Senior Coordinator, Community Science

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged, with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

The Senior Coordinator, Community Science (CSC) will be based at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary (RBACS). This role supports programs focused on community-based restoration of native habitats in San Francisco Bay and leads engagement of community members in conservation action, including research on priority bird species, habitats, and regional ecosystems. A primary function of this position will be to coordinate collaborations within a network of current academics and researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, youth, organizational members, and the community. This position reports to the RBACS Center Director (CD) and will work closely with Audubon California staff  in fulfillment of the following functions.

• Oversee and enhance a community science program that efficiently connects interested community members with appropriate science opportunities at RBACS and within San Francisco Bay (e.g., weekend restoration event, participating in waterbird surveys, etc.).
• Recruit additional support for community science where needed (e.g., through outreach to local and area businesses/schools), and ensure all participants are properly trained, onboarded, and retained.
• Lead (or identify volunteer leaders for) mid-week community science events at RBACS focused on center needs (e.g., trail maintenance, weeding, and other center-based projects).
• Develop an engagement database that can be used for recruitment and outreach for program participants.
• Serve as a second adult program leader during offsite program days.
• In collaboration with Biologist, identify ways to utilize nursery as means for meeting programmatic needs, to include cultivating plants to be used in restoration projects on and offsite.
• Participate in the development of a cohesive vision nursery that aligns with relevant state/national programs (e.g., Plants for Birds).
• Assist with Aramburu Island restoration efforts primarily focused on vegetation management (invasive removal, native plant revegetation).
  • Oversee event scheduling, event logistics (including recruitment/coordination), and event follow up.
  • Coordinate with the Biologist to identify restoration priorities, actions, and methodologies.
• Coordinate Audubon Youth Leaders and assist with Community Conservation Fellow program.
  • Recruit teens from local high schools and engage them in community science, restoration work, and the native plant nursery at RBACS.
  • Serve as a field partner with the Community Conservation Fellow and, together, co-lead the AYL program together.
• Coordinate social media accounts and newsletters for the center engaging state communication staff to ensure broad audience reach.

• 3-5 years’ experience in community engagement and/or experience working in the conservation space. Undergraduate degree in a relevant field required. A combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Experience with program assessment and improvement and the ability work across projects to achieve programmatic goals
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, while managing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines, and operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Excellent attention to detail.
• Experience working with multi-generational audiences and diverse cultural communities and a commitment to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion as a core component of our work.
• Working knowledge of program design and assessment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking, public presentation, and the ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to build consensus among a wide range of individuals (e.g. conservation partners, students, volunteers, and local community members).
• Self-starter with a strong collaborative work ethic and ability to work independently.
• Willingness to work in a support capacity for a complex suite of ongoing conservation programs.
• Must be available for weekend and evening work as the job demands.
• Comfortable working in the field for long periods of time in adverse weather and on difficult terrain with or without accommodation.
• Experience with Microsoft office suite including Excel.
• Bird and plant identification skills a plus (especially knowledge of local shorebirds, waterfowl, common songbirds, and raptors, as well as wetland, upland, and pollinator plants).
• Ability to lift or carry equipment up to 50lbs with or without accommodation.
• Experience with power and hand tools a plus, including ability to clean and maintain field equipment.
• Valid driver’s license required.

This position is represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

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 identity, 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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