After college, Jordan did freelance work before working as a Recreation Leader for the City of Palm Springs. Jordan quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Assistant Director of Recreation and then Assistant to the City Manager. After this position, Jordan pursued a two-year duty in the army. Upon his return, Jordan moved to Portland to work on the Model Cities Program. While in Portland, Jordan ran for city council as the City Fire, Policy, and Parks Commissioner and was the first elected African American in the city. In 1984, Jordan returned to Texas, holding the Parks Director of Austin, Texas position.

In his final position before working for The Conservation Fund, Jordan returned to Portland, Oregon, to oversee their parks system. Jordan was the first African-American to head The Conservation Fund, the most significant environmental non-profit group in the United States. Jordan was instrumental in getting the organization involved in the urban parks space. Jordan was on many high-level committees, such as the President’s Commission of Americans Outdoors and the American Heritage Rivers Advisory Committee.

Jordan passed away in 2014 at the age of 77.