The National Audubon Society has identified the Everglades as a national conservation priority and a centerpiece of Audubon’s hemispheric water strategy. The Greater Everglades Ecosystem supports 70 threatened and endangered species and is home to more than 8 million people. Everglades’s restoration is the world’s largest ecosystem restoration program and ensuring successful implementation of this program is one of our key priorities. Restoration is complemented by efforts to reducing nutrient pollution in the northern Everglades and into Lake Okeechobee, where Audubon is focused on protecting up to 130,000 acres of marsh habitat.
Aligned with Audubon’s overall conservation goals and strategies and in coordination with the Director of Everglades Policy, this person will oversee the continued strategic and measurable implementation of conservation goals in the Northern Everglades and Lake Okeechobee that results in the organization’s increased capacity to protect priority birds and their habitats.
This position may be located in Miami, FL or Remote (South) Florida.
- Play an essential role in advancing Audubon’s Northern Everglades policy goals and objectives by researching, analyzing, and providing guidance on Northern Everglades issues.
- Advise the Everglades Policy Director on potential State and Federal legislative and administrative priorities, opportunities and risks.
- Research and analyze existing water and agricultural Florida Statutes, rules and regulations, and advise potential improvements that result in implementing Audubon’s northern Everglades policy goals.
- Prepare high quality analysis on draft legislation, restoration project Environmental Impact Statements and other on restoration programs related to the northern Everglades.
- Draft potential legislation, fact sheets, comment letters, testimony, and other materials necessary to support Audubon’s northern Everglades policy goals and priorities.
- Lead in developing and implementing advocacy strategies for the northern Everglades.
- Monitor development of new legislation during the Florida Legislative session. In coordination with Everglades Policy Director and Director of Policy in Tallahassee, advise and coordinate efforts to improve or stop bad legislation.
- Develop working relationships with leadership and key staff at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in order to communicate Audubon’s Everglades priorities and influence policy outcomes.
- Coordinate with Audubon Florida’s lead liaison to the South Florida Water Management District.
- Coordinate with Audubon’s leading scientist in Lake Okeechobee and northern Everglades.
- Identify and recruit strategic allies to help spread Audubon’s key northern Everglades policy goals.
- Represent Audubon at northern Everglades-related public meetings and issued-based coalitions; monitor their developments and contribute to coalition-based legislative positions that support Audubon’s key policy priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- A minimum of 2 to 3 years of experience with a policy-oriented nonprofit organization, or with a relevant government agency working on water management, environmental regulations, or similar is required.
- Knowledge of Florida water Statutes, rules and regulations.
- Familiarity with agricultural regulations and programs targeted to reduce nutrient loading into natural systems.
- Familiarity with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wetland Reserve Program USDA wetlands, and other similar working lands programs.
- Excellent policy analysis and research skills.
- Excellent communications skills with ability to write clearly and command of public speaking; must be comfortable representing Audubon’s interests with a variety of stakeholders, including decision-makers at multiple agencies, NGO partners, and lay audiences.
- Self-starter and results-oriented with a demonstrated ability to work independently and in coordination with multiple team players.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications required, familiarity with social media tools a plus.
- Able to travel and attend occasional external functions occurring on weekends and evenings.