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. In the next two years, Corkscrew will likely undertake a facilities expansion; this position will have a critical role in shaping the future of this jewel of the National Audubon Society and RAMSAR Wetland of International Significance.
Reporting to the Sanctuary Director, the Senior Manager is primarily responsible for the oversight and management of staff, volunteers and budgets supporting Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Blair Center visitor experience programs. They will provide leadership, ensure visitor and education programming and support Audubon’s mission and goals for the Sanctuary and greater Corkscrew, Big Cypress and Everglades ecosystems. They will plan budgets, project revenues and manage expenses associated with all programs related to visitor experience. Additionally, the Senior Manager will play a lead role in marketing the Corkscrew experience to attract visitors and program participants, all while embracing and advancing Corkscrew’s mission which aims to influence conservation of the Greater Everglades.
Administration & Visitor Experience
- Along with the Sanctuary Director, manage the annual and long-range strategic planning processes for public programs, education, volunteers in alignment with Audubon’s mission and strategic plan and to build a constituency for conservation of the ecosystems supporting Corkscrew;
- Supervise and evaluate programs and education to provide visitors with enriching experiences. Evaluate the effectiveness of the various programs and develop recommendations;
- Manage the business plan for admissions and the store and supervise the store and admissions manager;
- Oversee display development, design, installation and maintenance;
- Hire, manage, train and coach Center staff working on public programs, education, volunteer projects and the Blair Nature Store. Ensure effective personnel management which involves attracting, training, retaining and evaluating staff;
- Work with Sanctuary Director and appropriate staff members to ensure science, policy and conservation goals are emphasized meaningfully and appropriately in visitor and education programs.
Expense and Revenue Management
- Plan budgets and manage expenses for visitor experience programs and facilities;
- Work with Sanctuary Director to set earned income goals for admissions, sales and program offerings;
- Supervise staff to solicit and renew Friends of Corkscrew members;
- Along with the Sanctuary Director and development team, manage donor relationships and records and cultivate and solicit gifts. Help develop grant proposals and write reports; work with development staff on record keeping, and acknowledgements related to development; and assist with planning and carrying out donor events and visits;
- Coordinate management of the Center website, maintain education/center content and work with specific program staff to periodically monitor and update timely information;
- Provide oversight and coordination of marketing and social media efforts, working closely with state staff to ensure inclusion of public programs, to include website management;
- Coordinate marketing of Center education and program offerings.
Risk Management
- With Sanctuary Director, develop and direct safety protocols and risk management for programs and facilities as advised by National Audubon Society;
- Ensure compliance of education and conservation staff with NAS policies and procedures as well as state and federal requirements.
Land Management/Science
- Cross-train in Sanctuary operations involving science and land management.
- 3-5 years’ professional management experience, to include the management of teams and providing oversight to budgets, revenues and expenses;
- Must possess strong interpersonal and emotional intelligence;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Strong time management skills, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment both independently and with a team;
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, to include Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word necessary; experience in additional systems and platforms a plus;
- Familiarity and/or experience working in the non-profit fundraising area desired;
- A flexible approach to work schedules, with the ability to work some weekends and evenings as needed;
- Passion for the mission of the National Audubon Society, as well as knowledge or interest in Florida conservation initiatives, policy, restoration and education standards, is ideal;
- Position has some physical requirements, such as coordinating outdoor activities, program facilitation, event set up and boardwalk maintenance.