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TITLE: Business & Corporate Relations Manager

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Regular, exempt from overtime. Full-time (40 hours per week).

HOURS: Monday to Friday flexible schedule, with frequent Saturdays October – April, evenings as needed.

SUPERVISED BY: Development & Communications Director

PAY RATE: Annual salary set at $66,000. Eligible for full benefits package, including 100% employer paid medical, dental and vision insurance, retirement match up to 2%, paid time off starting at 3 weeks’ vacation, 11 holidays, and sick time. Eligible for one month paid sabbatical after five years. The organization is closed during the final week of December.

LOCATION: Friends of Trees Portland office at 3117 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Portland, OR 97212. Stairs required to access the office. Travel throughout the City of Portland with FOT provided vehicles. Work a combination of in-office, outdoor, and hybrid/remote.

CLOSE DATE: Materials due by Wednesday, June 17, 2026 (see details below under How to Apply). Resumes will be reviewed upon receipt; qualified candidates may be invited to interview prior to the posted closing date. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

EXPECTED START DATE: July 2026 (ideally)

ABOUT FRIENDS OF TREES

Since 1989, Friends of Trees (FOT) has planted more than a million trees and native shrubs in 120+ neighborhoods’ in six counties across two states. We’ve done this through engaging 75,000+ community volunteers, and while implementing and growing programming that aims to do this work inclusively and equitably. We plant trees, and so much more. Learn more about The Friends of Trees Way, about Our Commitment to Equity, and about Our Community Partnerships.

JOB SUMMARY

The Business & Corporate Relations Manager is the lead and primary staff person for business and corporate financial support of Friends of Trees. This position involves pursuing, securing, maintaining, and growing corporate and business support through donations (financial and in-kind), sponsorships, percentage of sale benefits, and all other forms of business/corporate support. The Manager works with the Development & Communications program, and other program areas as necessary, to coordinate Friends of Trees’ events as appropriate and relevant. This position also plays a lead role in implementing external communications, especially as related to corporate and business donors. This position is in the office, out in the community, and sometimes in the field networking with sponsors, donors, and other partners.

Business partners of note include Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Fire, Portland Thorns, PGE, Northwest Natural, along with many other businesses of various sizes and scopes.

DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Corporate and Business Relations

• Maintain and grow existing corporate and business partnerships.
• Prospecting: Research, develop, and secure new corporate and business partnerships in line with FOT’s service areas in Portland Metro, SW Washington, Salem, and Eugene.
• Ensure fulfillment of partnership promotional benefits and activities.
  • Create and implement consistent, creative, and valued appreciation activities.
  • Host sponsors and business partners at weekend planting events.
  • Support sponsor engagement and community activation efforts, including occasional mobilization & operation of Friends of Trees mascot, Garry Oak, at corporate partner events
  • Other benefit administration as necessary and as specified in individual partner agreements.
• Interact with sponsors and prospects externally as opportunities are available.
• With DevComm and other appropriate staff, conceive of and implement specific campaigns and other activities specific to recruiting and growing business donors.
• Work with the regional Eugene team on creative regional solutions to fulfill sponsor promotional activities.
• Evaluate regional office work processes and develop / implement efficiencies to help advance fundraising and sponsorship promotional activities.
• Coordinate private planting events for corporate and business groups, working closely with the Green Space Program.
• Lead on all aspects of business/corporate partner involvement in organizational events and activities.
• Work with the Development Specialist on data entry, reporting, and donation acknowledgements.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of corporate transactions and communications. Prepare regular reports on all campaign activities.
• Coordinate and staff outreach events as appropriate, to maintain and pursue relationships with sponsors and potential sponsors.
• Appropriately respond to frequent inquiries and requests from current and potential business donors.
• Project corporate donation revenue monthly, quarterly, and annually to support budgeting, goal tracking, and organizational planning.

Communications

• Social media: Work with Communications Manager on content specific to business/corporate partners.
• Contribute to the monthly e-newsletter as necessary.
• Work with Communications Manager on all aspects of the Business Digest, a periodic e-news for business partners.
• Work with DevComm team to maintain FriendsofTrees.org pages related to corporate and business donors.
• Work with the Development Specialist to generate, regularly update, and post seasonal planting calendar, which includes sponsor participation.
• With the DevComm team, assess and evaluate the success of communications efforts.

General Friends of Trees Programming support

• Lead on, and/or support other staff with, securing in-kind donations of goods and/or services for organizational events.
• Work with program staff as possible on ideas and strategies to maximize events’ and activities’ appeal to potential sponsors.
• Directly support program activities as necessary to promote the above.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Actively participate in FOT’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives
• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings, retreats, trainings, and cross-organizational initiatives; support efforts to improve program and organizational effectiveness
• Uphold FOT’s safety protocols in support of a safe working environment
• Participate in cross-program committees and subcommittees to fulfill FOT’s mission
• Participate in organizational fundraising efforts and strategic planning efforts\
• Contribute content for TreeMail and FOT social media channels, as needed
• And other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• At least three years demonstrated experience cultivating and securing donations from corporations and businesses, including prospecting new relationships and growing existing relationships.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Demonstrated experience managing events
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; proven ability to exercise initiative while working collaboratively and as part of a team.
• Ability to effectively juggle and reprioritize tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong proficiency with MS Office.
• A positive, flexible attitude and a sense of humor.
• Passion for FOT’s mission.
• Experience with and dedication to working with diverse teams and constituents in a respectful, equitable, and inclusive fashion.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Salesforce or other CRM database.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter and resume as a single PDF to [email protected] by Wednesday, June 17, 2026

In the cover letter, please address the following elements:
1) Why you’re interested in this position.
2) How your specific skills and experience position you as a qualified candidate based on this job description.
3) Personal or professional experience with equity, diversity and inclusion work.
4) Any relevant skills and experience not listed in your resume or anything benefiting from further explanation.

Please limit your application materials to three pages total. References may be requested at a later date. Resumes will be reviewed upon receipt; qualified candidates may be invited to interview prior to the posted closing date, early applications are encouraged.

Friends of Trees recognizes that not everyone has equal access to the benefits of trees and healthy urban green spaces based on racial and socioeconomic status, and we are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Friend of Trees provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, age, disability or genetics.