Senior Coordinator, Community Conservation Programs

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.

Reporting to the Senior Center Manager, the Senior Coordinator, Community Conservation Programs is responsible for, but not limited to, the design, promotion, implementation, and evaluation of the Center’s school and public programming and community conservation outreach, especially in underserved areas. The role includes engaging community groups, forging partnerships, collaboration on shared projects, managing volunteers, and leading programs in person and online. Most of the activities take place either at the Center, in parks, and in a diverse array of communities and reach a range of ages from two to adult. Strong candidates will take a thoughtful approach to community engagement and will seek opportunities for projects that meet Center goals, neighborhood/ community goals, and Audubon’s mission. While the focus is on the Center’s public programs, the Senior Coordinator, Community Conservation Programs also provides instruction for our school programs, scout programs, and field trips.

They must also be a skilled and diplomatic communicator, with the ability to teach effectively and work with diverse stakeholders to find solutions that address the needs and goals of each group. As with all our initiatives, strong partnerships are essential, and we focus on collaborative and community-centered methods; strong candidates for this role will also take a thoughtful approach to the relationships they must build to find creative solutions to meet the goals of diverse stakeholders. There is a strong culture of support, collaboration, and teamwork at the Bent of the River (BOTR). The Senior Coordinator, Community Conservation Programs is an important team member, whose input will be valuable for operationalizing the Centers Transformation Process at the Bent of the River, which will shape the future of our work.

The work of the Senior Coordinator, Community Conservation Programs will:

• Grow and diversify our network through community conservation projects in underserved communities.
• Incorporate inclusive programming, events, and volunteer opportunities.
• Address barriers which make natural spaces and conservation education inaccessible to under-represented and underserved communities.
• Contribute to a program that provides conservation action outcomes through community conservation programming (Bird-friendly Communities/Urban Oases), environmental education, and partnerships/collaborations with underserved communities.
• Advance Audubon’s equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging strategies.

Position is ~35 hours/week, generally Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9am-5pm, but those hours can vary considerably based on the program and project schedule. Evening hours will regularly be necessary. The position requires a significant amount of outdoor activity, hiking in varied terrain, driving in all seasons, and superior presentation skills. Some programs will be offered off-site in the surrounding communities ranging from Southbury/Woodbury/Oxford/Newtown to Waterbury and Danbury.

Compensation:

$50,000 / year

• Design and implement community-based conservation programs at priority sites in and near the Bent of the River that engage new and diverse audiences and improve habitat.
• Organize and supervise stewardship programs, partnerships, and projects; work with Center staff and Community Partners to incorporate Plants for Birds and Community/Urban Conservation content into programs. Collaborate with other Audubon CT/NY staff to develop a robust Bird-Friendly Communities program; develop tools and resources for the region.
• Promote, develop, and deliver age-appropriate community conservation BOTR education programs, both in-person and virtual, for school and other organized groups. Occasionally engage 3rd party presenters and experts for BOTR programs and events, and track program data.
• Prepare and maintain materials and supplies/props for education programs. Create, modify, and implement new high quality lesson plans for school programming.
• Create interpretive materials for public exhibits.
• Work with partners, independent contractors, and volunteers to deliver public programming for adult audiences including supporting community science programs and affinity group programming.
• Collaborate with the Center staff to expand the reach of the BOTR Audubon Center.
• Fortify existing contacts and develop new relationships with schools, community groups and individuals.
• Broaden the community of people that Audubon Connecticut engages to include people underrepresented in our environmental education work.
• Seek to engage traditionally under-resourced communities in Community Conservation activities, identify opportunities for collaboration, and share best practices and learning. This may also involve coordination with additional members of the Center’s team as well as Audubon CT/NY Community Conservation staff.
• Assist in recruiting and scheduling volunteers from diverse backgrounds to assist with advocacy and greening projects.
• Participate in staff meetings, discussions, and training related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging; seek to implement best practices in the office and during programs.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Center and National Audubon Society throughout the community, including at conferences, meetings, advisory boards, festivals, and other events. Occasionally interface with donors and foundation representatives.
• Contribute to grant proposals and reports to support Center programming.
• Participate fully and productively in staff meetings, planning efforts, and other shared staff duties.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in education, biology, environmental science, or equivalent experience and a minimum of three years’ experience in community organizing, conservation, and/or conservation education, preferably in an urban setting. A similar combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Proven skills teaching in formal and informal settings to diverse and multigenerational audiences.
• Commitment to bird conservation and equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the conservation of birds and other wildlife and their habitats, as well as basic natural history and environmental science. Fairly strong knowledge of the area’s natural history.
• Demonstrated track record of engaging and establishing long-term partnerships with diverse stakeholders and viewpoints.
• Willingness to work both independently and collaboratively on a varied schedule. Collaboration and teamwork with coworkers are of vital importance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organizational, time-management, and judgment skills.
• Comfort in speaking publicly and managing small and large groups, both indoors and outdoors.
• Proficient in computer and technology skills and associated applications.
• A driver’s license, clean driving record, and the ability to obtain an endorsement to drive a 15-passenger van.
• A reliable personal vehicle for outreaches.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification or willingness to obtain it.
• Partner with Audubon staff to incorporate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging into our education work.
• Ability to traverse rough or uneven terrain, climb moderate hills, and carry up to 35lbs for outdoor programming with or without accommodation.

This position is a union eligible position and 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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