Position Summary:
Title: Gulf Coastal Program Director
Supervisor: Vice President, Southeast and Atlantic Coast Region
Location: Gulf Coast region (Houston, Texas / Virtual Gulf-wide)
Salary: Approx. $75k depending on experience
Introduction:
Help American Bird Conservancy protect shorebirds and seabirds along the Gulf Coast of the United States!
The Gulf Coastal Program Manager is a full-time position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC), at a virtual field office location within the Gulf Coast region (coastal Texas to Florida panhandle) with a preference for Houston, Texas. ABC’s Gulf Coastal Program works to protect declining and imperiled shorebirds, seabirds and other coastal birds through habitat stewardship and management, partnerships, public outreach and education, and by directly addressing specific threats to birds such as human disturbances, coastal recreation, trash and plastics, and collisions with buildings and glass windows. Focal species include Piping, Snowy, and Wilson’s Plovers, Red Knot, Black Skimmers, and Least Terns.
The Gulf Coastal Program Manager will maintain ABC’s collaborative Texas Shorebird and Seabird Stewardship Program to protect and monitor habitats, reproductive output, abundance, and distribution of shorebirds and seabirds along the Texas Coast. This program involves recruiting and working with volunteers to protect shorebirds while they are nesting, foraging, and roosting through measures such as signage, fencing, and outreach. The Director will also oversee educational programs and social media messaging designed to encourage coastal recreationists to respect and avoid sensitive areas. The Director will perform similar duties for an ongoing partnership with Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama and evaluate opportunities to expand the Program in other Gulf Coastal areas, including coastal prairies. The Director will oversee additional community-based bird conservation activities such as working with local stakeholders to prevent collisions with buildings, replacing invasive plants with native species, attaining protective bird or environmental designations, and technical assistance in local planning to promote conservation and minimize threats to birds. The Director is responsible for supporting and expanding the collaborative SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines) initiative to address the threat of marine debris in the greater Houston-Galveston region. The manager will also coordinate with federal, state, and local partners in Gulf-based policy and advocacy, including submitting comments on projects located on public lands.
The Director will supervise three full time employees, the Texas Coastal Program Coordinator, Texas Education Specialist, the Texas Coastal Outreach Coordinator, and seasonal shorebird or other technicians as needed. Additional positions could be added in the future.
Primary Duties:
This position requires a great deal of collaboration within ABC and with external partners as well as engaging the public and new partners through public presentations, and conducting and attending meetings, by telephone, through e-mail and other correspondence, and virtually. Specific duties include:
- Work with regional and local partners to implement conservation projects Gulf-wide.
- Hire and supervise seasonal employees to complete site-specific project work.
- Work closely with staff to ensure volunteer work is conducted under ABC and Gulf Program safety protocols, and that activities and hours are tracked, recorded, and reported properly.
- Work with ABC’s Development team, partners, and external stakeholders to write grant proposals and conduct fundraising activities.
- Work with partners and ABC’s Finance team to prepare cooperative agreements and contracts for partner/sub-contract work.
- Work with ABC’s Development and Finance teams and the Southeast VP to develop and manage the annual plan and associated program budget.
- Prepare and distribute technical, scientific, and non-technical reports on range-wide projects to funding sources/donors, partners, and other program stakeholders.
- Present program results at local and regional scientific and natural resource management meetings and to non-technical audiences.
- Review North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants quarterly for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture.
- Work closely with the SPLASh team(s) to develop and implement local or state-wide public awareness campaigns with partners using messaging that includes various forms of advertising, community events, developing and distributing educational and marketing materials, and social media.
- Engage colleagues, ABC staff, other organizations, agencies, and stakeholders in policy-advocacy issues impacting the U.S. Gulf coast.
- Work with ABC’s Communications team and Gulf Coastal Program staff on marketing materials for the program; preparing magazine articles, press releases, and related communications; updating content for HelpGulfBirds.org; increasing the Gulf Coastal Program’s presence on Facebook. (https://www.facebook.com/FishSwimPlay/); and establishing a presence on at least one other social platform.
Position Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree with significant work experience or preferably a graduate degree in natural resource management, ecology, biology, the social sciences, or other relevant field.
- This position requires a thorough understanding of coastal birds and the habitats they depend on. Also required is an understanding of the geography, land use, conservation issues, and conservation partners along the U.S. Gulf coast.
- At least three-five years of experience in partnership-based conservation.
- Strong networking and partnership building skills.
- The ability to establish and sustain positive relationships with Gulf coastal bird conservation stakeholders from federal, state, local, non-profit, and private entities.
- Three or more years’ experience with grant proposal writing and fundraising.
- A willingness and ability to travel frequently and a valid driver’s license.
- Bilingual (Spanish and English) desired, but not required.
- Experience in social science as it applies to conservation is beneficial.
- Authorization to work in the U.S.
- Background Screening required.
Benefits:
- Benefits include medical, medical flex, and 403(b) plan.
- Paid vacation days (15), holidays (10+), and sick leave.
- Conservation equipment/some office expenses covered.
- Pre-approved professional training and workshop expenses covered.
- Lodging and meals covered for work related travel.
- Rental vehicle or personal mileage reimbursement, if partner vehicles are unavailable.
To Apply:
Please apply on Paylocity:
https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/1855760/America...
If you have difficulties, please email your cover letter and resume to [email protected].
At American Bird Conservancy, we believe that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills makes us more effective. We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive work environment for all of our employees.
As an equal opportunity employer, ABC is committed to ensuring that employees and applicants for employment have equal opportunities regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other factor unrelated to the requirements of the position.