Careers

Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting, defending and restoring Oregon’s high desert.

watch

Tibetan Monks Visit Sutton Mountain

Tibetan Monks Visit Sutton Mountain

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Swallowtail

Swallowtail

The Oregon Swallowtail butterfly is the official state insect of Oregon and a true native of the Pacific Northwest. The Swallowtail can be seen in the lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Snake River drainage area.  Source: State Symbols USA

Latin name: Papilio oregonius

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What defines Oregon’s high desert?

What defines Oregon’s high desert?

Bounded by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Blue Mountains to the north, Oregon’s high desert covers approximately 24,000 square miles. Annual rainfall in the high desert varies from 5 to 14 inches. The average elevation is 4,000 feet; at 9,733 feet, the summit of Steens Mountain is the highest point in Oregon’s high desert. The terrain of the high desert was mostly formed by a series of lava flows that occurred between 30 and 10 million years ago.

Sources: The Oregon Encyclopedia; Wikipedia  

Open Positions

Wilderness Inventory Lead Field Technician and Field Technician

The Wilderness Inventory Field Technicians will conduct an inventory in southeastern Oregon to identify wilderness-quality public lands. The detailed, on-the-ground information gained from these inventories provides ONDA with the data to support wilderness conservation and appropriate management for those wilderness values. The Lead Field Technician will manage a two-person team, data collection and management, and ensure team safety. The Field Technician will assist the Lead Field Technician in collecting data and making determinations about wilderness characteristics.

These positions are ideal for individuals interested in protecting desert wildlands and who enjoy a field-based experience. Candidates should be familiar with navigating and working in remote areas and operating a four-wheel drive vehicle, data collection, and be knowledgeable of desert fauna and flora.

This position is a FLSA non-exempt, full-time limited duration position working approximately 40 hours a week, starting in late April and ending in September 2026.

For details on how to apply, see the position description. We will be accepting applications through Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

Apply Now

 

Sign up for our e-newsletter, or follow ONDA on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, to be the first to hear when we have open positions. If you are interested in volunteering with ONDA, please fill out our volunteer application form.

Lloyd Irwin

Our Commitment to
Justice, Equity and Inclusion

At Oregon Natural Desert Association, we are creating a more inclusive conservation community by actively welcoming, engaging and collaborating with people of all backgrounds, perspectives, races, genders and ethnicities to […]

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Devin Dahlgren   Website

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Vision We envision a high desert in Oregon where eight million acres of public lands are conserved to ensure that fish and wildlife thrive and wild places exist for all […]

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Jim Davis

Accomplishments

In 1987, a group of community members based in and around Bend, Oregon realized that the high desert lands and waters they loved had no one dedicated to their protection. […]

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Sage Brown   Website

Our Community

Oregon Natural Desert Association is a community of people dedicated to conserving the high desert. It might be the scent of sagebrush, or the desert sun’s warmth. It could be […]

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Our Team

As a staff, we are steadfast in our commitment to protect, defend, and restore Oregon’s high desert alongside our members and supporters. Together with the passion and commitment of a […]

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