Engagement Manager

Overview

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 using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

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 will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary

The mission of the National Audubon Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon Texas is the state field office of the National Audubon Society, implementing Audubon’s strategic priorities in the state. This geography includes a statewide team that implements programs at three Audubon nature centers, one sanctuary, 177 rookery islands along the Texas Coast, and key geographies across the state. Audubon Texas’ engagement network includes 83,000 passionate Audubon members, 22 local chapters, and emerging campus chapters.

Reporting to Audubon Texas’s Public Affairs Director, the Engagement Manager of Audubon Texas is responsible for statewide efforts to engage, activate, and grow Audubon’s traditional chapters and grassroots membership, while supporting our college chapters, with the goal of deepening the sphere of influence of the Audubon network in Texas. The Engagement Manager will be responsible for developing partnerships and providing training and capacity-building opportunities, tools, and mechanisms across the network to enhance the connectedness, capacity, diversity, and size of the Audubon network in the state. They will collaborate closely with the Directors of Public Affairs and Policy for Texas for successful engagement of our bipartisan network and conservation partners for outcome-driven policy campaigns and conservation leadership.

The Engagement Manager, with support from the Audubon Texas Community Outreach Manager, will oversee Audubon Texas’s Lights Out Texas and Bird City Texas work. Lights Out Texas is a collaborative statewide partnership campaign focused on education, awareness, and action in support of turning out lights at night during the spring and fall migrations in order to help protect the billions of migratory birds that fly over Texas annually. The Bird City Texas program is a three-year pilot program in partnership with Texas Park & Wildlife Department (TPWD) and in coordination with local Audubon Chapters located. The Engagement Manager will work closely with national and state campaigns teams, national network teams, and other Audubon departments as needed. They will participate on a team that ensures high-quality communications that raise the profile of Audubon Texas, moves our strategic priorities forward, and set us up for fundraising success.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled, experienced leader and a strategic thinker, with a background working with diverse communities, campaigns, and collaborative partnerships. Proven experience in growing bipartisan, representative, and inclusive networks and building diverse grassroots movements is required. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, able to utilize a variety of internal and external resources, while building a network of support in a team environment. Experience across a matrix organization is preferred.

An active pursuit of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a moral and strategic imperative for Audubon. We are committed to a workplace in which every employee feels valued, seen, and heard, and in which everyone has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and live their values. Respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives will attract the best ideas and harness the greatest passion to shape a healthier, more vibrant future for all of us who share our planet.

Essential Functions

• Lead the ongoing development and implementation of capacity building and partnership development with the Audubon chapter network, including (but not limited to) the following: developing programs, creating unique partnerships with high-capacity chapters, and overseeing channels of communication between Audubon and its Texas chapters.
• Build the collaborative capacity of Audubon’s traditional chapters to engage with Audubon’s advocacy priorities, conservation programs, and community science efforts.
• Co-lead the development of Audubon Texas’s engagement efforts to support new grassroots leaders in a diversity of contexts, geographies, and generations.
• Partner with Audubon’s conservation and public policy leaders at national and state levels to recruit, equip, and engage advocates and volunteers for on-the-ground conservation work, conservation advocacy, issue campaigns, outreach, and influence building.
• Develop and activate schedule of gatherings and other networking opportunities that deliver Audubon’s capacity-building program and foster peer-to-peer learning.
• With the Directors of Public Affairs and Policy for Texas, develop and implement campaign strategy to maximize grassroots engagement and growth.
• Coordinate and report up to two Bird City review committee review meetings per year to certify qualifying municipalities for Bird City designation.
• Coordinate participation by Audubon Texas Conservation staff and chapter advisory members in Bird City team program reviews and standing meetings and serve as the Audubon point of contact for TPWD staff, chapter representatives and municipal representatives.
• Additional coordination for Bird City includes contributing to promotional materials and activities in partnership with TPWD team members, interpret metrics for certified cities including Plants for Birds metrics, and reporting successful and opportunity aspects of the program.
• Identify and contribute to communications efforts, ensuring high-quality communications consistent with Audubon’s voice and a strong and increasingly positive public perception of Audubon and Audubon’s positions on key strategic initiatives.
• Orchestrate training on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for chapter leaders and Center staff; work with TX staff to include equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations in plans for all programs.
• Support program staff in Working Lands, Coasts, and at our Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, and Trinity River Audubon Center in applying network-building strategies and organizing tactics to grow volunteer capacity and engagement.
• Provide periodic updates and recommendations to state board and staff to facilitate more productive integration at all levels of the organization.
• In partnership with Executive Director and development team, support funding opportunities from individuals, foundations, and government agencies. Develop partnerships and relationships with funders, donors, and strategic partners to support and grow Audubon’s capacity for a diverse set of programs. Develop and manage program and grant budgets.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required and 5+ years’ relevant experience in grassroots network building, grassroots advocacy, wildlife conservation, public service or related field, including at least 3 years managing campaigns and teams, required. A combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the proven ability to oversee and mentor professional staff while working effectively in a team-based environment.
• In-depth experience with community organizing, engagement, and activism in diverse communities.
• 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.
• Proven experience leading grassroots engagement in issue or advocacy campaigns and building the capacity of networks to successfully engage in advocacy.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills and the ability to build consensus among a wide range of individuals. Comfort with presenting and engaging others in public-speaking events is also necessary.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing complex or multiple projects through to success, including meeting financial goals, project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners.
• Thorough understanding of how advocacy, communications, and grassroots engagement components effectively work together.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, judgment, and a demonstrated ability to collaborate and build coalitions.
• Technically savvy, to include proficiency with Microsoft Office suite applications and comfort using web-based engagement systems. Experience with EveryAction or similar voter/volunteer database desired.
• Willingness to travel, including some occasional out-of-state travel, and comfort working evenings and weekends as job responsibilities demand.
• Demonstrated interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society.

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.

Accessibility Statement

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COVID Policy

All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.