Volunteer Coordinator

National Audubon Society•Wilmington, NC

37d•$20 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

Audubon North Carolina posts and manages beach-nesting bird colonies on Wrightsville Beach. As a busy, public beach, the area receives a great deal of foot traffic and is both vulnerable to human disturbance and ideal for outreach. The Volunteer Coordinator will work to recruit, train, and manage volunteer bird stewards on Wrightsville Beach, ensure beachgoers and their dogs do not enter the posting or disturb nesting birds, lead field trips at the colony, act as stewards, do light maintenance of the posting, collect simple data, and assist with coordinating or conducting other volunteer efforts as needed. The volunteers will act as ambassadors for the birds by educating beachgoers and using optics to show them the birds. The Volunteer Coordinator will report to the coastal biologist and work closely with other Audubon North Carolina staff to ensure the needs of the birds are met throughout the summer. This is a part-time seasonal position (15-20 hours/week), and housing is not provided. The position is based in the Wilmington, NC area and the expected duration is from March to September, 2026. Compensation: $19.50 / hour

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in biology or a related field.
Experience with and a high comfort level in public speaking and interacting with the public on an informal basis is required; experience interacting with local government officials desired.
Demonstrated interest in protecting coastal wildlife in North Carolina.
Willingness to work in difficult weather conditions outdoors and must have a reliable means of transportation to and from the beach.
Willingness to work on weekends and holidays; candidate must live in the greater Wilmington, NC area.
Excellent oral and written communication and public speaking skills.
Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of beach-nesting bird biology preferred.
Management or HR experience preferred.
Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Responsibilities

Recruit and train volunteers to be bird stewards at nesting colonies on Wrightsville Beach.
Coordinate and organize volunteers’ schedules to ensure the greatest possible steward presence at the colony and distribute materials and equipment needed for steward activities.
Perform steward duties at the colonies as needed.
Lead weekly field trips to the colony and organize additional field trips as requested.
Support volunteers, field phone calls and emails, and provide logistical support when possible.
Collect counts of human or dog entry into the posted areas, collect the same from volunteers, and assist with nest censuses in the colony.
Assist with organizing a volunteer appreciation event at end of season.
Assist with coordinating or conducting other volunteer activities as needed.
Maintains and fosters culture of safety.
Other job-related duties as assigned.