Sanctuary Manager (Blue Hills Trailside Museum)

About Mass Audubon

Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.

About This Position
Mass Audubon is seeking a dynamic and mission-driven Sanctuary Manager to lead the day-to-day operations and strategic plan implementation at Blue Hills Trailside Museum and Norman Smith Education Center. This role is pivotal in ensuring a welcoming, safe, and engaging experience for visitors of all ages and supporting conservation, education, and community engagement initiatives. Trailside is a destination and it is often the place in the community where children experience nature for the first time, interact with animals including our river otter, and launch from the Museum into the 7,000 acre Blue Hills Reservation for a short or long memorable hike.

The Sanctuary Manager will serve as the on-site leader and primary liaison for community stakeholders, staff, and volunteers, working closely with the Northeast Regional Director and cross-functional teams, including marketing, conservation, and policy, to advance Mass Audubon’s mission.

The Blue Hills Trailside Museum and Norman Smith Education Center are operated in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The Blue Hills Trailside Museum is the welcome center for the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation and features a natural history museum and outdoor exhibits of native wildlife. With its proximity to Boston, incredible collection of native, non-releasable wildlife, educational programming, and museum exhibits that showcase the ecology and history of the Blue Hills Reservation, this site provides unique opportunities to draw and inspire tens of thousands of visitors each year.

The Norman Smith Education Center is located atop Chickatawbut Hill in the Blue Hills Reservation. This hilltop setting offers stunning views among acres of natural environment and the campus structure is well suited to host a wide variety of programming including summer camp, school groups, overnights, and natural history trainings.

The Sanctuary Manager will play a key role in efforts to improve visitor experience at Trailside. These efforts will include overseeing wildlife-centered events and program experiences that inspire visitors and encourage them to act on behalf of the environment. They will work closely with the DCR facilities team to ensure continued investment in both properties. They will work toward increasing visitation through outreach to new circles of potential visitors and supporters and expanding current partnerships. And they will serve as visible leader promoting the mission and priorities of Mass Audubon.

Application Instructions
Please submit a resume and cover letter with your ADP application.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Site Management

• Collaborate with the Regional Director to shape and implement the strategic vision for the sanctuary
• Provide consistent on-site leadership, especially during peak visitation, educational programs, events, and cross-functional projects
• Ensure sanctuary operations align with Mass Audubon’s standard site plans
• Oversee day to day operations, wildlife animal care and property stewardship

Community Engagement & Representation

• Serve as the public face of the sanctuary, fostering strong relationships with local communities, neighbors, and stakeholders
• Represent the sanctuary at nearby unstaffed sites as needed to support brand awareness, community engagement, reputation, and fundraising efforts

Visitor Experience & Volunteer Engagement

• Engage with visitors, members, and volunteers to promote Mass Audubon’s mission and enhance the visitor experience
• Support the development and execution of events that align with sanctuary goals and community interests
• Support volunteer onboarding and appreciation across volunteer roles

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate daily on-site communication, scheduling, and logistics across departments
• Work with Marketing to shape and execute the sanctuary’s visitation strategy and elevate local stories
• Collaborate with Conservation staff to support ecological project management on-site and at nearby unstaffed sanctuaries

Safety, Compliance & Administration

• Partner with the Regional Director to ensure safety and security for staff, visitors, and facilities
• Ensure administrative and financial activities comply with Business Office procedures
• Support the administration of federal and state grants as required

Development & Fundraising

• Act as a key cultivation partner in stewarding donor relationships and supporting fundraising initiatives
• Provide staffing recommendations and scheduling input to the Regional Director within budgetary guidelines

Media & Communications

• Work with Marketing on media inquiries, crisis communications, and local marketing tactics

Planning & Advocacy

• Support the Regional Director in local planning and advocacy efforts
• Assist in the development of new sanctuaries in collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, education, nonprofit management, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in project and/or program management
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience in community engagement, volunteer coordination, and cross-functional collaboration
• Familiarity with conservation, education, and nonprofit fundraising principles
• Ability to work weekends and evenings as needed
• Have or be willing to acquire First Aid and CPR certifications and be able to respond effectively to emergencies
• Must have a valid driver’s license

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $65,000-$75,000/year; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements.

Benefits eligible staff at Mass Audubon may elect to enroll in medical, dental, and vision plans. Mass Audubon also offers disability and life insurance plans, a retirement plan, and Flexible Spending Account options. Mass Audubon employment also includes access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through and the Reciprocity Agreement through the Consortium of Non-Profit Arts/Cultural/Environmental Organizations of New England. Mass Audubon employees enjoy 13 paid holidays (holidays may shift annually due to where days fall within calendar).

Work Schedule
Full Time schedule of 40 hours, Monday through Friday. Ability to work weekends and evenings as needed.

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.