Senior Program Manager, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory

Organization Description:

Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, 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.  

Branch/Unit Description:

The Conservation & Community Science team works collaboratively with partners across park boundaries to design and carry out volunteer-supported conservation science studies, landscape-scale conservation management, and biological monitoring to understand change over time in park ecosystems. We engage our local communities and regional conservation practitioners in efforts that address the information needs of park scientists. We develop and carry out conservation science studies designed to fill critical data gaps, spark curiosity, and engage a diverse cross-section of Bay Area residents to understand how to improve the climate resilience of our parks as temperatures and seas rise. We work to demystify the scientific process by building bridges between community members, land managers and practicing scientists. We work to rectify historic injustices built into the practice of science by expanding our collective understanding of what it means to “do science’ and by re-connecting with non-institutional ways of understanding our relationship to the natural world.

A cornerstone of the CCS team is the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory program (GGRO). The mission of GGRO is to inspire the preservation of California birds of prey. Run as a shared community science program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service, GGRO is powered by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers. Our primary focus is to study and monitor the Pacific Raptor Flyway, particularly at the Marin Headlands, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We are dedicated to the conservation of raptors through both careful data collection and by engaging the public in our research

Position Overview:

This is a regular full-time position of 40 hours/week with benefits. The GGRO Senior Program Manager will provide leadership and ensure operational excellence to the GGRO program, in partnership with the Community Science Associate Director and the Hawkwatch Program Manager. A major focus of the role includes management of the GGRO’s autumn volunteer raptor count and banding program in the Marin Headlands plus related research functions. This includes varied tasks requiring both office and field time, and coordination and management of an 150+ person volunteer team. The position entails oversight of the GGRO’s community science raptor banding program, managing the banding program’s bird facility, training volunteers, project planning and proposal development for permitting process, and coordinating other aspects of GGRO research, including collecting samples for use in laboratory studies. This is a position that will support more than 150 highly trained National Park Service volunteers producing 10,000+ community science hours annually.    

The senior manager will also contribute to outreach and educational activities for GGRO. This includes creating content for newsletters and publications, as well as website and social media. This role also conducts outreach through coordinating docents, tabling at events, enlisting speakers, and managing volunteer recruitment.

This position is located at Fort Cronkhite, Marin Headlands, primarily accessible by car and bike. There is no public transportation within the Marin Headlands. Some evening and weekend work will be required, especially in summer and fall.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Research, Data, and Permit Compliance

• Manages research on migratory raptors: banding, and other related studies
• Oversees all banding equipment, vehicles, field sites, and maintenance thereof
• Oversees and supervises all aspects of captive bird facility including cleaning, feeding, treatments, and workdays
• Organizes and prepares data entry, management, analysis, quality control, and reporting to permitters and agencies
• Develops and plans projects and proposals, secures all appropriate permits, maintains quality control measures, knows all activities that are occurring in the field, and takes appropriate action to respond to any wildlife injuries or mortalities resulting from permitted activities
• Prepares and presents reports, articles and lectures for volunteer and public education forums
• With GGRO research team, analyzes and prepares results for scientific presentations and publications
• Co-Manages Museum/Teaching Collection, including hundreds of bird skins & artifacts

Volunteer and Staff Management and Training 

• Supervises 80+ volunteer banders, staff coordinators and seasonal interns
• Trains and evaluates apprentices, authorized persons and field assistants, including volunteers, volunteer leaders, and interns/early career staff operating under permits
• Hires and manages interns/early career staff
• Develops and implements GGRO protocols, data management and safety training activities and materials
• Ensures quality control for data submitted by volunteers and seasonal staff
• Demonstrates commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and fosters and a sense of belonging

Coordination and Collaboration 

• Coordinates and collaborates with NPS and Parks Conservancy biologists, rangers and professional colleagues to meet research objectives and ensure field safety
• Coordinates and collaborates with interdisciplinary staff across the Parks Conservancy and NPS towards education, outreach fundraising, etc
• Collaborates with community partners, universities, and/or agencies for producing scientific papers, articles, presentations, and reports

