ID: 2018-3852
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 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, 41 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 50 states, and 700 staff across the country. Audubon is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
Position Summary
Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a 13,000-acre sanctuary with 2.25 miles of boardwalk, the Blair Audubon Center, Nature Store and Gallery Cafe, as well as education, research and resource management programs. More than 100,000 people visit Corkscrew each year, and Corkscrew enjoys the support of nearly 200 regular volunteers. The Sanctuary serves as an anchor for Audubon Florida’s policy advocacy in the Western Everglades and is a living laboratory for the study and restoration of Southwest Florida’s freshwater wetlands.
All of this is led by the Sanctuary Director, with the goal of advancing Audubon’s science-based conservation mission for the sanctuary of protecting its natural resources and its watershed. The Sanctuary Director supervises the Director of Restoration, the Deputy Sanctuary Director (responsible for the Blair Center), the Director of Research and Development Associate. Corkscrew’s Sanctuary Director is in turn a part of the leadership team of Audubon Florida, and reports to the Executive Director. In partnership with the Audubon Florida Executive Director and the Corkscrew Advisory Board, the Sanctuary Director sets the strategic direction for the center and sanctuary to enhance visitor and education experiences and Audubon’s local and regional conservation mission. Maintaining and expanding Corkscrew’s facilities, staff and programming, while restoring and expanding the ecology of the Sanctuary requires financial resources. The Sanctuary Director works closely with Audubon Florida’s development team to identify, cultivate and solicit donors and with center staff to maximize earned income. The Sanctuary Director is Audubon’s chief spokesperson for conservation of the Western Everglades, and works closely with the Director of Everglades Policy, state Director of Policy, and Corkscrew Leadership Team to achieve Audubon’s conservation goals in the region.
Essential Functions
Finance and Development
•Lead Capital Campaigns and annual giving at Corkscrew to support the maintenance and expansion of the Sanctuary’s work. Specifically:
•Forecast the annual budget and manage administrative staff to set targets for fundraising.
•Work with development team, Sanctuary Advisory Board and the Leadership Team to cultivate and solicit donations and to maximize admission and sales income.
•Responsible for balancing Sanctuary expenses and revenues, and ensuring resources for capital improvements and maintenance.
Staff, Volunteer and Facilities Management
•Supervise Sanctuary resource and administrative staff and center director, coaching for work plan and sanctuary plan-based performance.
•Recruit, retain and grow an expert staff, focused on conservation, science-based policy, and exceptional visitor experiences.
•Grow the number of volunteers, volunteer hours and sophistication of functions performed by volunteers, through implementation of a volunteer recruitment and management plan to support sanctuary and center goals.
•Keep current and implement a facilities plan for upkeep and preemptive repairs of facilities and equipment.
Resource Management
•Ensure Corkscrew team conducts timely resource management of the Sanctuary’s habitats as prescribed by the best available science.
•Oversee Director of Research’s work to ensure data collection and research assess and inform resource management and local and regional conservation policy efforts.
Center Operations
•Work with the center director to ensure visitor experiences and education programs advance and support Corkscrew and Audubon Florida missions and engage diverse audiences.
•Oversee the development and implementation of a center, education and visitor experience strategy by the Deputy Sanctuary Director.
Conservation
•Serve as lead spokesperson for conservation of the Western Everglades.
•Help the sanctuary realize its potential for conservation engagement within the Atlantic Flyway.
•Provide oversight and direction for targeted conservation projects to secure habitat for birds and other wildlife.
•Expand Audubon’s current work on private lands conservation by identifying strategic opportunities for partnerships with landowners, agricultural interests, and agencies.
•Collaborate with policy staff for conservation work on habitat protection, imperiled species protection, water quality, invasive species, and coastal conservation policies.
•Provide information to support public policy advocacy.
Qualifications and Experience
•A minimum of a master’s degree in environmental science or ecology and three years of experience, or a baccalaureate degree in an appropriate field and five years of experience.
•Outstanding interpersonal skills, good judgment, and an ability to work with a wide range of individuals, volunteers, donors, and organizations at the local, regional, and national level.
•Experience with fundraising including annual giving and major gifts cultivation.
•Team-building skills and the ability to work collaboratively and build coalitions with partners, including other environmental organizations, government entities, and for-profit businesses.
•Persuasive communication skills and an engaging intellect that leads by example.
•The highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards.
•Experience supervising staff and volunteers, as well as managing grants and budgets.
•Knowledge of the ecology of Southwest Florida and its conservation challenges a plus.
•Experience growing organizations/programs in staff and budget size and sophistication.
•Two years’ experience in a supervisory role.
•Ability to obtain a Florida Driver’s License.
•Excellent oral and writing skills.