Manager, Community Building

National Audubon Society•Jackson, SC

17h•$62,026 - $70,000•Hybrid

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 Manager, Community Building is responsible for developing and maintaining community building and partnership initiatives in South Carolina that support Audubon’s conservation programs and Flight Plan milestones. This manager-level role is an ambassador for the organization and will engage with individuals, communities and organizations in and around the areas we work to cultivate lasting relationships, foster inclusive and equitable partnerships, and forge transformative alliances that benefit birds and people. A member of ASC’s conservation team, the Community Building Manager will work closely with the Conservation Director to implement outreach strategies, identify partnership and engagement opportunities, support on-the-ground conservation projects, support funding requests, and enhance community building efforts across ASC’s program areas and projects. The incumbent will also collaborate with Audubon colleagues, chapter members, and partner coalitions to advance our shared goals and mission. This position is classified as hybrid, in accordance with Audubon’s “Where We Work” Policy. Hybrid employees are expected to work in an Audubon office every Monday and Tuesday and an additional two days each month of the employee’s choosing. Candidates should be located within commuting distance of Audubon's offices and centers in Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC, Audubon Silver Bluff Sanctuary in Jackson, SC or Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Beidler Forest in Harleyville, SC.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
At least 5 years of experience working with politically, racially and socioeconomically diverse coalitions, communities, and/or partners, which may include:
Experience building coalitions and/or developing deep partnerships
Experience mediating and resolving conflicts between partner groups
Knowledge of issue advocacy, including grassroots organizing and issue campaign strategies
Emotional intelligence, strong interpersonal skills, humor, humility, compassion, patience, and persistence.
Demonstrated ability to manage collaborative, productive, and respectful relationships with elected officials, community leaders, businesses, and/or partner organizations.
Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely when engaging in person, via video conferencing, and via telephone.
Understanding of structural and institutional inequity and interpersonal power dynamics, and proven ability to analyze situations to engage and address them diplomatically.
Ability to manage and implement strategies tailored to varying geographic and political contexts.
Proficiency with standard office productivity software and equipment; ability to read, process, and synthesize printed materials on paper or a standard computer screen.
Flexible schedule with the ability to work nights and weekends, as needed.
Willingness to travel as required for organizational needs and engagement with partners and stakeholders across the state and within the broader Audubon footprint.
Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Nice To Haves

Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Responsibilities

Build, manage, and/or maintain a diverse set of positive working relationships across South Carolina, collaborating and coordinating with community leaders, grassroots organizers, partner organizations, consultants, and businesses.
In collaboration with the Conservation Director, develop and oversee a vision and strategy to strengthen community building efforts in SC, furthering Flight Plan Community Building goals and initiatives. This strategy should translate into opportunities to grow our impact particularly where we own or manage land, where we are implementing conservation projects and where our policy priorities are established.
Pursue engagement with a wide spectrum of individuals with diplomacy and respect, by seeking common ground and developing reciprocal and authentic partnerships.
Work with other team members on community- or landowner-based projects to guide engagement of a diverse audience that will help us build conservation programming that meets the needs of both birds and people.
Support and advise staff-led efforts to advance advocacy, build new program/center partnerships, and strengthen conservation outcomes using best practices for meaningful community and partner engagement and grounded in Audubon's Equity, Diversity and Belonging Conservation Principles.
Develop an engagement strategy for working with SC Audubon Chapters, including setting up a process for chapter engagement in SC, connecting ASC staff to chapters, and identifying new chapter development opportunities, including campus chapters.
Collaborate with Audubon’s national Community Building and Chapters leads to advance and support chapter engagement.
Directly engage with community representatives on community-based conservation projects as directed by the Conservation Director.
Serve as a public representative of Audubon which may include presentations, public speaking, meeting participation and/or other interactions with individuals, agencies, NGOs, Audubon chapters, businesses, and coalitions to both gather and disseminate information, such as the SC Conservation Coalition.
Develop needs assessments, metrics, and program evaluation methods as well as monitor, track, and report program goals, timelines, and tasks.
Support the Conservation Director’s efforts to increase funding, capacity, and other resources that advance Flight Plan and ASC priorities.
Coordinate with Audubon Community Building cohorts and staff to provide or share community building training and best management practices with the Conservation Director and the ASC team.
Maintain and foster a culture of safety.
Other job-related duties as assigned.