Careers

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

fact

Bitteroot

Bitteroot

Bitteroot blooms on north-facing cliffs in western North America.

The Paiute name for bitteroot is kangedya. Traditional Native American uses of the plant included eating the roots, mixed with berries and meat, and using the roots to treat sore throats.

 

watch

Oregon Desert Trail Map

Oregon Desert Trail Map

voices

Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva, ODT thru-hiker 2017

Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva, ODT thru-hiker 2017

“To me, it’s a thru-hike in an isolated place that promotes a conversation in land management, ethics and usage. Hiking across a vast and remote landscape and having a random and chance encounter with cowboys and hunters to discuss how ‘all of us’ should treat the land, how we all have a responsibility, no matter our political leanings, really showed me the pulse of the people in rural areas, especially here out west.”

Open Positions

Conservation Director

ONDA is in search of our next Conservation Director, who will play a central role in the management and strategic leadership of ONDA’s conservation initiatives, blending advocacy with science, policy, legislative and legal action to champion conservation-focused public lands management across Oregon’s high desert.

This individual will work collaboratively with the Executive Director and management team, supporting fundraising, communications, stewardship and other organizational functions, and they will manage a small team of legal, policy and technical staff.

The strongest candidates for this position will be those who have extensive experience in public lands conservation policy and have a deep understanding of the stakeholders, issues and political dynamics relevant to public lands conservation in the West. They will bring 8+ years of directly applicable non-profit conservation leadership experience, tremendous energy and enthusiasm, strong collaborative spirit, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to ONDA’s mission.

The salary range is $84,600 to $106,800 per year, with the actual salary within the range determined based on experience. ONDA provides a flexible and hybrid office-home work environment and full benefits package.

For more details and how to apply, see the full position description. The application deadline is Friday, February 27, 2026 at 5:00 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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