Conservation Manager, Michigan

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 Conservation Manager, Michigan is an integral member of the Audubon Great Lakes team. They are responsible for building partnerships, engaging the network, and implementing conservation projects that realize Audubon’s ambitious goals for the region with an emphasis on program delivery across the state of Michigan. Working closely with Michigan Department of Natural Resources, other public agencies, tribes, NGO partners, Audubon’s network of chapters and volunteers, the Conservation Manager will restore habitat for birds and people, while building a diverse constituency that stewards habitat and builds strong public policy across the five-state Great Lakes region (WI, IL, IN, MI, OH).

The Conservation Manager will manage and further develop ongoing conservation projects in Audubon’s key geographies: Eastern Lake Michigan, Saint Marys River and the Straits of Mackinac, Saginaw Bay, and Detroit – St. Clair Flats. This role will also build new relationships and secure funding to expand Audubon’s on-the-ground conservation work in priority regions of Michigan and beyond as identified in Audubon’s Great Lakes conservation plan. Working with the Great Lakes policy and engagement teams, they will build support that helps realize Audubon’s Climate, Coasts, Water and Working Lands conservation objectives and policy goals. The Conservation Manager will grow and diversify Audubon’s conservation partnerships, community science participation, stewardship engagement and advocacy efforts.

This role will report to the Senior Manager, Conservation.

Compensation:

$60,000 - $70,000 / year

• Plan, implement, track and report on habitat restoration and enhancement projects.
• Identify opportunities, develop proposals, and secure funding for habitat projects.
• In coordination with the Senior Manager, Conservation, build large and diverse partnerships to influence habitat management in priority geographies through monitoring, communication, and landscape-planning.
• Oversee contractual and volunteer habitat restoration and enhancement implementation.
• Work with Great Lakes conservation colleagues and national science staff to improve the application of research and monitoring results, as well as continue to refine conservation targets with regional agency and NGO partners.
• Develop and communicate an understanding of local ecosystems and restoration best practices.
• Provide support for deeper engagement of members and partners in priority advocacy action.
• Serve as a public representative of Audubon, which may include presentations, public speaking, meeting participation and other interactions with agencies, NGOs, Chapters and landowners to both gather and disseminate information.
• Partner with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, natural resource management, public policy or related field.
• 5 + years field experience in conservation planning and/or habitat restoration and enhancement techniques. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Ability to manage complex projects with a variety of partners and to meet deadlines is essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build consensus among a wide range of individuals.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus among diverse audiences. Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to collaborate with partners, and manage teams and projects ethically and in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated experience with grant writing, writing scientific reports, and writing for a general, non-science audience.
• Supervisory or leadership experience.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to engage and motivate diverse audiences.
• Comfort navigating contentious regulatory and political issues to seek common ground with diverse interests.
• Strong facilitation skills and ability to coordinate complex projects.
• Excellent judgement and a strong concern for safety of staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring physical exertion, outdoors, in all weather conditions and on difficult terrain, with or without accommodation, while maintaining a positive attitude and setting an example for intern crews.
• Ability to understand and explain the connection between conservation outcomes and public policy.
• Valid Driver’s License and the ability to travel throughout the Great Lakes’ region. Reliable transportation required.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule including evenings, early mornings, and weekends as the job demands.

This position is represented by the Communication 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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