Director, Conservation Science

National Audubon Society•Remote, OR

3d•$92,000 - $103,000

About The Position

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet's health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety. Position Summary: The Director, Conservation Science for Audubon's Delta region will lead the development of conservation objectives, support the implementation of conservation strategies, and provide strategic scientific leadership across the tri-state Delta region (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas), ensuring that conservation decisions are grounded in rigorous science and aligned with Audubon's Flight Plan strategy. This role will oversee specific conservation programs, lead scientific design, research, monitoring, adaptive management, and data integration to support priority species, habitats, and climate resilience goals across the Delta region. The Director will manage conservation science staff and work in close collaboration with the Delta team to develop conservation priorities and policies for the region that support Flight Plan milestones. They will spend approximately 15-20% of their time developing funding proposals to foundations, corporations, agencies, and individuals, as well as be responsible for identifying funding opportunities and developing relationships with academic institutions, NGOs, and conservation agencies. Reporting to Delta's Senior Director of Conservation, the Conservation Director will play a crucial role in developing and executing conservation priorities and measures for Delta's contributions to Flight Plan.

Requirements

Master's degree or higher in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ornithology, or related field; PhD preferred. A combination of education and experience will be considered.
10+ years of relevant conservation science or natural resource conservation experience, with at least 3 years of organizational management experience.
Expertise in bird ecology, habitat management, field research, and applied conservation science.
Proven ability to lead scientific teams, manage complex projects, and translate science into actionable strategies.
Demonstrated success with grant writing, donor engagement, and supporting public funding efforts.
Strong quantitative skills including statistical analysis, GIS, modeling, and data management.
Ability to communicate complex scientific information to technical and non-technical audiences.
Willingness to travel across the tri-state region and work in field conditions as needed.
Commitment to Audubon's organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
Willingness and ability to travel for key meetings with staff, funders, and other important stakeholders to help advance conservation and science priorities in the Delta.
Must be self-motivated and able to work in a flexible, nonstructured environment.
Strong interpersonal and social skills with a positive attitude.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within the Gulf Coast, Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley, or broader Delta ecosystems strongly preferred.
Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Sr. Director of Conservation, lead development of conservation science priorities for Audubon Delta's programs.
Design and oversee scientific research, monitoring frameworks, and adaptive management strategies across the region.
Provide technical expertise on bird conservation, habitat restoration, climate adaptation, and regional ecological issues.
Collaborate with Audubon's Science team in Flight Plan aligned research and communication, and ongoing conservation science efforts.
Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting of conservation outcomes internally and externally.
Collaborate with partners across governmental agencies, NGOs, universities, and communities to advance full life cycle conservation.
Guide science-based policy and decision-making for priority landscapes including the Gulf coast, Mississippi River, and wetlands, and working lands habitats.
Supervise conservation science staff, community science initiatives, and contractors.
Support fundraising through proposal development, reporting, donor engagement, and technical presentations.
Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas, as appropriate, including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.
Serve as a key regional liaison for national science initiatives and cross-state collaborations.
Support a culture of philanthropy and maintain strong safety practices.
Other job-related duties as assigned.