Range Ecologist

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 regional offices of the National Audubon Society are leaders and integral members of a community of conservation practice, establishing innovative programs to protect, conserve, and enhance habitat for a wide variety of bird species throughout the Rockies.

The Rangeland Ecologist will work closely with local landowners to implement the Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) Program. The Rangeland Ecologist will be responsible for engaging, cultivating, and enrolling landowners into the ACR program and assisting them with implementation of innovative land management practices.

Developing habitat management plans (HMPs), the Rangeland Ecologist will partner with landowners to determine land management goals and ensure program compliance. These HMPs support practices such as adaptive grazing, prescribed fire, grass and rangeland restoration, invasive species removal, and establishing rotational grazing infrastructure. HMPs rely on the designation of priority bird species for each ranch or project site. The Rangeland Ecologist will also conduct and support vegetation, bird, and soil monitoring to ensure landowners are compliant with program goals and are enhancing their grasslands to benefit grassland birds.

This position is remote within Colorado, with periodic meetings at the Audubon Rockies office.

Compensation:

$47,000 - $54,000 / year

• Proactively connect with and liaise with landowners and provide excellent technical service to agricultural producers participating in Audubon’s working lands conservation programs. Specifically,
  
  • Facilitate demand for ACR through partnerships with local agencies and organizations.
  • Connect with local Resource Conservation Districts, conservation professionals, organizations, and landowners to deliver programs and recruit new participants.
  • Provide timely access to financial assistance programs for enrolled ranches through Audubon, local, state, and federal financial assistance opportunities.
  • Establish and maintain professional relationships with ranchers and landowners participating in Audubon’s working lands programs.
  • Communicate program goals and work with rancher/landowner to develop site-specific habitat conservation plans for each assigned ranch or project.
  • Execute agreements and plan projects for landowners participating in financial assistance conservation programs.
• Establish habitat management plans using SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive) goals on all enrolled program ranches.
• Provide technical assistance regarding restoration action as detailed in ranch HMPs.
• Conduct or coordinate essential avian and rangeland monitoring on program lands.
• Partner with working lands staff to implement, track, and report on habitat enhancement projects.
• In close collaboration with the regional and national teams, manage project budgets, reporting requirements, and third-party contracts.
• Help identify grant proposals to government agencies and foundations to fund projects related to Audubon Conservation work.
• Maintain excellent communication with supervisor, supporting partner organization, and administrative staff.
• Participate in partner meetings and conferences.
• Identify and participate in opportunities that allow for continued professional growth aimed at improving skills related to rangeland management and avian conservation.
• Serve as a resource for local producers and partners.
• Plan and participate in landowner workshops and other educational events.
• Represent Audubon at events to promote and educate the public on Audubon’s working lands programs, bird conservation, and rangeland management practices.
• Partner with Audubon staff to ensure equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging principles are incorporated into our conservation programs.
• Other duties as the job requires.

• Bachelor’s degree in range management, ecology, natural resources management, wildlife management, regenerative agriculture, or related field required. An advanced degree is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience with project development/coordination, conservation planning, or similar work.
• Experience working with local agencies and familiarity with agricultural cost-share and incentive programs.
• Experience coordinating/facilitating field days, workshops, webinars, and/or symposiums.
• Exceptional 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.
• Strong project management skills, including but not limited to setting and implementing effective practical goals and objectives, problem-solving, time management, contract, and grant management, creating and maintaining collaborations with other organizations, developing public awareness activities, preparing reports, etc.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a various individual (e.g., conservation partners, private landowners and ranchers, volunteers, and local community members).
• Experience working with multigenerational audiences and diverse cultural communities and a commitment to increasing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, as a core component of our work.
• Experience with Colorado’s plant and bird identification and management.
• Familiarity with common everyday rangeland management activities and grazing systems.
• Experience with sampling methods, wildlife surveys, and wildlife habitat management.
• Knowledge and appreciation of western ranching/grazing culture, range management issues, and sustainable ranching practices.
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS, GPS, and other GIS technologies.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and other key Microsoft Office and web-based products.
• Must be able to work autonomously and within a team.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to operate 4-wheel drive vehicles. Comfortable driving on unpaved surfaces.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.
• Must be comfortable with extensive day travel and occasional overnight travel, as necessary.
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings as the job demands.

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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