The Director of Forest and Conservation Programs will drive the development and implementation of Audubon Pennsylvania’s conservation objectives with a focus on priority forest habitat, ensuring alignment with the goals and objectives of the National Audubon Society, Atlantic Flyway Eastern Priority Project and other strategic priority programs/projects. S/he will oversee Audubon Pennsylvania’s (APA) science and conservation programs, collaborating with external partners such as federal and state natural resources agencies, Audubon’s Chapters, non-governmental conservation organizations, and other interest groups and citizens, including coordination with Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Joint Ventures, and others with bird and habitat responsibilities.
As the leading conservation professional and voice for bird conservation within APA, the Director will be charged with managing the conservation science team, program and project managers and will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director or other senior staff to develop effective conservation priorities, strategies, programs and policies. This will include leading and managing senior staff in effecting landscape scale projects and programs. S/he will develop and write funding proposals to foundations, corporations, agencies, and individuals, as well as be responsible for identifying funding opportunities and managing the funding relationships with natural resource agencies at multiple levels of governance. Reporting to the Vice President and Executive Director of Audubon Pennsylvania, the Director is a member of the senior leadership team and will play a crucial role in developing and executing conservation priorities and measures for Audubon Pennsylvania’s strategic plan.
Essential Functions
Design, implement, and direct conservation actions focused on birds and habitat for the Eastern Forests Initiative. Coordinate these efforts within Audubon’s National and Atlantic Flyway conservation initiatives, ensuring integration and alignment with organizational objectives.
- Build programs focused on priority forest block Important Bird Areas (IBAs), such as the Susquehanna Headwaters, Loyalsock, Upper Allegheny, and Kittatinny landscape IBAs that engage a broad range of communities and deliver meaningful forest conservation outcomes.
- Collaborate with partner organizations to set and achieve forest conservation objectives.
- Manage staff and engage volunteers, as needed, to implement APA forest conservation programs.
- Provide technical expertise related to birds and habitat in the areas covered by APA to internal and external audiences and partners.
- In collaboration with the Executive Director and other key staff, identify opportunities and secure public and private funding to support APA conservation programs, including writing grant proposals, soliciting gifts, leading bird walks and giving presentations to existing and prospective donors.
- Advocate for and engage the Audubon network in conservation policy solutions.
Qualifications and Experience
Master’s degree in Forestry, Avian Ecology, Conservation Biology, Natural Resource Management or related field required.
- 7-10 years of experience in natural resources management, biology, or related environmental or conservation work, with at least 3 years of management experience leading professional teams and/or programs.
- Must be well-versed in conservation, biology, and identification of local and regional birds and other wildlife.
- Demonstrated ability to foster and maintain agency, NGO and business partnerships to advance conservation objectives.
- Understanding of the value of citizen science.
- Knowledge of current conservation and policy issues throughout Pennsylvania preferred.
- A strategic influencer, one with excellent leadership and collaborative ethics, as demonstrated in previous work.
- Must possess strong interpersonal and social skills, a positive attitude and good sense of humor.
- Proven fundraising experience, including writing and overseeing grants, cultivating and soliciting private and public funding sources.
- Must be self-motivated and willing to work in a flexible, non-structured environment.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills and the ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, as well as knowledge of GIS technologies.
- Ability and willingness to travel locally and out-of-state and be comfortable with working evenings and weekends as job demands. Valid driver’s license is necessary.
- Ability to work outdoors, in all weather conditions and on varying terrain, with or without accommodation; must be able to carry field equipment at times, with or without accommodation.
For inquiries or application, please visit National Audubon Society’s website within its Audubon Career Center.
http://www.audubon.org/careers
https://careers-audubon.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=-435827155
