Community Conservation Fellow

Position Summary

Audubon California is seeking one fellow for a program dedicated to engaging a broad diversity of communities to create meaningful conservation solutions that work for birds, nature, and people. The Community Conservation Fellowship seeks to build lasting relationships between local communities and Audubon. Working at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Fellow will engage communities in nature, environmental advocacy, and climate resilience over a nine month period beginning October 1, 2024.

With mentorship from Audubon staff, the Fellow will contribute to conservation and outreach work at the Richardson Bay Audubon center. The Fellow will work with youth (14-18) programming for a full school year. Throughout the season, Fellows will receive training and gain the skills necessary for hands-on habitat restoration, leadership development, community stewardship, and advocacy training. Through center-based programming, fellows will practice and develop skills by working with youth and communities – building up student leaders, advocates, and land stewards. Fellows will co-design with center leadership and staff a series of outdoor community events and projects that target diverse, multi-generational audiences. Additionally, the Fellow will work with the San Francisco Bay Program Manager during restoration field work days. Through hands on learning, the fellow will learn various surveying and monitoring techniques at various field sites.

This job requires a culturally competent, organized, and responsible person who is an excellent communicator that can work effectively as part of a team and independently. The successful applicant must have an enthusiasm for the outdoors, and a willingness to learn, teach, and share actively with community groups.

Fellow should be a resident of the SF Bay Area or agree to on-site housing at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary.

Compensation:

$18.00 / hour

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

• Co-lead Audubon Youth Leaders (AYL) program with the Senior Coordinator, Community Science and support curriculum development
• Willingness to obtain FAA Part 107, Remote Pilot Certificate
• Comfortable with long hours in the field in adverse weather and on difficult terrain, including occasional long hours on a boat and/or in the water while using wetsuit
• Help with restoration activities around the Center and nearby project sites
• Assist and lead programming of daily center and community-based activities
• Maintain garden tools and other equipment
• Create social media posts and videos demonstrating conservation activities and climate resiliency
• Be a representative of Audubon when dealing with visitors and program attendees.

Qualifications and Experience

• Interest or experience in community engagement, native plants, habitat restoration, and/or climate resiliency. Interest in birds a plus.
• Basic knowledge of ecology and identification of common local birds, primarily waterbirds and shorebirds
• Interest or experience in environmental education, interpretation, or outreach
• Desire to engage with others, with an emphasis on young people, about conservation and the natural world
• Willingness to spend periods of time outside in varied weather conditions
• Possess the necessary communication and motivational skills to lead small groups
• Experience/ability in teaching or working with diverse audiences
• Strong research and writing skills
• Strong oral communication skills
• Strong work ethic with exceptional organizational skills and an eye for details
• Minimum of one year of relevant job or volunteer experience in outreach, organizing, communication, education, or conservation. Or, a current student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree with a focus on or interest in environmental, climate change, marine or coastal, administrative, and/or land use law, or other relevant topics
• Adaptable and versatile; able to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Microsoft Word

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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