Center Director, Trinity River Audubon Center

Position Summary:

The National Audubon Society is dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Since its creation in 2008, the 120-acre Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC) has served as a premier environmental education and conservation hub in South Dallas, within the Great Trinity Forest, the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States. As part of the City of Dallas-Trinity River Corridor, TRAC plays a critical role in advancing urban conservation, restoring natural ecosystems, and connecting communities with nature.

TRAC leads K-12 education programs, community partnerships, and habitat restoration efforts that align with Audubon’s Flight Plan, incorporating science, education, public policy, and direct habitat management. Through strong partnerships with local communities, conservation organizations, and city leaders, TRAC fosters a deeper connection between people and nature while advancing environmental sustainability in North Texas.

The Center Director at TRAC will be a visionary leader, responsible for driving the center’s mission, strategy, and operations to maximize its impact. Reporting to the Vice President & Executive Director of Audubon Texas, the Center Director will ensure programmatic excellence, financial sustainability, and effective facility and site management. The Center Director will play a proactive role in fundraising, securing resources to support TRAC’s facilities, operations, and conservation and education initiatives. As a member of the Audubon Texas senior management team, the Center Director will also contribute to strategic planning and conservation leadership across the state.

Beyond these core functions, the Center Director will oversee a team that manages land, habitat, trails, facilities, and grounds management, ensuring that TRAC remains a model for urban conservation. The Center Director will lead the development and implementation of education, outreach, and public engagement initiatives, inspiring conservation action among diverse audiences. Cultivating and maintaining strong partnerships with local leaders, educators, conservation organizations, and researchers, will be a key part of the role, reinforcing TRAC’s role as a community asset. The Center Director will also serve as a primary representative of TRAC and Audubon within the Dallas-Fort Worth community, engaging advisory board members, donors, city officials, and community partners to strengthen local and statewide impact. Additionally, the Center Director will be responsible for managing center staff, volunteers, and contractors, ensuring the successful execution of conservation and education programs.

The ideal candidate will be a dynamic and collaborative leader with a passion for urban conservation, environmental education, and community engagement. The Center Director must be able to build strong and diverse relationships, advocate for Audubon’s mission, and strategically grow the center’s influence in North Texas.

This position is on-site at Trinity River Audubon Center.

Compensation:

$89,000 - $101,000 / year

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

Leadership and Staff Management

• Recruit, hire, and manage staff and interns, fostering a collaborative, high-performing team with professional development opportunities consistent with program needs and budget.

• Monitor the performance of all positions directly supervised and conduct annual performance reviews. Cultivate emerging staff leaders.

• Provide dynamic, collaborative leadership for the Center’s mission, strategy, core program areas, and operating departments consistent with Audubon’s Flight Plan.

• Preserve and cultivate a culture of mutual respect, individual initiative, collegiality, and diversity; collaborate with staff to identify and implement best practices and evaluate outcomes, where applicable.

• Conduct regular Center staff meetings and promote clear, open information exchange to support and advance program goals.

• Oversee and regularly review all operational aspects of the Center facilities, budgets, and programs; staffing strategy.

• Work closely with the Texas VP & Executive Director to maintain an excellent working relationship with the TRAC Advisory Board, while also building Board capacity.

• Lead TRAC Advisory Board meetings, create board reports, and engage board members to utilize their expertise for TRAC mission advancement.

• Engage with partners, strengthening TRAC’s connections with local, state, and federal agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, and community leaders.

• Establish and regularly review and update Center priorities and procedures. Maintains and fosters culture of safety.

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