Senior Program Manager, Working Lands

Position Summary:

The Senior Manager, Working Lands leads Audubon’s Working Lands conservation program in Arizona and New Mexico, managing a team of biologists working to achieve project outcomes that enhance the habitat value of desert grasslands, shrublands, riparian corridors and other natural lands for people, birds and other wildlife. Audubon Southwest’s Working Lands program works throughout the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Grasslands of Southern New Mexico and Arizona with a particular focus on grassland priority conservation areas in this region to advance projects that improve grazing management for the benefit of grassland birds in decline, enhance managed wetlands, ensure adequate habitat for resident and migratory birds, and improve the climate resilience of wildlife in these southwestern desert grasslands.

The Senior Manager will provide strategic guidance and day to day supervision to Working Lands Program Managers as they provide technical assistance to private landowners, livestock producers and resource professionals on how to improve bird habitat on the lands under their management. The Senior Manager will work closely with partners at the Rio Grande and Sonoran Joint Ventures, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona and New Mexico State Wildlife Agencies, agriculture extensions offices, conservation districts, Audubon chapters, local communities and other conservation partners to identify potential projects and partner habitat improvement projects that habitat delivery team can implement or support. The Senior Manager will work with their team to market their services through workshops, field days, and other activities to engage willing landowners. All members of the Working Lands Team, including the Senior Manager, will work with engaged landowners to develop habitat management plans that qualify operations for enrollment in programs such as Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR), Natural Resource Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Program, and others. The Senior Manager will work closely with the Appleton-Whittel Research Ranch (AWRR) to develop field training and knowledge transfer activities for staff and area land managers, and to advance the research priorities at AWRR.

The Senior Manager reports to the Executive Director for Audubon Southwest and supervises two program managers located strategically across Southern NM and AZ. This is a remote position that will be located within the Southern New Mexico or Arizona.

Compensation:

$72,000 - $81,000 / year

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

• Lead efforts to identify, prioritize, and execute projects with land stewards to implement habitat enhancement efforts in grazed rangelands throughout identified grassland priority conservation areas in New Mexico and Arizona.

• Hire, train, and supervise team of Working Lands staff who will be tasked with identifying potential land manager partners, drafting Habitat Management Plans, providing on-the-ground technical assistance to managers, and assist with enrollment in state and federal incentive programs in pursuit of habitat conservation milestones.

• Develop and maintain relationships with partners, including but not limited to the Rio Grande and Sonoran Joint Ventures, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona and New Mexico state wildlife agencies, agriculture extensions offices, conservation districts, Audubon chapters, local communities and other conservation partners. Establish and continue relationships with multiple land stewards across the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert Grassland region.

• Lead the identification of, develop and write grants to government agencies and foundations to fund projects. Manage project budgets, reporting requirements, and third-party contracts.

• Work with Audubon science, AWRR, and Migratory Bird Initiative staff to assess the value of alternative grassland sites. Conduct bird and other habitat monitoring at research sites and communicate results to scientific and non-scientific audiences.

• Conduct outreach to Audubon chapters to build partnerships for conservation, restoration and enhancement projects and advocacy for grassland priority conservation areas

• Serve as a public representative of Audubon Southwest which may include presentations, public speaking, meeting participation and/or other interactions with agencies, NGOs, Audubon chapters, and land stewards to both gather and disseminate information.

• Advise project partners, such as Resource Conservation Districts and other NGOs, on restoration design and native plants to enhance bird habitat. Provide on-site assessments and guidance to implement successful conservation