Program Manager, Community Science

Organization Description:

Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service (NPS), collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.  

The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors and educators, all working to connect people to parks in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. Join us. 

Department Description:

The Conservation and Community Science Department (CCS) supports the ecological and climate-adaptive work of the Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and our One Tam partners. Together, we strategically fill gaps in our ecosystem knowledge and coordinate conservation actions at a landscape scale, while creating opportunities to connect people, parks, and partners.

The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) is one of our suite of community science programs and is operated by the Parks Conservancy and the NPS. Staff and 100+ volunteers work together to study the birds of prey migrating through the Marin Headlands each fall. GGRO has two core program areas—raptor banding and Hawkwatch—contributing over 10,000 hours of volunteer service hours to the GGNRA each year.

Position Overview:

This is a non-exempt position of 40 hours/week. This is a term-limited position lasting 9 months from mid-April 2026 to mid-January 2027.

The Program Coordinator supports field operations, staff and volunteer safety, data stewardship, and regulatory compliance across GGRO programs. This role will have a stronger focus on the day-to-day implementation of raptor banding activities, particularly the bird husbandry program. The Program Coordinator works with other staff to support 100+ volunteers contributing to the community science work of the Parks Conservancy. The position requires regular fieldwork in the Marin Headlands and the schedule will include weekend days and some evenings, especially during summer volunteer training and the autumn migration season.

The Program Coordinator works under the guidance of the Associate Director and collaborates closely with National Park Service and Parks Conservancy staff.

This position primarily reports to facilities in the Marin Headlands (personal transportation is required). Work is performed in an office and outdoors. This position is eligible for hybrid telework (i.e., a mix of in-person and telework). However, to meet the essential requirements of this position will need to be on-site multiple days per week.

Reports To: Associate Director, Community Science

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

General Program Operations

• Support to field operations, including:
  • Vehicle maintenance
  • Permit compliance
  • Inventory and procurement of supplies
  • Maintenance and deployment of banding and Hawkwatch equipment

• Support to volunteer management, including:
  • Coordination, training, and supervision of 100+ GGRO volunteers through the NPS Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) program.
  • Ongoing communication, guidance, and feedback to ensure high-quality data collection and a positive volunteer experience consistent with NPS and Parks Conservancy policies.
  • Working with other community science staff to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment to engage local communities in non-institutional ways that demystify science, expand what it means to do science, and spark curiosity
• Support to data stewardship:
  • Helps ensure high quality data collection for all GGRO programs.
• Collaborates with CCS team to prepare annual data summaries and reports for all GGRO programs and supports submissions to relevant permitting agencies.

Bird Care

• Leads and performs bird care and facility management in accordance with Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol and other relevant permits.
• Schedules and supports volunteers to ensure daily bird care and completion of other tasks.

Raptor Banding

• Assists raptor banding using GGRO techniques and ensuring permit compliance
• As needed, assists with extraction of biological samples (feathers, blood, swabs, etc.).
• Assists with handling and management of biological samples.
• Co-leads banding data entry and proofing.
• Assists with the specimen collection including upkeep, record keeping, and permit reporting.

Hawkwatch

• As needed, provides supervision to volunteers conducting counts on Hawk Hill.
• As needed, assists in Hawkwatch data management and quality control.
• Supports outreach efforts on Hawk Hill and represents the Parks Conservancy to the public in a positive and professional manner.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ornithology:

• Required: Prior experience (paid or unpaid) handling birds under a permit. For example, bird banding or wildlife rehabilitation. Raptor experience preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in bird identification using visual and behavioral cues.
• North American raptor expertise valued.
• Experience using binoculars and spotting scopes

Avian Husbandry:

• Understanding of bird husbandry and best practices in captive animal welfare.
• Commitment to regulatory compliance regarding animal welfare (e.g., USDA Animal Welfare Act)

Operational Support:

• Valid Driver’s license and clean driving record and ability to drive 4WD vehicles over rough dirt roads.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, & SharePoint).
• Familiarity with Zoom, Teams, and other virtual online meeting tools.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to identify challenges, develop solutions, and iteratively improve processes as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience ensuring safe, consistent, and high-quality program delivery in dynamic environments.

Leadership & People Skills:

• Strong judgment and empathy, including ability to address conflict and setbacks, and find solutions
• Ability to enthusiastically engage the public in learning about science, parks, and raptors.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of the best practices to promote welcoming and inclusive team dynamics, particularly as it pertains to conducting scientific fieldwork, working in the outdoors, or community science.

Data Stewardship:

• Demonstrated experience with data life cycles including field data collection, data management, quality control, analysis, reporting, and accession.
• Interest in working with volunteers and partners towards collection of actionable science data as part of a community science team on public lands.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience, in a relevant field such as environmental science, ecology, biology, natural resources, conservation, environmental education, or a related discipline.
• Experience working in a team in field-based settings.

Certifications, Licenses, or Requirements:

• Valid Driver’s License

Health and Safety:

It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.

Physical Requirements and Work Environments:

• Work is performed both in both office and outdoor settings
• Work is primarily performed standing or walking
• Fieldwork often requires standing on an open hillside for 6 hours under a range of weather conditions
• Fieldwork may include sitting on a stool for up to 8 hours
• Animal care requires contact with live birds and their aviaries.
• Work requires squatting and kneeling
• Work frequently requires walking and lifting in varied terrain under a range of weather conditions
• Frequently lifts, carries and positions objects weighing up to 50 pounds
• Adequate vision to spot and ID birds of prey, as well to read small fonts – may include corrective lenses
• Must drive 4WD vehicles over rough dirt roads; driver’s license required
• Ability to condense safety guidelines into field trainings and situations
• Some work is performed sitting at a desk and in front of a computer
• Work location is Ft. Cronkhite, Marin County, California, and throughout the Marin Headlands
• Work week will include weekend days, some holidays, and some evenings

Salary/Benefits: The pay rate for this position is $31/hour (Grade 16). Benefits include a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision plans, paid vacation, holidays, personal, and sick days; a 403(b) retirement plan (3% non-elective employer contribution); Employee Assistance Program; employer-matched Commuter Program; employee discounts, and more.

Application Deadline Date: March 31, 2026

• In addition to submitting a resume and cover letter. We are also requesting some supplemental documents.
  Please take the time to fill out this questionnaire.
• Prior experience (paid or unpaid) handling birds under a permit is required.
• To help us learn about your banding experience, submit a banding resume OR download the worksheet using one of the links below, fill it out, and include it with your application.
• Bird Banding Experience Worksheet (Excel)
• Bird Banding Experience Worksheet (Google Sheets)
• If you have a wildlife rehabilitation background, please include a list of bird species, and if available, provide permit numbers related to your work, as an additional page with your cover letter.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances.  We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.