Stewardship Coordinator
Audubon
Moss Point, MS, United States
30+ days ago
Overview:
Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.
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 will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere. Position Summary:
Compensation:
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 using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.
Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.
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 will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Audubon Delta, a regional field office of the National Audubon Society, manages Audubon's conservation and network priorities in the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. This geography includes 81 Important Bird Areas covering more than 16 million acres and over 42,000 Audubon members and supporters, many of whom belong to one of Audubon's 21 local chapters.
Reporting to the Mississippi Stewardship Manager, the Stewardship Coordinator will work with the Audubon Delta team and volunteers to help protect nesting colonial waterbirds in the summer as well as resting and foraging birds during the fall and winter, with a focus on reducing human disturbance. The Stewardship Coordinator will also assist with public outreach and stakeholder building in the lower three coastal counties with the mission of growing a grassroots group of Audubon Ambassadors.
This position is grant funded for five years with possibility of extension based on funding availability. The position is full-time (up to 40 hrs/week) with several weekends and holidays, especially during nesting season, and occasional night-time hours required.
Reporting to the Mississippi Stewardship Manager, the Stewardship Coordinator will work with the Audubon Delta team and volunteers to help protect nesting colonial waterbirds in the summer as well as resting and foraging birds during the fall and winter, with a focus on reducing human disturbance. The Stewardship Coordinator will also assist with public outreach and stakeholder building in the lower three coastal counties with the mission of growing a grassroots group of Audubon Ambassadors.
This position is grant funded for five years with possibility of extension based on funding availability. The position is full-time (up to 40 hrs/week) with several weekends and holidays, especially during nesting season, and occasional night-time hours required.
Compensation:
$18.00 - $20.00 / hour
Essential Functions: - Work directly with the Stewardship Manager, to implement stewardship management best practices including signing, roping, and fencing nesting sites which includes beaches, rooftops and potentially islands
- Interact with the public to perform on-site education promoting conservation of and discouraging disturbance to resting and nesting birds
- Collect data on human-use of beaches and impacts on colonial nesters
- Resight and report banded birds to program staff and U.S.G.S. Bird Banding Lab
- Ensure timely and accurate data collection and reporting, and ensure that all monitoring efforts follow approved protocols and best management practices as established by Audubon
- Assist managers in continuing the Winter Stewardship pilot program, protecting migratory and wintering birds, and help in assessing efficacy and possible improvements
- Pilot an expansion of our volunteer program by providing monthly access to a designated site consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines to promote disability inclusion in our stewardship program
- Support seasonal, field-based stewardship staff in monitoring and data collection protocols
- Support new habitat stewardship project including maintaining postings and fenced areas, retrieval of garbage, monofilaments, and plastics from habitat in Gulfport Important Birds Areas (IBA)
- Perform conservation related outreach at festivals, schools, markets, and other local events
- Assist with volunteer recruitment and orientation with software and program roles
- Train volunteers virtually and in-person and assist with scheduling, tracking and reconciling of volunteer hours
- Engage coastal businesses in the lower three counties to build sustainable partnerships around nature-based tourism and conservation efforts
- Under supervision from the Stewardship Manager and Senior Program Manager, develop and maintain productive working relationships with partnering organizations, agencies, groups and individuals participating in the program
- Participate in communications and marketing efforts, which may include developing content for social media, newsletters, annual reports, and website content. Provide assistance to the Stewardship Manager in organizing and implementing stewardship events
- Ensure equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives are integrated into our work and our programs
- Support in other projects as necessary, including development and fundraising
- Maintain and properly care for project equipment
- Other job-related duties as assigned
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Studies or a related field
- 1-2 years’ experience supporting outreach, education, development, marketing/communications, or equivalent experience required
- Strong organizational and relationship building skills; excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to lead and work as part of a team
- A passion for environmental conservation, including basic bird identification and a willingness to learn.
- Knowledge of Gulf Coast conservation issues
- Reliable, self-motivated and able to work comfortably in a dynamic, non-structured environment
- Comfortable with public engagement; including public speaking and presentations
- Willingness to work early mornings, evenings, weekends. The July 4th holiday will be a mandatory work day, as well as additional days/evenings around the holiday
- Ability to perform outdoor tasks requiring physical exertion, in all weather conditions and on difficult terrain with or without accommodation (e.g., traversing sand beach in high heat) while maintaining a positive attitude
- Experience with Microsoft Office programs such as Excel, Word, Power Point
- Interest, understanding, and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society, and ability to communicate Audubon’s mission, goals, and programs effectively
- Must have valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle suited for transportation to complete assigned tasks
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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