Education Manager

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 Iain Nicolson Audubon Center is located at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, approximately 20 minutes east of Kearney, NE. The mission of Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary is to conserve and restore the Platte River ecosystem, focusing on cranes, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. The nearly 3000-acre sanctuary is located along the Platte River south of Gibbon, Nebraska. It is open year-round, featuring nature education programs, community science, outdoor activities, and nature trails. Rowe Sanctuary is critical to Audubon’s education and conservation initiatives in Nebraska and throughout the Platte River Basin and Great Plains. The Sanctuary welcomes thousands of visitors annually through the annual crane migration and existing education programs. The Sanctuary is well positioned to expand and diversify visitation, educational programming, and outreach onsite and in communities throughout south-Central Nebraska.

The Education Manager works to develop, implement, and lead a broad range of programs for youth and adults, reflecting the strategic goals of the national Flight Plan, Rowe Sanctuary’s strategic plan, and local conservation issues. The Education Manager is responsible for the creation, development, and leadership of Rowe’s education and outreach programs, Rowe’s large volunteer program, and community science program. The Education Manager will manage all education programming at Rowe and in surrounding communities in south-central Nebraska, ensuring accessibility and utilization by diverse groups throughout the area. The Education Manager will work closely with local school systems, institutions of higher learning, and local community organizations and businesses to ensure the success of Audubon’s educational and outreach programming. The Education Manager will supervise the Senior Coordinator, Outreach, and the Senior Coordinator, Volunteers & Education.

Audubon seeks a candidate who is a strategic thinker with strong motivation and commitment, who is skilled at building internal and external partnerships, and is an effective communicator.

Compensation: 

$52,000 – $60,000 / year

• Develop, implement, and teach a broad range of programs for youth and adults, both on and off-site, that reflect the strategic goals of the national, state, sanctuary programs, as well as local conservation issues; may include academic, public, and community science programs.
• Write and implement youth and adult programs that connect diverse audiences to south-central Nebraska, the Platte River, Great Plains, and the Central Flyway; ensure education and outreach programs engage non-traditional audiences throughout south-central Nebraska.
• Develop and implement methods to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the Center's education programs and visitor experience; utilize evaluation tools that incorporate best practices within the environmental education profession and the National Audubon Society.
• Provide quarterly metric reporting for Rowe’s education, outreach, and volunteer programming both on and offsite.
• Cultivate, establish, and maintain partnerships with public and private schools along with youth organizations, institutions of higher learning, community organizations, businesses, conservation partners, and others.
• Lead program promotion activities that grow Rowe’s program participation and visitation throughout the year and result in increased earned revenue.
• Collaborate with Audubon Communications staff to maintain up-to-date information on the website, social media, and newsletter articles. Build relationships with teachers, faculty, community partners, businesses and other decision-makers. Ensure promotional information reaches non-traditional audiences.
• Lead tours and educational experiences for groups visiting the Sanctuary, including overseeing the coordination of and programming for visitors during crane migration season; work closely with the Center Director and education and outreach team to provide additional high-quality visitor experiences throughout the year.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and management of the Center’s volunteer program; ensure staff & volunteers are properly trained and volunteer opportunities reach non-traditional audiences' values.
• Collaborate with Rowe staff and volunteers to ensure all are trained, programs are properly staffed, scheduled, and coordinated with other activities, and pre-program communications are distributed.
• Oversee development and maintenance of inventory, condition, and organization of educational program equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Represent Rowe at community events, meetings, and speaking engagements.
• Provide high-quality customer service to visitors; greet guests, answer questions, monitor crowds, and ensure the safety of visitors and program attendees.
• Research, develop, and deliver programs that forge closer connections to local communities, increasing access to, awareness of, interest in, and appreciation for Rowe. Collaborate with education staff across Audubon Great Plains and the Central Flyway.
• Partner with Audubon Staff to ensure equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) principles are incorporated into the Center programming, promotion, educational displays, and materials, and interpretative signage throughout the Sanctuary.
• Cultivate existing collaborations and forge new programmatic partnerships with cultural organizations and community groups.
• Assist the Center Director and Audubon Great Plains Development staff in preparing grants and other fundraising opportunities for the Center’s education and volunteer program and new initiatives.
• Assist Center Director in developing annual budget costs directly related to education and outreach programs and the volunteer program.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Iain Nicholson Audubon Center Stewardship Board Education Committee.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental studies, natural sciences, outdoor education, or related field
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in environmental education, interpretation, or other public or private programs emphasizing science or environmental education. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Outstanding organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Project management experience.
• Proven ability to prepare and deliver presentations to audiences and age groups of different backgrounds in informal and formal settings.
• Prepare proposals, reports, program summaries, newsletter articles, and other documents.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with key stakeholders, including schools, institutions of higher learning, community organizations, businesses, conservation partners, and non-traditional audiences.
• Demonstrated success in staff management and ability to work collaboratively with individuals in a team-oriented atmosphere.
• Experience in building, implementing, and retaining a thriving and diverse volunteer program preferred.
• Self-motivated and willing to work in a dynamic environment, willing to work evenings and weekends as needed in outdoor settings including in adverse weather conditions.
• Familiarity with the communities, flora and fauna and conservation partners of south-Central Nebraska and the Platte River basin is strongly preferred.
• A passion for conservation, the mission of the National Audubon Society, and the natural resources of Nebraska and the Great Plains is strongly preferred.
• Self-starter with a strong collaborative work ethic and ability to work independently.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively and the ability to build consensus among a wide range of individuals. Comfort with presenting and engaging others in public speaking events is also necessary.
• Ability to transport up to 25 lbs. and lead programs and visitor tours for a minimum of 1.5 miles per day and on varying terrain, with or without accommodation.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Able to work in a flexible environment, with a willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.

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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