Senior Director, Water for Birds and People, North America

About Audubon 

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety. 

Position Summary:

The Senior Director, Water for Birds and People, North America, leads Audubon’s Initiative to focus on the creation of a connected network of protected, managed, and restored freshwater rivers, lakes, and wetland habitats. Through improved science-based water management, long-term water policy solutions, demonstrations of successful on-the-ground restoration projects, and involvement of Audubon’s network and partners, this initiative will work to stabilize and increase populations of priority bird species that will in turn support clean water for people. The position will ensure work within its portfolio contributes impact toward the organization’s Habitat Conservation goals and other strategic initiatives.

Under the direction of the Vice President, Habitat, North America, the Senior Director will establish priorities, detailed goals, specific strategies and tactics for water efforts in the United States and advise on work in Canada and Mexico as part of supporting Audubon’s hemispheric vision. These solutions include both policy and on-the-ground conservation efforts. The position is expected to work closely with peers across the organization responsible for local, regional, and national-level plans that successfully implement and scale these strategies. They will work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure an integrated approach to water conservation across the hemisphere.

The Senior Director is expected to build and maintain relationships with key water leaders, coalitions, partners, and government officials and will serve as an important fundraising partner with Development. They will elevate Audubon’s leadership and profile with relevant external stakeholders and audiences.

This is a hybrid position based in Audubon’s New York City or Washington, DC offices. We will also consider remote candidates within the United States.

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $144,000 - $162,000 / year = Albuquerque, NM; Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Fargo, ND; Fort Collins, CO; Lincoln, NE; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Salt Lake City, UT; Tallahassee, FL;  

• $162,000 - $182,000 / year = Albany, NY; Anchorage, AK; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Palm Desert, CA; Roseville, MN; Sacramento, CA; Washington, DC

• $180,000 - $202,000 / year = New York, NY; Oakland, CA

Essential Functions

• Develop Audubon’s Water for Birds and People conservation goals, priorities, and strategies that contribute impact toward Audubon’s organizational habitat conservation goals.

• Determine relevant policy priorities for inclusion in the Healthy Birds Healthy Planet policy agenda, manage key water policy staff and partner with Government Affairs colleagues to advance the policy strategy.

• Collaborate closely with conservation leaders responsible for designing and implementing local, regional, and national implementation plans to ensure impact and scale toward policy and conservation goals. Work with colleagues throughout the hemisphere to ensure an integrated approach to these conservation efforts.

• Guide day-to-day implementation of Audubon’s Water for Birds and People teams and work with the Vice President for Habitat Conservation to manage the initiative’s budget.

• Support and drive innovative water management initiatives, such as the Great Salt Lake Water Trust and any other current or future Audubon water management pri