Center Director, Seabird Institute

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Audubon’s Seabird Institute (ASI) seeks a Center Director to build on its rich history and success, and expand its contributions to conservation in Maine and beyond. This is a high-profile position with the opportunity to manage the operations of a program with an annual budget of ~$2M and full-time staff of eleven. The Center Director will be responsible for planning, developing, operating, and managing the Hog Island Audubon Camp, Project Puffin Visitor Center, and Todd Wildlife Sanctuary, and working in close coordination with the Director of Conservation Science, Seabird Institute, the operation of Audubon’s Maine Islands Seabird Sanctuary Network (Project Puffin) and other ASI programming. The successful candidate will be an experienced community-builder, effective manager, and change leader with the ability to work with a variety of stakeholders within the organization as well as externally. The successful candidate will report to Audubon’s Sr. Director for Coastal Conservation and be based in Bremen, Maine.

Compensation:

$95,000-$105,000 / year

Organization and Financial Leadership

• Provide collaborative and creative leadership for the Audubon Seabird Institute’s mission, strategy, core program areas, and operating departments consistent with National Audubon’s Flight Plan.
• Develop, enhance, and maintain administrative systems that allow for efficient and smooth functioning operations, promote cross-functional synergies and efficiencies, and ensure compliance with NAS policies and procedures.
• Oversee the annual budget process for ASI: coordinate budget development, prepare and summarize periodic budget reports, regularly review revenue and expenses, and develop recommendations for adjustments and new projections.
• Provide leadership, management, and mentoring for ASI staff:
  
  • Directly supervise education, programming, outreach, and operations staff, including work scheduling, prioritizing, coaching, and process execution.
  • For all ASI staff, communicate program and organizational goals, monitor progress towards those goals, coordinate cross-functional objectives, support personal growth and development.
  • Oversee recruitment, hiring, and management of approximately 30 seasonal staff to sustain science and educational activities.
• In collaboration with the Director of Conservation Science and education team, coordinate the development of programmatic education and engagement goals, planning to achieve those objectives, and the subsequent execution by cross-functional staff teams.
• Collaborate with a wide array of internal partners to achieve program goals (e.g., finance, grants administration, IT, legal, others).
• Integrate the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging into all aspects of Audubon’s work, including exterior-facing engagement and internal work plans and workplace culture.
• Preserve and cultivate a culture of mutual respect, individual initiative, collegiality, and diversity; collaborate with staff to identify and implement best practices and evaluate outcomes, where applicable.

• Raise the profile and visibility of Audubon’s Seabird Institute to new funders, partners, policymakers, and the public.
• Support the cultivation and retention of donors and foundations working in collaboration with senior staff and Audubon’s Development team.
• Collaboratively steward relationships with key partners and stakeholders, including the Friends of Hog Island, Maine Audubon, Prouts Neck Audubon, external business partners, and others.
• Oversee the program’s direct response solicitations, database strategy, and acknowledgement process, in partnership with Audubon’s Direct Marketing team.
• Enhance strategic fundraising and program development with targeted stakeholders and partners (e.g., ASI’s Seabird Advisory Council, Puffin Society, others).
• Coordinate, write, and/or support funding proposals to government programs, foundations, and other opportunities.
• Collaborate on strategic outreach efforts with media, academic and research institutions, government departments, and non-governmental organizations.

• 10+ years of progressive professional experience in operations or similar setting and at least 3 years managing staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in biology, education, business administration, non-profit management, or related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Well-developed problem-solving, time management, organizational and prioritizing skills.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, while managing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines, and operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and relationship building skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience with fundraising, including with donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders. Ability to exercise discretion and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to collaborate with partners, and manage teams and projects ethically and in a timely manner. Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts creatively.
• Self-starter with a strong collaborative work ethic and ability to work independently.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, judgment, diplomacy, and ability to collaborate.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, comfort with public speaking, and experience writing and editing communication products for general audiences.
• Clear track record of success in operational roles a must – demonstrated experience taking ideas from concept to design to execution and linking objectives and outcomes to strategic goals.
• Proven experience in networking, engaging, and successfully cultivating diverse community partners and partnership projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to conservation and passion for the mission and programs of the National Audubon Society, including our principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
• Proficiency in MS office products, including Outlook, Word, and Excel. Working knowledge of other business software platforms such as Acrobat, Box, Concur, Salesforce, Slack, or similar. Proficiency with scheduling and managing Zoom meetings.
• Must be willing to work some evenings and weekends, as well as willing and able to travel for key meetings with staff, partners, and other important stakeholders.
• Ability to lift/carry up to 25 lbs with or without accommodation.
• Valid driver’s license and access to personal transportation required.