Wild Indigo Coordinator, Detroit

Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubon’s mission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action.  By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive.  And as part of BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in over 100 in-country organizations all working to protect a network of Important Bird Areas around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level.  What defines Audubon’s unique value is a powerful grassroots network of approximately 450 local chapters, 120 campus chapters, 17 state and regional offices, 34 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 50 states, and 700 staff across the country. 

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

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Audubon Great Lakes’ Wild Indigo Nature Explorations program is dedicated to engaging a broad diversity of communities to create meaningful conservation solutions that work for birds, nature, and people. Detroit Wild Indigo Nature Explorations is a community engagement program that seeks to build lasting relationships between urban communities of color and their local natural areas. Working on Detroit’s East Side, Wild Indigo will build community appreciation of wetland ecology and support for their restoration along the Detroit River.

The project goal is to demonstrate the connection between healthy natural habitats and healthy urban communities via activities that familiarize adults and children with the nature and wildlife that share the spaces where they live, work, and play. This project will develop a series of events that, via community science, outdoor recreation, and stewardship, will foster a deeper connection to wildlife along the upper Detroit River. With community partners, Audubon’s Wild Indigo program will develop a cohort of ambassadors who will be informed advocate for healthy watersheds in the region.

By implementing the Wild Indigo framework for collaboratively designing nature-based educational activities, the coordinator will seek to establish lasting connections between communities of color and local natural areas.  With guidance from Audubon and local community partners, the Wild Indigo Coordinator will co-design a series of outdoor community events that will target diverse multi-generational audiences. Programs will incorporate community interests and concerns of the community (health, safety, education, and heritage, etc.), to demonstrate links between clean water, healthy fisheries, and birds habitats, while providing opportunities for stewardship and local advocacy. This project builds on Audubon Great Lakes’ wetland restoration efforts. This work focuses on marsh birds – key predators in wetland habitats— as indicators of health and also charismatic species that help visualize for residents environment health in the air, on land, and in our waterways.

This job requires a culturally competent, organized and responsible person who is an excellent communicator that can work effectively as part of a team and independently. The successful applicant must have an enthusiasm for the outdoors a willingness to learn, teach, and share actively with community groups.

The position requires travel to community organizations and local natural areas throughout the communities of Detroit, Michigan.

• In collaboration with the Wild Indigo team, design and develop programming that creates strong links between nature, cultural practices, community needs and priorities.
• Facilitate virtual and in person programs, field trips, and stewardship days and presentations that build awareness of Detroit’s East side natural areas and wetlands. Recruit community members and organizations in priority geographic and cultural communities to engage them in Wild Indigo Nature Exploration programing.
• Build trusting and productive relationships with team members, partner organizations, and community leaders through participation of community events, site visits, field trips, and other activities as defined with the Wild Indigo team.
• Contribute to messaging materials for priority projects and communities. This includes assisting with content for social media, brochures, handouts, and presentations.
• Maintain organization and participant contact and demographic information in collaboration with Engagement Manager.
• Develop and deliver community presentations that engage individuals and organizations in Wild Indigo activities and goals that connect them to local natural resources and parks.
• Maintain administrative documentation, communicate schedules, use appropriate administrative and program tools, and develop meeting agendas as needed.
• Administer and compile program feedback forms and evaluations.
• Assist with grant writing and reporting and data tracking as requested.
• Connect interested program participants with restoration activities and groups.

• High school diploma required, higher education preferred.
• Minimum of one year of relevant job experience in outreach, organizing, communication, education, youth development or conservation.
• A basic familiarity with birds and native plants of the region.
• Familiarity with local schools, community and faith-based organizations on Detroit’s east side.
• Familiarity with Jefferson-Chalmers and East Side neighborhoods near the Upper Riverfront Parks (Maheras Gentry Park, Alfred Brush Ford Park, Lakewood East Park, and Mariners Park)
• An enthusiasm for outdoor activities.
• Excellent communication skills, a professional demeanor, and experience working with multigenerational audiences and diverse cultural communities.
• Must be well‐organized and responsible
• Ability to work remotely and independently, as well as part of a team.
• Capacity to travel around the city and within the metropolitan region is required; occasional travel outside of the Detroit, Michigan area is required.