates.