Assistant Sanctuary Manager

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. Our team has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America's Bird Crisis

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, we're 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. Our commitment to a culture of workplace excellence means our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging.

The diversity of humans is just as remarkable as the variety of birds we protect. By honoring and celebrating human diversity, we bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

About the Position

This position is part of the Seabird Institute, which manages seven island research stations off the coast of Maine that are part of Audubon's Maine Coastal Islands Sanctuaries. These include restoration sites for 23 species of seabirds and waterbirds.

Each island research station is staffed seasonally with an Island Supervisor and up to five Research Assistants, interns, and volunteers, based on island size, seabird colony composition, and workload. Work conducted on the islands includes monitoring seabird productivity and growth, conducting seabird diet studies, banding and resighting birds, conducting censuses, removing invasive vegetation, and conducting predator management.

This role will aid the Sanctuary Management Team with facilitation of the field program at seven island research stations. Duties include preparation of field sites and equipment prior to the start of the field season; setting up seasonal camps; supporting logistics throughout the field season; training field crews; participating in seabird censuses and monitoring; conducting predator management; removing marine debris from field sites; conducting vegetation control and habitat management; maintaining island facilities; supporting annual closing of the field camps; and cleaning and maintaining boats and other field equipment.

Essential Functions

• Assist Sanctuary Management Team with implementation of multiple concurrent seabird studies at seven island field stations.
• Understand the goals and objectives of each island research and management program to provide guidance to Island Supervisors and Research Assistants.
• Participate in setup and breakdown of field camps and maintenance of field equipment.
• Procure groceries and supplies, pack supplies for islands, and transport people and supplies to islands.
• Assist with orientation program for new staff and provide essential training to supervisors, research assistants, and volunteers.
• Train Island Supervisors and Research Assistants in essential field and data management skills.
• Participate in bird banding and trapping.
• Review procedures and data collection to ensure proper implementation of work plans when at research sites.
• Protect seabird colonies from human disturbance.
• Conduct predator management or control as necessary.
• Operate power and row boats to transport personnel and supplies to offshore islands.
• Maintain NAS-issued equipment, including spotting scopes, cameras, GPS, cell phones, radios, and other research equipment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelors degree in biology, conservation biology, wildlife management, or a related field with several years of experience in similar field research programs.
• Ability to work closely with program staff, cooperators, and volunteers; strong communication skills.
• Experience supervising field crews; preference for experience managing a seabird field program.
• Experience with rowing and safely operating motorboats 12-23 ft. in length, and driving a vehicle with boat trailer in tow.
• Valid state driver's license.
• Field experience with seabirds and seabird management in remote environments.
• Bird banding and trapping experience.
• Wilderness or primitive camping experience.
• Dedication to wildlife conservation, a sense of humor, and a passion for seabirds and isolated islands.
• Experience with: spotting scopes, bird banding and trapping equipment (mist nets, etc.), outboard engine care/basic maintenance, inflatable boat repair, boat safety equipment, camping equipment (e.g. tents, composting toilets, etc), solar power systems, basic hand tools (e.g. hammer, drill driver, etc), PC operation (MS Word, Excel and Access programs), communication equipment (cell phones, VHF radios).
• Ability to sit in observation blinds in the seabird colonies for 3-hour periods.
• Ability to land on offshore islands on irregular terrain; lift and carry loads up to 50 lbs., hauling water jugs and field equipment; comfortable hiking on irregular terrain and over slippery rocks.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion, and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.