Wetland Restoration Specialist

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 towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

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 brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

The National Audubon Society has identified the Everglades as a national conservation priority and a centerpiece of Audubon’s hemispheric water strategy. One of the greatest challenges to the health of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is the historic ditching and draining of the landscape, which causes water to rush through the system faster and dirtier than it would have historically. As a result, it is a high priority to implement projects that hold and clean water—especially at the top of the system near Orlando, in the Okeechobee Watershed. While engineered projects can meet these needs, rehydrating historically drained wetlands, especially on private lands, can help hold and clean water, provide wildlife habitat, and present revenue opportunities for ranchers and other private lands that contribute to their economic viability.

Restoring and rehydrating historically drained wetlands—often through partnerships with private landowners--is one of the best opportunities for holding water in the region and increasing groundwater recharge. Audubon has developed a GIS tool that identifies and prioritizes locations within the Central Florida Water Initiative region where both surface water storage and groundwater recharge would have the greatest potential gains from restoration activities.

Aligned with Audubon’s Policy and Everglades teams, the Wetland Restoration Specialist will introduce the tool and its capabilities to local entities, including Water Management Districts, local governments, and private landowners, catalyzing the funding and development of water storage and wetland restoration projects in the portion of the CFWI that intersects with the Okeechobee Watershed and the Greater Everglades ecosystem. Relationship building with agency funders, regulators, and private landowners is a cornerstone of this work. This project may be expanded into other regions of Florida experiencing their own water resource challenges.

This is a remote position, located in the Orlando region, with regular travel anticipated throughout the Okeechobee Watershed.

Compensation:

$65,000-75,000 / year

• Introduce Audubon’s GIS tool to potential users, project funders and landowners with wetland restoration potential.
• Collaborate with Audubon’s Okeechobee Science Coordinator to market the tool to local governments, landowners, and state agencies.
• Advise the Everglades Policy Director on potential local government, state, and federal initiatives that may facilitate projects.
• Develop collateral materials and communications necessary to support Audubon’s regional goals and priorities.
• Develop working relationships with key staff at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and three Water Management Districts to develop water projects.
• Contact landowners and serve as a liaison with state agencies to discuss water project possibilities and identify possible funding opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a list of water project funding sources and their requirements for use with landowners.
• Provide support and information to Audubon's Okeechobee Science Coordinator and Everglades policy team on wetland restoration efforts within the Okeechobee watershed
• Represent Audubon at public meetings and issue-based coalitions; monitor developments and contribute to coalition-based legislative and local government positions that support Audubon’s key policy priorities.
• Advise on upgrades and improvements for future versions of the tool.

• Bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences, environmental science, biology, or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years in a related field and at least 2 years of experience working on water management, environmental regulations, agricultural activities, or similar field required.
• Familiarity with agricultural regulations, programs, and practices; wetland ecology; water management practices on agricultural lands preferred.
• Knowledge, or ability to learn, Florida water statutes, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to research and analyze relevant water and agricultural rules with the support of the Policy team.
• Familiarity with local ordinances, state rules, and programs that relate to regional water projects, wetland restoration, or agricultural practices is preferred.
• Experience overseeing complex or multiple projects through to success, including meeting financial goals and project deadlines, managing third-party contracts, conducting required reporting and tracking, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Self-starter and results-oriented with a demonstrated ability to work independently and in coordination with multiple team players.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications is required.
• Able to travel regionally on a regular basis to conduct site visits and attend meetings. Occasional weekend and evening availability may be required.
• Valid driver’s license.

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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