Program Manager, Migratory Bird Tracking

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Migration Ecology, the Program Manager, Migratory Bird Tracking, will work within the Migratory Bird Initiative to support and coordinate the deployment and analysis of bird tracking technologies to improve our understanding of the factors driving bird population declines and assess the hemispheric impacts of local conservation challenges and actions. The Migratory Bird Tracking Program will provide a scientific basis for Audubon’s hemispheric conservation investments to halt and reverse declining population trends of migratory birds in the Americas. This work will build on the efforts of the National Audubon Society to collect and synthesize bird movement data from various tracking technologies to reveal seasonal movements, behaviors, and migration patterns across the Western Hemisphere and focus scientific results to reveal actionable strategic conservation priorities.

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $55,000-$65,000/year = National

• $64,000-$74,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY

• $73,000-$83,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

Essential Functions

• Support and coordinate tracking projects across the Audubon Network, which could include leading training workshops (in the field and virtually), developing online training materials, contributing input on project ideas, and providing logistical support to tracking projects.

• Process and analyze tracking data from different technologies (e.g., Motus, light-level geolocators) to account for known sources of spatial and/or temporal bias.

• Participate in cross-functional teams at National Audubon Society, particularly with the conservation planning, climate and community science, and quantitative science teams and across the broader organization, to co-develop and implement tracking projects.

• Coordinate with the Audubon Americas program on projects outside of the United States.

• Communicate and collaborate with internal and external partners to design and implement tracking studies to address organizational conservation needs at multiple spatial scales.

• Lead or participate in field studies to track migratory birds, including banding, tagging birds with tracking devices, and installing and maintaining Motus stations.

• Build relationships with a large and diverse set of national and international bird scientists and institutions to discover, acquire, and synthesize tracking and connectivity data sets for engagement, education, policy, and conservation applications (e.g., Bird Migration Explorer).

• Participate in migratory bird conservation networks to communicate and coordinate Audubon’s Migratory Bird Tracking Program with other tracking efforts in the western hemisphere.

• Maintain and strengthen Audubon’s relationships with key partners in the bird tracking and conservation science community to provide outputs to support the mission and projects of Audubon.

• Contribute to fundraising proposals to support tracking projects.

• Collaborate with Audubon’s Network Engagement team to engage chapters and campus chapters in the Migratory Bird Tracking Program and provide technical training and support for their participation in the Motus network. Training and support may include work in the field.

• In Spanish and English, deliver trainings, create documents and provide support to organizations and universities in Latin America and the Caribbean on bird tracking methods in coordination with Audubon Americas staff.

• Lead or co-lead peer-reviewed manuscripts/publications.

• Produce non-technical visual, quantitative, and narrative summaries of the Migratory Bird Tracking Program’s activities and impacts.

• Represent Audubon’s Migratory Bird Initiative at professional and engagement events.

• Work as a team with other staff to prioritize data needs and approaches.

• Partner with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work. 

• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in conservation biology, environmental studies, ecology, biology, ornithology, spatial ecology, landscape ecology, or a related field.

• At least five years of related work experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

• Experience capturing and tagging birds with different types of transmitters (e.g., radio/nano-tags, geolocators, satellite) and installing and maintaining Motus stations.

• Adequate banding and tagging experience sufficient to be included as a sub-permittee from the USGS Bird Banding Lab.

• Demonstrated ability and strong interest in collaborating with other scientists and end users in conservation, management and education to promote bird conservation across the US and Americas

• Demonstrated ability to clearly design tracking studies to answer specific conservation questions.

• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals and used to build consensus. Ability to synthesize and communicate technical and complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• A self-starter, one who can think creatively about connections between birds, places, and people.

• Fluency in Spanish and English both oral and written; able to relate technical information in both languages.

• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to 25% of the time each month.

• Proven ability to design, manage, and analyze large databases.

• Proficiency in the use of ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS 10+; familiarity with ArcGIS Online and R strongly preferred.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications

• Willingness to tackle technical/conceptual challenges independently as well as in collaboration with team members.

• Must possess excellent judgment in scientific analysis and team cooperation, ability to work independently, and collaborate well with team members across a decentralized organization.

• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to manage project teams and projects effectively.

• Experience overseeing multiple complex projects through to completion, including meeting project deadlines, conducting required reporting and tracking, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners.

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Proven ability to produce high-quality scientific papers or reports. Experience with science writing for non-scientific audiences is a plus.

• Must be able to lift up to 55 lbs and traverse uneven terrain while transporting field equipment.

• Familiarity with ornithology, especially birds of the Americas.

This position is represented by the Communication 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.

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