Extension Support Specialist II- eBird Project Manager- Lab of Ornithology

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

27d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a globally recognized leader in technology, data management, and large-scale citizen science supporting birds and biodiversity conservation. We curate more than a petabyte of digital assets, two billion bird sightings, and leverage innovative big data analysis tools and machine learning to produce web applications and services to empower a global community of bird and nature enthusiasts, researchers, conservationists, and educators. The Lab is in an incredible growth phase and navigating exciting challenges to scale our data-driven tools and services for conservation communities in all corners of the globe. eBird collaborates with hundreds of regional organizations in more than 100 countries who are using eBird, Merlin, Birds of the World, and other resources as a platform to advance their conservation goals. eBird has transformed how millions of people around the world participate in gathering observations of birds and translating science into action. We’re looking for a strategic, user-centered leader to lead web and mobile developments, represent user needs, and ensure that eBird and Merlin continue to be amazing tools for birders worldwide. This role requires a collaborative, detail-oriented leader who’s passionate about birds, skilled in project management, and excited to work with scientists, engineers, designers, and external stakeholders to meet ambitious conservation goals. This position will oversee activities and projects that enhance user experience, expand the global reach of participatory science, and align functionality with Cornell Lab and key stakeholder priorities. The eBird Project Manager will work collaboratively with software engineers, designers, communication teams, and global user communities to manage development roadmaps and workflows, and ensure users are at the heart of decision-making. In this role, the eBird Project Manager will guide strategic efforts to balance technical feasibility with user-centered design principles, ensuring that tools meet the needs of user communities while advancing conservation goals. Responsibilities include prioritizing and implementing feature updates, managing beta testing processes, fostering user engagement through input sessions, improving usability through testing, coordinating release communications, and integrating user feedback into development cycles. As the interface between global communities and internal technical teams, the eBird Project Manager plays a critical role in shaping the future of eBird and Merlin to better serve the birding and conservation communities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, computer science, or a related field—or equivalent professional experience in conservation or nature-focused initiatives.
3+ years of experience working in birding, biodiversity conservation, or related sectors, with a strong understanding of the birding community, practices, and values.
3+ years experience using eBird.
Proven experience leading cross-functional projects involving software development, public engagement, and conservation goals.
Strong product or project management skills, including the ability to coordinate deliverables, align stakeholders, manage timelines, and drive public-facing releases.
Passion for engaging birders as participatory scientists, and for delivering tools and data that support conservation outcomes.
Strong communicator with the ability to translate between technical and non-technical stakeholders, clearly articulate vision and tradeoffs, and represent the product and its value externally to partners and funders.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a track record of successful collaboration across scientific, technical, and community-focused teams.
Comfortable balancing big-picture thinking with hands-on execution, and energized by working in a fast-paced, mission-focused, and impact-oriented environment.
Strong decision-making and strategic thinking capabilities; ability to navigate ambiguity and lead with clarity, especially in cross-disciplinary or partner-facing roles.
High proficiency with productivity and collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Slack, Jira), and familiarity with agile or iterative product development practices.
Ability to prioritize work, manage competing demands, and exercise sound judgment, especially in collaborative or externally-facing contexts.
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

At least five years of experience using eBird, Merlin, and other Lab resources.
Experience in software product management.
In depth technical knowledge of software development and modern web application development techniques, including experience with frontend user interfaces and with integrating these into complex enterprise systems involving APIs and web services.
Knowledge of birds of the world.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day functional leadership, in collaboration with Technical Project Managers and Software Engineers, by overseeing projects, managing workflows, including setting priorities, coordinating individual and group activities, and managing activities to meet project deadlines.
Coordinate and manage internal and external communications for project releases, providing clear and accessible updates to Cornell Lab teams and the birding community.
Work with communications teams to craft and implement messaging strategies to ensure users are informed and excited about new features and improvements.
Manage beta testing communities to gather feedback and improve functionality prior to broader software releases.
Facilitate testing efforts that prioritize usability, performance, and user-experience enhancements.
Develop mechanisms for collecting and processing user feedback, ensuring valuable insights influence development timelines.
Collaborate across teams to incorporate user suggestions into platform improvements.
Act as a voice for users, representing the needs of the birding community, including feedback from diverse global audiences.
Ensure that development decisions are in alignment with participatory science and birding community goals.
Provide clear leadership to balance user-centered design with technical feasibility and Lab priorities.
Organize and lead input sessions with community members to identify needs and challenges, leveraging insights to shape development goals.
Foster meaningful engagement by inviting representative voices to contribute to project evolution.
Conduct usability testing efforts for web tools, ensuring intuitive design and seamless functionality for users of varying skill levels and regions.
Work alongside designers and engineers to implement findings from testing sessions.
Participation in the creation and execution of web and mobile development roadmaps to enhance the functionality and accessibility of tools for the birding community.
Collaborate with engineers and designers to prioritize and implement updates in alignment with user needs, strategic objectives, and roadmap deadlines.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Access to wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Health and personal leave
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program