Senior Associate, Habitat and Facilities

Position Summary

The Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary is a 26,000-acre refuge owned by the National Audubon Society in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Established in 1924, it’s Audubon’s oldest and largest sanctuary. The property includes intermediate marsh, ponds, and sand beach. The Rainey Sanctuary provides habitat for over 200 species of birds. Deer, alligators, coyotes, bobcats, otters, muskrats, and nutria also call Rainey home. There are no roads to the refuge, and there is no public access. Boats provide access to the refuge. Reporting to the Sanctuary Manager, this position will support sanctuary leadership with the daily operations. This includes land and habitat management and improvements, maintenance of structures and equipment, and monitoring of boat traffic and waterways. This role will coordinate and execute all day-to-day onsite field operations and management with maintenance of equipment, grounds, and buildings. The Senior Associate will use their ability to work independently and think critically and engage with the community over conservation activities.

This position is full-time, in-person at Audubon’s Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary, in Vermilion Parish, LA. Core hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm weekdays, with every other weekend work required.

Compensation:

$44,814 – $50,414 / year

Essential Functions

• Operate, maintain, and manage research and maintenance equipment and prepare equipment for remote work e.g., loading and unloading from boats etc.
• Monitor authorized and unauthorized access to and resource harvest at the sanctuary, patrol waterways and private canals by boat.
• Plan and assist Sanctuary Manager with habitat maintenance and restoration activities e.g., prescribed marsh-burns, preparing of permits for restoration work, etc.
• Remove invasive plants and animals including feral hogs, coyotes, and nuisance animals in accordance with Sanctuary policy.
• Maintain proper operation of water control structures i.e., keeping them clear of debris and vegetative growth, maintain property signage, prepare for storm/hurricane impact and protect, clean-up, repair following a storm/hurricane event.
• Work with Audubon conservation staff on the development and implementation of larger long-term habitat management/conservation plans for Rainey Sanctuary. Monitor and evaluate sanctuary habitat and habitat improvements.
• Manage volunteers, seasonals, and interested-party partnerships as necessary.
• Interact and engage with the public and community groups to educate and provide information about Rainey Sanctuary, its conservation and restoration programming, and be a positive ambassador of Audubon.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with National Audubon staff in the Delta region to ensure adherence to policies and procedures.
• Maintains and fosters culture of safety.
• Other job-related duties, including manual labor tasks, as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or related field is required. A minimum of 3+ years of experience with grounds and facilities maintenance; experience with land management and engagement/education is strongly preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Ability to safely tow, launch, operate and secure a boat with confidence. Passage of Louisiana Boater Safety Course and ability to safely operate a variety of small to midsize boats in shallow waterways.
• Ability to maintain outboard motors, operate and maintain hand and gasoline operated tools.
• Experience in basic trades including plumbing, carpentry and electrical.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, working conditions and terrains with or without accommodation. Ability to safely traverse marsh, wet or unstable environments with or without accommodation.
• Willingness to work weekends, evenings, and overnight stays as needed.
• Ability to transport up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.
• Ability to climb stairs and work from ladders with or without accommodation.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have access to personal land transportation (boats are provided).
• Basic knowledge of partnership management, education and outreach, habitat management and bird and plant identification a plus.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

National Audubon Society Competencies: This role will also be accountable to apply and develop the following competencies.

Fostering Relationships: Build trust, mutual respect, and understanding through regular and genuine interactions while promoting a positive and inclusive environment. 

Analytical Thinking: Recognize and value diverse perspectives and experiences in data analysis to foster a more comprehensive and equitable approach to problem-solving. 

Creativity and Innovation: Leverage creativity and imagination to generate new insights and solutions while embracing diverse ideas and approaches that foster innovation. 

Facilitating Change: Work with others to explore innovative approaches to problem-solving while promoting inclusivity, equity, accessibility, and belonging in the change process. 

Team Leadership: Communicate vision and engage others or the team to solve problems while valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity.