Overview

We need a highly-motivated individual with a professional background in conservation science, planning and habitat restoration to serve as our Conservation Manager. The position requires passion for conservation, excellent project management and writing skills, experience engaging stakeholders, mentoring of staff and volunteers, and enjoyment of a diverse, fast-paced work environment.

Responsibilities

Habitat maintenance and restoration (50%)

• Coordinate and lead staff work with on-the-ground habitat management and maintenance projects, including at the endangered California Least Tern nesting sites in Mission Bay and other coastal dune, salt marsh and coastal sage scrub habitats.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with agencies, experts and partner organizations.
• Recruit, educate, mentor and supervise hundreds of diverse volunteers each year, and share the conservation, policy and community science context.
• Carry out biological monitoring of endangered nesting birds.

Conservation planning (25%)

• Collaboratively implement and improve management for California Least Terns in Mission Bay.
• Create and oversee work plans for other habitat restoration projects throughout the region and on our properties (Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary and Anstine-Audubon Nature Preserve).
• Review data and literature to ensure high-quality conservation of our habitats and species.
• Continue management studies with the City of San Diego and local universities and colleges.

Environmental advocacy (15%)

• Foster San Diego Audubon’s grassroots activist network, including our programs to recruit and train Audubon Advocates and Conservation Committee members.
• Represent our organization within the wider conservation and environmental justice community.
• Support our conservation advocacy program, including on the climate crisis, forage fish, development, and other regional policy issues.

Fund development and outreach (10%)

• Collaborate with our staff to raise funds for conservation programs, including grant research, administration and writing, and other fundraising efforts.
• Prepare periodic articles for publication in Sketches newsletter and electronic communications that communicate the activities of the SDAS conservation programs.
• Support outreach and communications efforts of the conservation advocacy program.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

• Deep commitment and passion for the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats
• Knowledge of wildlife biology, coastal habitat ecology, local Southern California flora/fauna, regulation context, and restoration best practices
• Strong project management skills and able to prioritize and adjust to changing timelines
• Outgoing people-person and confident public speaker, with excellent written and oral communication skills able to represent our conservation program in community outreach events
• Proven leadership experience in motivating and managing people
• Experience translating technical content from existing research and monitoring activities for decision-makers and the public
• Hard working, self-motivated, and able to work with a team in leadership and supporting roles
• First-hand experience overseeing conservation work aimed at supporting nesting California -Least Terns and other coastal sand dune species preferred
• Experience researching and writing grants preferred
• GIS experience preferred
• English and Spanish speaker preferred