Community Naturalist/Grassroots Coordinator
Location: Laramie, WY
Immediate Supervisor: Conservation Programs Manager
Division/Department: Wyoming Sagebrush Initiative

Purpose of the Position

Develop and implement strategically-selected communications, outreach, and education activities to increase public awareness about Audubon Wyoming’s Sagebrush Initiative through strengthening our conservation constituency, building a more public profile and trust for the organization. The position will also support and complement Audubon education and science programs in Wyoming. Adult residents are the primary target for Audubon’s communications, outreach, and education activities in Wyoming.

Essential Functions

• Work with the Staff and Board to develop, coordinate, and present information about Audubon Wyoming’s Sagebrush Initiative to the public.
• Develop targeted base of support in WY for sage grouse conservation initiatives, including agency representatives, local elected officials, conservation partners, private landowners, sportsmen, etc. with the aim of influencing local, state and federal wildlife management decisions to protect the sagebrush ecosystem.
• Interpret birds and other wildlife and spread Audubon’s “messages” about conservation of priority landscapes (e.g. sagebrush ecosystem), Important Bird Areas, and WatchList species, through presentations, the news media, website, newsletter and other printed materials, participation in public meetings, and on-site interpretation.
• Promote and support participation in Wyoming eBird and other citizen-science initiatives, such as Christmas Bird Counts and Great Backyard Bird Counts, and maintain and update content on the Wyoming eBird website.  
• In cooperation with the Senior Ecologist and Conservation Programs Manager, edit and produce printed communications, including: annual reports, and periodic action alerts.
• Work with the Conservation Programs Manager, Senior Ecologist and Executive Director to obtain funds to implement and sustain the Community Naturalist/Grassroots Coordinator Position.

Other Functions

• Assess the education and communication needs of Audubon chapters in Wyoming and help respond to their needs and shared goals, as appropriate and resources allow.
• Build partnerships that extend Audubon's reach and increase our effectiveness in education and conservation throughout Wyoming (e.g., with Audubon chapters, school districts, academic institutions, agencies, and other organizations).
• Provide occasional educational programming and other support, if invited by partner organizations, when it strategically advances shared conservation objectives and funding is available.
• Represent Audubon as needed among environmental and natural resource education professionals and organizations in Wyoming.
• Other tasks as required.

Physical Requirements

• Sit, stand, grasp, lift (up to 50 lbs), carry, walk, push, pull for short and extended periods of time. 
• Periodic travel, sometimes to rural towns or wilderness areas, where accommodations and working conditions may be "rustic" or entirely lacking.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Relationships

Report to Conservation Programs Manager and keep informed about key aspects of program development and implementation. Coordinate activities and functions with other Staff Members and work collaboratively to increase the effectiveness of the entire organization. Supervise education/policy interns and volunteers as needed.  Maintain productive working relationship with the Executive Director, other Staff and Board members, Staff Members in the larger Audubon organization, general public, visitors, members, chapters, and colleagues at partner organizations.

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years experience in outreach and/or communications. An advanced degree is a strong plus and may count for 2 years of outreach experience. Regardless of specific field of academic training, must have strong grounding in natural sciences and conservation. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and strong computer skills (e.g., PowerPoint, Excel, Word). Experience with writing grant proposals and other forms of fund-raising is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will be interested in and knowledgeable about birds and their natural history and be comfortable discussing birds in public.

The National Audubon Society's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the Earth's biological diversity.

The National Audubon Society is an equal opportunity employer, promoting a diverse workplace.  It is the policy of the National Audubon Society to employ the individual best qualified for the job regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability (handicap) or marital status.