Network 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 Engagement Manager for Audubon Mid-Atlantic (AMA) is responsible for regional efforts to engage and activate Audubon chapters and members while expanding the sphere of influence of the Audubon network within the region, which comprises Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia. This geography encompasses 26 traditional chapters, 7 campus chapters, and has over 110,000 National Audubon Society members. This dedicated network of grassroots activists is leading local efforts to make communities more bird-friendly by reducing bird collisions with buildings, encouraging municipalities to dedicate more space to native plants, and engaging in clean energy discussions around the region.

Reporting to AMA’s Director of Policy, the Engagement Manager will work closely with regional and national staff to ensure a strong chapter network in the region, communicate with supporters across the region, engage members in Audubon’s advocacy initiatives, and support community-based initiatives that advance bird conservation.

Working with the Policy Director and AMA conservation and center team members, they will develop a strategy to engage Audubon chapters and members in advancing regional policy objectives and delivering on-the-ground conservation work. The Engagement Manager will be responsible for developing partnerships and providing training and capacity-building opportunities, tools, and mechanisms to build the connectedness, capacity, diversity, and size of the Audubon network in the region. The Engagement Manager will collaborate closely with the AMA Policy Director, communications staff and the National Audubon Society Network Team, to successfully engage our bipartisan network and conservation partners for successful policy campaigns and conservation leadership.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled, experienced manager and a strategic thinker and have a background in working with communities, campaigns, and collaborative partnerships across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Essential Functions

• Lead the ongoing development and implementation of capacity creating 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 regional chapters.
• Build the collective capacity of Audubon’s chapters to engage with Audubon’s conservation programs, community science efforts, and advocacy priorities.
• Partner with Audubon’s conservation and public policy stakeholders at national and state levels to recruit, equip, and engage advocates and volunteers to advance Audubon Mid-Atlantic’s conservation work, conservation advocacy and climate policy goals, maximizing grassroots engagement and growth.
• Support and engage college and university chapters in key geographies throughout the region, in coordination with the Audubon on Campus program.
• Support local engagement efforts to support new grassroots leaders in a diversity of contexts, geographies, and generations.
• Work with conservation staff to support and expand Lights Out programs in Philadelphia, Baltimore and other communities in the region by engaging chapters to promote and shape local support.
• Organize and host regular chapter leader meetings in the region and individual states.
• Develop and activate schedule of gatherings and other networking opportunities that deliver Audubon’s capacity-building program and foster peer-to-peer learning.
• Work closely with communications staff on efforts to engage with chapters, members and other supporters of Audubon’s work through social media, action alerts, and the region’s website.
• Provide periodic updates and recommendations to AMA’s advisory board and staff to facilitate more productive integration at all levels of the organization.
• Partner with national Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) team to orchestrate training for chapter leaders and staff; work with regional staff to include EDIB considerations in plans for all programs. Promote principles of demographic diversity in chapters and direct chapters towards resources which will promote EDIB values.
• Raise the visibility of Audubon and its network throughout the region through strategic partnerships and communications.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred and 5+ years’ relevant experience in grassroots network building, grassroots advocacy, wildlife conservation, public service, or related field. A combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills; ability to motivate volunteers and partners essential.
• A clear track record of success in operational roles is a must – demonstrated experience taking ideas from concept to design to implementation and linking targets and outcomes to strategic goals.
• Proven experience networking with, engaging, and successfully cultivating diverse community partners and partnership projects, preferably experience which includes partnering with BIPOC led groups.
• Demonstrated experience leading grassroots engagement on issues or advocacy campaigns and building the capacity of networks to engage in advocacy successfully.
• Experience working across diverse constituencies, including bipartisan coalitions and communities of color.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills and the abilityto build consensus among a wide range of individuals. Comfortable 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.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including ability to respond quickly and effectively to unforeseen challenges.
• 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, including proficiency with Microsoft Office suite applications and effective at 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 with the ability to work some evenings and weekends as job responsibilities demand.
• Demonstrated interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society.

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

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.