Manager, Community Science

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.

• $60,000-$70,000/year = National
• $65,000-$75,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY
• $75,000-$80,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

• Serve as project manager of Audubon’s iconic Christmas Bird Count program in close coordination with the Director of the Christmas Bird Count, Audubon’s Climate Watch programs, the Great Backyard Bird Count and any other current, or future, community science programs.
• Manage the timeline for delivery of each aspect of the programs, coordinating updates of materials, web updates, tool review, scheduling and managing email updates to stakeholders, application processes and convening project check-ins as needed.
• Responsible for submitting check processing requests for Regional Editors.
• Develop resource materials and presentation of training webinars and other medium to volunteers of programs as needed.
• Provide primary support by email to volunteers, coordinators, and chapters for community science programs.
• Handle incoming program data processing tasks including documenting and routing data for analysis according to current procedures. As part of a team help identify materials and summaries that inform volunteers about the success of the program. Help with evaluation of the program and contribute to successful program rollout each season by tracking master program timeline and convening project check-ins as needed. Schedule and manage email updates to program volunteers using Audubon’s EveryAction communication management system.
• Ability to coordinate planning, media, webinar events, and liaise with design team on printable materials in 4 languages, for needed programs.
• Work closely with Audubon internal teams such as marketing and communications, network and others, on maintaining communications with staff, volunteers and external collaborators.
• Design and execute program evaluations to evaluate and grow volunteers, possibly including focus groups and in-person meetings.
• Provide edits and updates to program websites
• Provide email support to volunteers who participate in all programs following the response manuals/FAQ for each program.
• Evaluate and identify improved work flows for community science programs.
• Help foster partnerships with scientists and staff in academic institutions, NGOs, state and
  federal agencies.
• Keep volunteers engaged on all programs, and work to engage new and diverse audiences.
• Assist with writing of content for reports, publications and presentations, and communicate content to diverse audiences through presentations, conferences, or meetings.
• 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 and 5 years of experience required, graduate work (M.S. or other) in social science, ecology, environmental science, or education strongly preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Demonstrated experience with successful program project management.
• Skilled in customer support or community organizing in a program delivery environment.
• Experience building and analyzing volunteer surveys to inform program delivery.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment, able to juggle a variety of tasks, and able to work independently to re-prioritize tasks.
• Experience working in or volunteering with a science organization strongly preferred.
• Training and assessment experience working with volunteers strongly preferred.
• General knowledge of the birds of North America required; experience in the birding community preferred.
• Track-record in writing about birds, birding and bird conservation a plus.
• Basic proficiency in Geospatial Information Science (GIS) using Esri ArcGIS tools a plus.
• Proficiency in database manipulation and data entry a plus.
• Proficiency scripting in R a plus
• Past participation in a Community Science (aka Citizen Science or Participatory Science) project preferred.
• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Interest in working to promote bird conservation across the US and Americas, and passion for the mission of the National Audubon Society.
• Valid driver’s license
• Travel expected 1-5 times per year.

This position is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).