Supervision:  This position may supervise or assign daily tasks to program managers, early career staff, seasonal staff, interns, and a highly skilled group of volunteers.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Permits: Possesses the experience/handling hours, knowledge, skills and abilities to obtain raptor banding permits or could obtain raptor banding permits with appropriate state and federal agencies.
• Scientific Research: Knowledge of bird biology; competent in research design and methods; familiarity with scientific literature related to birds, migration, and raptors.
• Ornithology: Experience and passion for ornithological fieldwork. Commitment to conservation biology. Bird-banding, species and sub-species field identification, and handling experience. Raptor experience required. Familiarity with bow nets, mist nets, dho-gazza nets required. Experience with specimen sampling collection that may include feathers, swabs, blood, applying various types of transmitters, and other raptor sampling techniques is a plus.
• Avian Husbandry: Familiarity with bird husbandry is preferred. Familiarity with compliance with the USDA Animal Welfare Act and Inter-agency Research Animal Committee principles is a plus.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills; communicates clarity and expectations, is thoughtful, persuasive; writes clearly and informatively; varies writing style to meet needs.
• Teamwork and DEI: Contributes to achieving group and department goals, the organization’s mission and values, and supports everyone’s efforts to succeed; balances team and individual responsibilities. Ability to build effective working relationships with a variety of people, inclusive of different backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, and viewpoints. Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of DEI through past job experience, personal activism, or any other pertinent experience.
• Judgement: Exhibits sound and accurate judgement; can clearly explain reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process.
• Personability: Shows skill, respect, confidence, and enthusiasm for working with a variety of people and personalities while promoting inclusion and participation among diverse audiences. Fosters a positive and collaborative work culture.
• Strategic thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands the organization’s and the program’s strengths and areas of growth; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Work Ethic and Planning: Effectively manage time with multiple assignments and deadlines to ensure timely completion of projects while remaining flexible.
• Quality control and assurance: Demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
• Supervisory and Training: Experience coordinating and training volunteers and supervising staff and seasonal/early career level staff. Ability to work with, and supervise, a wide range of people and personalities with enthusiasm and skill. Understands staff and volunteers’ strengths and growth areas, and how to support them in their path to improvement.
• Safety: Complies with NPS and organizational safety policies. Prepares Job Hazard Analysis, maintains awareness of changing field conditions and are able to adapt.
• Computer software: Competent in the use of Microsoft Office, including MS Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint & SharePoint. Basic knowledge of Zoom and other virtual online meeting tools
• Database: Database management and statistical package experience. Statistical analysis and GIS preferred.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Wildlife Biology, or related field required; Master’s degree or comparable research experience preferred
• Work experience required: 5+ years, including some supervisor/ management experience
• Experience working with various training levels of volunteers and/or field crews
• Conservation biology experience; expertise with raptor biology & research field preferred
• Ability to secure at time of hire banding program permits from various permitting agencies (CDFW, USGS, NPS, etc)

Certifications, Licenses, or Requirements:

• Valid Driver’s License
• Avian banding resume/curriculum vitae with demonstrated training applicable for obtaining relevant state and federal bird banding permits

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 an office and outdoor settings

• Work is primarily performed standing or walking

• Fieldwork will include sitting on a stool for up to 8 hours

• 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 identify raptors required

• Must drive 4WD vehicles over rough dirt roads; driver’s license required

Salary/Pay Grade/Benefits: The salary for this position is $80,000 per year (Grade 16). Benefits include a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision plans, up to 3 weeks of paid vacation plus 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:  January 17, 2025; however, applications will be reviewed as they come in, so please apply early. As part of your application, please include a general resume, bird banding specific resume and cover letter.

Anticipated Start Date: Spring 2025

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.