Assistant Sanctuary Manager

Position Summary

The Kern River Preserve is a Sanctuary (3,437 acres) within the Audubon California program, at the heart of the South Fork Kern River Valley Globally Important Bird Area.  Located in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California, the only location in North America where five major bioregions come together: Great Basin Desert, Mojave Desert, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley Desert Grasslands and Coastal California Chapparal.  The South Fork Kern River Valley supports one of the largest and best-preserved examples Central Valley Cottonwood-willow Forest in the state.  The riparian bird community is exceptionally rich, with 95 species documented as nesters, and over 130 species breeding in the valley. 

The Assistant Sanctuary Manager supports the oversight and maintenance of the Kern River Preserve. This position will ensure the implementation of restoration, vegetation management, and site maintenance at the Kern River Preserve. The Assistant Sanctuary Manager will assist and sometimes lead habitat monitoring and stewardship at the preserve. This role will interact with other Audubon staff, neighboring landowners, the public, tribes and indigenous organizations, and community partners.  In collaboration with the Sanctuary Manager, the Assistant Sanctuary Manager develops and maintains key partnerships and works to engage with volunteers and members of the community through outreach.  At times, this position will be required to supervise seasonal staff or volunteer events and work parties.

This position is on-site, based at the Kern River Preserve in Kern, CA. 

This position offers employees to live-on site at Kern River Preserve for duration of employment.

Compensation:

$25.00 - $33.00 / hour

Essential Functions:

• Maintain and build effective partnerships and working relationships with local Audubon chapters, livestock operators, neighboring landowners, tribal groups, public and private conservation organizations.

• Maintain and repair infrastructure including buildings, fences, gates, roads, water control structures, dikes, signage, equipment, interpretive panels, canals and ditches.

• Operate and maintain farm tractor, backhoe, power equipment and 4x4 vehicle; oversee maintenance of equipment.

• Assist in applying pre-1914 water rights to recharge groundwater aquifer and sustain seasonal wetlands.  Keep annual records and submit use reports to California Department of Water Resources.

• Keep abreast of current research on the science of river forest habitat management as well as local and regional management issues. Attending or presenting at meetings, seminars and conferences as needed.

• Preparation of management plans for weeds, native vegetation, fire prevention, roads, buildings, etc.

• Oversee pesticide compliance, training, certification, permits, annual reporting and record keeping requirements.

• Participate in relevant Audubon all staff calls and staff working groups, task forces, phone calls, meetings, and/or conventions as appropriate and requested.

• Developing grant and funding proposals, as well as grant reporting. Producing data, graphs, maps and reports as needed.

• Leading tours, educational programs and oversee volunteer work parties.

• Promote the sanctuary and Audubon’s work on social media platforms and webpage.

• Supervise the orientation to Kern River Preserve research and management for new staff, visitors, and volunteers and provide essential training.

• Partner with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

• Support a culture of philanthropy, including public funding efforts.

• Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, range or related field required.

•  Maintain a detailed working understanding of the importance of the Kern River Preserve and the Kern Valley for birds, people and conservation.

• Three years of experience in land management, forestry, agriculture, operations, research or similar fields. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered. 

• Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail and ability to learn Audubon computer software packages required for billing/reimbursements, human resources and time keeping.

• Experience working with multigenerational audiences and diverse cultural communities and a commitment to increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion as a core component of our work. 

• Self-starter with a strong collaborative work ethic and ability to work independently. 

• Experience overseeing contractors, vendors, volunteers and staff.

• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with adaptability to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus.

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Willingness to live in a rural area.

• Ability and willingness to engage in physical outdoor labor on varying terrains and in extreme weather conditions with or without accommodation.

• A willingness to travel in-state, occasionally out-of-state, and be comfortable working occasional evenings and weekends. 

• Valid driver's license required.

This position is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

National Audubon Society Competencies: This role will also be accountable to apply and develop the following competencies.

Fostering Relationships: Build trust, mutual respect, and understanding through regular and genuine interactions while promoting a positive and inclusive environment. 

Analytical Thinking: Recognize and value diverse perspectives and experiences in data analysis to foster a more comprehensive and equitable approach to problem-solving. 

Creativity and Innovation: Leverage creativity and imagination to generate new insights and solutions while embracing diverse ideas and approaches that foster innovation. 

Facilitating Change: Work with others to explore innovative approaches to problem-solving while promoting inclusivity, equity, accessibility, and belonging in the change process. 

Team Leadership: Communicate vision and engage others or the team to solve problems while valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity. 

Salary : $25 - $33