Volunteer Program Manager

Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubon's mission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action. 

By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive.  And as part of the BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in over 100 in-country organizations all working to protect a network of Important Bird Areas around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level. 

What defines Audubon's unique value is a powerful grassroots network of nearly 500 local chapters, 23 state offices, 43 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 46 states, and 700 staff across the country.

Position Overview:

The Volunteer Program Manager will work as part of a team to implement Audubon's conservation plan for the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi Flyway.  This person will play a leadership role in helping Audubon transition volunteers recruited during the Gulf Oil Spill into a workforce implementing conservation strategies to stabilize or increase bird populations of conservation concern. 

This person will lead the development of Audubon's IBA assessment tools in evaluating the status, threats, conservation opportunity, and response to conservation actions of Important Bird Areas in the Gulf and flyway regions.  This is an approach modeled after BirdLife International's IBA monitoring framework, which ensures a unified approach to understanding bird population status, major threats, extent and condition of the habitats, and facilitates the determination or evaluation of conservation actions at IBAs.

The Volunteer Program Manager will plan meaningful programs to engage Audubon's volunteers in Gulf Coast and Mississippi Flyway conservation and restoration focused on Important Bird Areas (IBAs).  The manager will coordinate Audubon's Gulf and Mississippi Flyway volunteer mobilization efforts along with the state volunteer coordinators and Important Bird Area coordinators to support activities on the ground in the region as well as achieving the long-term conservation goals of Audubon.  The program manager will use discretion to evaluate and prioritize volunteer program opportunities and activities.

The position will be located in the Gulf Coast region.

Responsibilities:

• Develop Audubon's Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi Flyway volunteer program to achieve Audubon's regional and national conservation goals;
• Develop a plan to integrate Audubon's Gulf Coast and Mississippi Flyway volunteer program with chapters and state and national programs;
• As a member of an integrated multidisciplinary team, work with the VP Gulf Conservation and Mississippi Flyway, as well as national, state and regional staff to develop an overall conservation strategy that stabilizes or increases regional populations of focal bird species and restores and protects habitats essential to focal species with a major focus on Important Bird Areas;
• Manage volunteers and task prioritization in coordination with existing Gulf staff;
• Manage volunteer engagement through Audubon Coastal Bird Survey, Waterbird Watch Program, beach-nesting bird stewardship and IBA site assessment;
• Recommend and coordinate training and volunteer opportunities as appropriate;
• Recruit, train and assign volunteers to regional conservation programs;
• Integrate volunteer program with bird conservation, communications, education and development teams;
• Coordinate with appropriate national volunteer programs to advertise volunteer opportunities, match volunteer needs with requests, and communicate with volunteers;
• Lead development of IBA site assessment documents from Site Assessment handbook;
• Lead development of communication to volunteers, messaging guidelines, project opportunities and events and coordinate with existing Audubon staff and resources in the region;
• Write articles on activities to newsletters, updates, Web site and other Audubon communications;
• Communicate successes of volunteer programs and engage external audiences in Audubon's Gulf programs through Audubon newsletter, webcasts, and other communications in coordination with regional and national communications staff;

Additional Functions: 

• Identify, recruit, train and mobilize activists in support of positions and policies that protect birds and other wildlife habitat;
• Advise and guide local volunteers, chapter leaders and activists to improve their knowledge, skills and grassroots organizing effectiveness;
• Implement Audubon's grassroots initiatives at the local level;
• Accept requests from organizations needing volunteers; identify and direct specific individual volunteers to these organizations as appropriate;
• Report on chapter activities, other NGO activities, and community efforts as observed in the field.

Relationships:

Internal: This position will report to Director of Bird Conservation, Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi Flyway, and will coordinate with state volunteer coordinators, IBA coordinators, other state-based staff, and appropriate national volunteer programs and leaders.  This position is the primary liaison with Audubon's communications, legal, insurance, chapter relations and human resources departments as they pertain to volunteer programs.

External: The position must maintain positive working relationships with the volunteers, general public, conservation and business community, government officials, chapter leaders, Audubon members, donors, and other colleagues.  He/she will collaborate closely with the stewardship coordinator hired by American Bird Conservancy to coordinate beach-nesting bird stewardship for currently unprotected colonies. 

The position will work with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff to coordinate the Waterbird Watch program on National Wildlife Refuges, and coordinate with Cornell Lab of Ornithology on data management for citizen science and volunteer projects through the use of e-bird.  The position will also participate in coalition groups focused on Coastal Louisiana programs and Mississippi Flyway Initiatives where appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Science, Education, Political Science, Public Policy or related field preferred
• 2-3 years experience supervising staff, managing volunteers, and successfully engaging the public in volunteer activities
• Knowledge of and commitment to conservation of birds and other wildlife and their habitats.
• Demonstrated knowledge of organizing tactics and tools.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, time-management and judgment skills.
• Self-motivated, detailed-oriented with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Must possess a valid driver's license, or the ability to obtain one in a timely manner.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to travel within Gulf Coast and Mississippi Flyway states as needed and on short notice.
• Some lifting of boxes and moving equipment (50lbs. max) and other light physical duties.  Stamina required for frequent travel, including considerable walking and standing for events and some field activities.

Equipment:

The use of computers and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher, Outlook and Convio is required.  Candidate must be proficient in basic office equipment, use of digital camera, cell phone, GPS unit, and ability to drive a car.