| | |

Job Opening: Senior Program Manager (CA)

The National Audubon Society seeks a motivated, dynamic individual for a Senior Program Manager, Coasts for Audubon California (ACA). Deadline to apply: ASAP!

Position Summary
Audubon seeks a motivated, dynamic individual for a Senior Program Manager, Coasts for Audubon California (ACA). They will advance our work with chapters, community based-organizations, universities, coastal communities, and stakeholders to protect birds and nature and improve the health and resilience of California’s coastline. This position reports to the Audubon California, Director of Bird Conservation and works closely with the ACA Policy Team, National Audubon Marine Director, and the Richardson Bay Audubon Center Director. The Senior Program Manager will ensure that goals and objectives of California’s coastal resiliency work align with that of the National Audubon Society, Pacific Flyway programs, and other strategic priority programs/projects. The position will collaborate with Audubon chapters and other state Audubon offices as well as external partners to advance our vision to create a statewide California Coasts Program. Central to this work is our San Francisco Bay Program and Richardson Bay Audubon Center, a recognized hub for science and learning that explores dynamic coastal systems and develops techniques that help human and wild communities adapt to climate change.

For more information and to apply for this job, click here.

Essential Functions

  • Working closely with the Director of Bird Conservation and ACA staff, develop and implement a vision for Audubon California’s Coasts strategy that includes long-term solutions to the challenges facing birds and our coastline and employs strategies that include policy advocacy, on-the-ground projects, and community engagement.
  • Lead implementation of our existing conservation blueprint for San Francisco Bay focused on improving and protecting habitat for wildlife and communities from the impacts of climate change.
  • Use science-based best practices to understand climate impacts and develop new, innovative, and cost-effective techniques for improving the protection and resilience of key estuaries in partnership with key stakeholders.
  • Coordinate with state and national policy staff, as well as Audubon chapters and members, to develop or promote state and federal policy initiatives critical to ensuring coastal resilience and driving state or federal funding and legislation to estuaries and communities at risk of flooding.
  • Collaborate with program staff at Richardson Bay Audubon Center in testing new ideas and strategies in coastal bird and habitat conservation science, restoration, and community engagement.
  • Collaborate with Audubon state and national science staff in the development and application of conservation science and science products to inform conservation and coastal resilience on a local, regional and statewide scale.
  • Collaborate with Audubon chapters and community-based organizations to build and strengthen relationships with Indigenous groups and BIPOC communities such that the priorities and concerns of historically marginalized communities are meaningfully integrated into Audubon’s work.
  • Work closely with state and national staff to identify and secure private and public funding in support of this work. This will include writing public and private grants, participating and, in some cases, leading donor events, and conducting donor visits around the state.
  • Seek opportunities both with national communications team and externally to raise the profile and disseminate information about coastal and marine birds and the Coasts program to a broad audience through printed, spoken, and electronic media.
  • Manage program and grant budgets and work with finance staff to ensure necessary budget reporting and to ensure the program remains within budgetary requirements.
  • Partner with Audubon staff to incorporate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging into the Coasts program.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in conservation biology, marine ecology, or natural resources or related field required, Master’s degree in marine/coastal field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
  • 7+ years progressive program management experience to include demonstrated success developing collaborative conservation strategies and working with diverse stakeholders
  • Firm grasp and understanding of ecological threats, conservation and management issues as well as emerging issues facing coasts on a national, state and regional and/or local scale within California.
  • Experience in avian and coastal conservation and conservation planning and/or policy;
  • Track record of success in initiating and maintaining creative partnerships with a diverse suite of California groups, including local officials, businesses, NGOs, government agencies, private landowners, academic institutions and other non-profit partners;
  • Good political sense, collaborative approach, and ability to reconcile different viewpoints to achieve conservation outcomes;
  • Existing relationships with California coastal stakeholder groups and/or management agencies and personnel a plus.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to collaborate with and/or manage teams and projects ethically and in a timely manner;
  • Experience working with multigenerational audiences and diverse cultural communities and a commitment to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion as a core component of our work;
  • Demonstrated experience in grant writing and fundraising;
  • Self-starter with a strong collaborative work ethic and ability to work independently;
  • Demonstrated experience overseeing complex or multiple projects through to success, including meeting financial goals, project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners;
  • Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information for a non-technical audience;
  • A willingness to travel in-state, occasionally out-of-state, and be comfortable with working occasional evenings and weekends.
  • Bilingual a plus (English and Spanish).
  • This position is a union eligible position and is represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

EEO Statement
The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement
The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

COVID Policy
All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.