Assistant Sanctuary Manager

National Audubon Society • Trabucco Canyon, CA

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Sanctuary Manager supports the oversight and maintenance of Starr Ranch Sanctuary, a 4,000-acre National Audubon Society preserve in southeastern Orange County, California. The role helps implement restoration, vegetation management, site maintenance, habitat monitoring, and stewardship, including work on sanctuary buildings and infrastructure. The position interacts with Audubon staff, neighboring landowners, government agencies, tribes and Indigenous organizations, and community partners, and helps maintain partnerships and engage volunteers and community members.

The employee is required to live on-site in Audubon-provided housing and maintain a regular presence at the ranch. The provided single-level cabin has a living space, full kitchen, small living room, one full bathroom, and one bedroom. The employee must keep the residence in good condition; Audubon California covers its maintenance costs, utilities, and other expenses. The Assistant Sanctuary Manager is the first point of contact in the event of emergencies. The role may require travel within California, occasional out-of-state travel, and occasional evening and weekend work to meet operational needs. The position is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, range management, natural resources, or a related field, and three years of relevant experience in land management, forestry, agriculture, operations, research, or a similar field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Knowledge of habitat conservation and land-management practices, with the ability to develop detailed knowledge of Starr Ranch Sanctuary’s ecological significance for birds, people, and conservation.
• Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, and email, and the ability to learn Audubon software used for billing and reimbursements, human resources, and timekeeping.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to adapt communications for different audiences and build consensus.
• Ability to work independently, with a self-starting and collaborative work ethic.
• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
• Willingness to live in a rural area and on-site at the Sanctuary in housing provided by Audubon.
• Ability and willingness to perform physical outdoor work on uneven terrain and in varying or extreme weather conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability and willingness to travel within California, occasionally travel out of state, and work occasional evenings and weekends as needed to meet operational requirements.
• Experience working with multigenerational audiences and diverse cultural communities.
• Experience overseeing contractors, vendors, volunteers, or staff.

Nice To Haves

• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Responsibilities

• Maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with local Audubon chapters, neighboring landowners, tribal groups, and public and private conservation organizations.
• Maintain and repair infrastructure, including buildings, fences, gates, roads, water control structures, signage, equipment, and interpretive panels.
• Operate and maintain tractors, power equipment, and vehicles, and oversee equipment maintenance.
• Stay informed about current grassland and shrubland habitat management and local and regional management issues.
• Attend or present at meetings, seminars, and conferences as needed.
• Support the preparation and implementation of management plans for restoration, fire prevention, roads, buildings, and other areas.
• Participate in Audubon staff calls, working groups, task forces, meetings, and conventions as needed.
• Support the development of grant and funding proposals and reporting.
• Lead tours and educational programs, and oversee volunteer and other events as needed.
• Coordinate visitor access and tours for other groups and staff.
• Assist with monitoring and addressing trespass issues.
• Promote the Sanctuary and Audubon’s work on social media platforms and the webpage.
• Orient new staff, visitors, and volunteers to Starr Ranch Preserve research and management, and provide essential safety and site training.
• Supervise seasonal staff, interns, and fellows, and coordinate and manage contracted vendors.
• Support a culture of philanthropy, including public funding efforts.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.
• Maintain and foster a culture of safety.

Benefits

• Audubon-provided on-site housing in a recently built single-level cabin.
• Audubon California covers housing maintenance costs, utilities, and other expenses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level