Manager, Public Lands

National Audubon Society

2d•$62,026 - $70,000•Remote

About The Position

The Manager, Public Lands leads Audubon’s Working Lands conservation project primarily on public lands in North Carolina to achieve project outcomes that enhance the habitat value of grasslands, forests, coasts and wetlands and other natural lands for people, birds and other wildlife. As Audubon’s voice on habitat projects being considered on public lands, this position represents our Audubon NC team in scoping meetings, helps draft comments (both public and technical) to drive bird benefits to public lands management. Audubon North Carolina’s Working Lands program works throughout the state with a particular focus on habitats and conservation areas to advance projects that improve management of public lands for the benefit of birds in decline, enhance managed wetlands, ensure adequate habitat for resident and migratory birds, and improve the climate resilience of wildlife in these priority habitats across the state. The Manager will work closely with partners at the Appalachian Mountains and Southeastern Atlantic Coast Joint Ventures, USDA National Forests of North Carolina, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, National Parks, State Parks, land trusts, and other public lands managers. They will work with Audubon chapters, local communities and other conservation partners to identify potential projects and partner habitat improvement projects that can better create or maintain critical bird habitats and assist with planning for monitoring outcomes from projects. The Manager reports to the Director of Conservation for Audubon North Carolina.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, forest or coastal ecology, natural resources management, or related field required and a minimum of five years related experience.
An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
Knowledge and appreciation of the people, values, and current conservation issues of the habitats of North Carolina.
Experience applying the best available science and other information to achieve conservation outcomes.
Ability to manage complex projects with a variety of partners and to meet deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills and the ability to build consensus among a wide range of individuals (e.g. conservation partners, land and site managers, volunteers, and local community members).
Demonstrated experience with grant writing, writing scientific reports or papers, and writing for a general, non-science audience.
Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information for a non-technical audience, with effective communication skills reaching varied audiences desired.
Strong project management skills, including but not limited to setting and implementing effective goals and objectives, problem-solving, time management, creating and maintaining collaborations with other organizations, developing public awareness activities, preparing reports, etc.
Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Comfort navigating contentious regulatory issues to seek common ground with diverse interests.
Experience working on field research or monitoring projects.
A working knowledge of ArcGIS.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required.
A flexible approach to work and willingness to take on new projects or tasks as needed.
Ability to engage in strenuous outdoor activity, carry field equipment within varying terrain and weather, including cold and wet winter weather and extreme heat with or without reasonable accommodation.
A willingness to conduct in-state travel, occasional out-of-state travel and be comfortable working evenings and weekends as job responsibilities demand.
Valid driver's license required.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience with design and management of restoration projects preferred.
Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Responsibilities

Lead efforts to identify, prioritize, and execute projects with public land managers and partners to implement habitat enhancement efforts on public lands throughout priority conservation areas in North Carolina.
With the Director of Conservation, develop and maintain relationships with public lands partners, including but not limited to the Appalachian Mountains and Southeastern Atlantic Coast Joint Ventures, USDA National Forests of North Carolina, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, National Parks, State Parks, land trusts, and other public lands managers.
Conduct or coordinate bird and other habitat monitoring at project sites and communicate results to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
With the Advocacy team (Communications, Community Building, and Policy) assist with outreach to Audubon chapters to build partnerships for conservation, restoration and enhancement projects and advocacy for priority conservation areas
Serve as a public representative of Audubon North Carolina which may include presentations, public speaking, meeting participation and/or other interactions with agencies, NGOs, Audubon chapters, and land stewards to both gather and disseminate information.
Advise project partners and public land managers on restoration design and native plants to enhance bird habitat.
Provide on-site assessments and guidance to implement successful conservation and restoration projects.
Maintains and fosters culture of safety.
Support a culture of philanthropy, including public funding efforts.
Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.
Other job-related duties as assigned.