As part of Audubon’s Coast Program, lead the salt marsh and coastal resilience initiative in New York.

Establish clear program goals and objectives that address bird conservation priorities, impacts of sea-level rise, volunteer and community engagement, and financial outcomes for the coastal resilience initiative. Develop goals and objectives in close collaboration with CT coastal resilience staff.

Develop new strategies and programmatic elements to deepen the impact and raise the visibility of Audubon’s coastal resilience program.

Identify, plan, and implement new and ongoing salt marsh restoration projects, which will involve:

• Develop request for proposals (RFPs), bid packages, and contracts required to implement salt marsh restoration/enhancement project(s).

• Oversee construction contracts and engineering firms completing permitting and design for salt marsh restoration or enhancement project(s)

• Coordinate project teams to ensure regular communication, free exchange of ideas, and successful problem solving to implement projects.

• Lead or work with partners and seasonal staff to complete pre-and post-response monitoring (e.g., bird, vegetation, elevation, and hydrology) at restoration sites.

• Work with Audubon CT and NY staff and other partners to identify new restoration projects for Audubon to pursue.

• Work with land trusts and other agencies to protect marsh migration corridors through land acquisitions or conservation easements.

Represent Audubon in coastal resilience focused working groups and coalitions to foster partnerships, exchange knowledge, lessons learned, and best management practices, and facilitate the implementation of and funding for future restoration projects.

Integrate community engagement and Audubon’s EDIB principles into our coastal resilience projects.

Develop close working relationships with coastal NGOs, state and federal agency partners, and community leaders/stakeholders. Develop partnerships that increase conservation impact.

Working with development staff, play a leadership role in fundraising, grant administration, and engaging donors and foundations to support the projects and coastal resilience initiative.

Work with finance staff to develop, track and manage the program’s budget, expenses, and secured funding.

Work with state and National policy staff to advocate for the protection of coastal habitats and natural solutions to coastal flooding and erosion through policy solutions and federal funding (e.g., FEMA and NRCS funding).

Effectively communicate about coastal resilience issues (including sea level rise as a threat to priority bird species, the importance of salt marsh conservation, negative impacts of shoreline hardening, and natural solutions to shoreline stabilization) to elected and municipal officials, partners, media, and the public via presentations and written materials for internal and external audiences. E.g., contribute to press releases, articles, outreach materials, and content for social media. Work directly with the Communication Manager on communication campaigns.

Represent Audubon and create and deliver effective presentations at conferences, regional councils, and working groups meetings.

Provide expertise on the restoration or enhancement of salt marshes to benefit priority birds and improve marsh health.

Provide the expertise and research issues as needed to effectively comment on state and federal management plans related to coastal resilience.

Supervise seasonal staff and assist with volunteer coordination and volunteer events. May also supervise full-time staff.

Collaborate with Audubon’s regional (CT/NY) and national staff, as well as Audubon Chapter leaders to support policy, communications, and network priorities related to coastal resilience.

Participate fully and productively in staff meetings, planning efforts, and other shared staff.

Master’s Degree in conservation, wildlife, or natural resources field or equivalent, plus five years of relevant work experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Familiarity with coastal resilience and adaptation issues and natural coastal processes required, knowledge of Saltmarsh Sparrow habitat needs and conservation issues a plus.

Project management experience including fiscal management, managing project deliverables, reporting on progress, and writing grant proposals. The ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize is essential.

Proven experience with the restoration of coastal habitats and managing habitat restoration or enhancement projects required; experience managing a salt marsh restoration or enhancement project is highly preferred.

Familiarity with governmental permit processes for habitat or other related projects, preferably in the state of New York.

Experience developing proposals for foundations, individual donors, and federal sources and tracking progress on those to effectively report out. Experience managing federal grants is strongly desired.

Must be self-motivated, organized, and reliable, with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Strong communication skills including public speaking, public presentation, and writing skills and ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings as the job demands.