CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER - BIRD-FRIENDLY FARMING
POSITION DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND The mission of Audubon is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. By connecting people with nature, Audubon will be a leader in creating a powerful voice for the environment, deeply rooted in and broadly drawn from all parts of our population. We accomplish this through conservation, advocacy, community involvement, and tapping into an active network that includes more than 100,000 members and supporters and 48 affiliated chapters in communities throughout California. We are a field program of the National Audubon Society. Audubon California's Working Lands Program is focused on increasing and sustaining the value of California's agricultural lands for migratory birds to ensure the conservation of birds and other wildlife in the context of a productive agricultural landscape. Our goal is to have 100,000 acres of farm and ranchland managed to benefit birds, other wildlife, and landowners within the next 5 years. Working at multiple levels, partnering with farmers, wetland managers, agricultural organizations, public agencies, and other conservation groups, we will develop and implement creative, cost-effective ways to meet our goal. SUMMARY OF POSITION The Bird-friendly Farms Conservation Project Manager (Project Manager) leads Audubon's work focused on enhancing cropland for migratory birds through development, testing and implementation of bird-friendly management practices. This position will work closely with public agencies, especially the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Resource Conservation Districts, agricultural producer organizations, conservation partners, and farmers to meet these goals with a particular emphasis on California's Central Valley. As a part of the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership, Audubon California is working closely with The Nature Conservancy and Point Blue Conservation Science to pursue a shared ten-year vision to protect, restore, and enhance an array of priority conservation areas in California's Central Valley for migratory birds. Bird-friendly management of agricultural lands in the Central Valley is one of the Partnership's focal strategies. The Project Manager plays an important role in guiding these efforts for the Partnership. The ideal candidate for this position will have agricultural conservation and/or wetland experience, proven ability to work with a variety of partners, ability to manage complex projects, skills to communicate and work with private landowners, and a passion for science-based conservation and agriculture. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES Serve as the lead for Audubon California's Working Lands initiative to enhance agricultural croplands for migratory birds. This will include: Networking/Partnering - Develop and maintain relationships with partners, including but not limited to The Nature Conservancy, Point Blue Conservation Science, California Rice Commission, Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, private landowners and farmers. Project Management - Lead efforts to identify, prioritize, and implement bird-friendly agriculture projects and monitoring efforts that align with the goals of both Audubon California's Working Lands Program and the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership. Research Coordination - Work with local researchers and program staff to achieve research goals, develop proposals to support studies that assess the value of alternative on-farm management practices, and communicate results widely to appropriate audiences. Apply the best available science to further the acquisition of knowledge to inform alternative on-farm management practices. Provide scientific input to the research efforts within the Working Lands Program. Outreach - Working with Audubon California's communications team, seek opportunities to raise the profile and disseminate information about wildlife-friendly agriculture and the Working Lands Program to a broad audience through printed, spoken, and electronic media. Host workshops with agency, NGO, and landowners to both gather and disseminate information. Landowner Liaison - Establish and continue relationships with multiple landowners across the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley to facilitate project development and communication. Fundraising - Assist Working Lands Program Director and development team to identify and secure program funding. Planning and Policy - Working with Audubon California's policy staff, identify key strategies that will increase the capacity to further goals of the Working Lands Program. RELATIONSHIPS Internal: The Project Manager will report to Audubon California's Working Lands Program Director and interact with the Audubon California's working lands, policy and other Audubon staff. This position will work closely with the Wetlands Conservation Project Manager. External: Partner NGO's, agricultural industry, private landowners, citizen scientist volunteers, and agency staff. QUALIFICATIONS - Advanced degree in biology, ecology, natural resources management or related field, preferred, and a minimum of three years related experience. - Familiarity with agricultural environments and their interaction with birds or other wildlife. - Knowledge and appreciation of the people, values, and current agricultural conservation issues. - Experience applying the best available science and other information to achieve conservation outcomes. - Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information for a non-technical audience, with effective communication skills reaching farmer, rancher and rural audiences desired. - Excellent written and verbal communications skills with experience working with the press preferred. - Effective interpersonal skills-ability to motivate people to action. - Demonstrated skills applying a range of field data collection techniques and experience with research, data management, and basic statistical analysis are desired. - Demonstrated ability to identify birds by sight and sound preferred. - A working knowledge of ArcView/ArcInfo or other GIS technology preferred. - Ability to operate Windows-based computers. - Willing to conduct some in-state travel, occasional out-of-state travel and be comfortable with working evenings and weekends as job responsibilities demand. - Valid driver's license is necessary. - Demonstrated interest in and a commitment to conservation. The position is located in Sacramento, California. To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume online at https://careers-audubon.icims.com/jobs/2169/conservation-project-manager/job. The application period closes July 1, 2014. Audubon promotes a diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the National Audubon Society to employ the man or woman best qualified for the job regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability (handicap) or marital status.
