Northeast Florida Policy Associate
Location: Northeast Florida
Immediate Supervisor:
Division/Department: Deputy Director / Policy Director

Purpose of the Position

The position implements our regional program in Audubon’s expanding Northeast Florida work.  The Northeast Florida Policy Associate is part of a team of policy and science staff implementing Audubon’s regional conservation plan.  The position involves program level responsibility for identifying and responding to policy and funding decisions by federal, state and local governments and coordinating strategies and actions to produce successful outcomes.  This position reports to the director of policy and coordinates closely with the policy team, the science team and development and communications staff as well as Audubon chapters in the Northeast region and key government, business and non-government allies. 

Essential Functions

1. Function as the primary policy staff person for Audubon of Florida’s Northeast regional program, predominantly in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties.
2. Work to bring science to land use decisions, watershed decisions and habitat protection decisions at the regional and local levels in Northeast Florida, with a particular eye to the impacts of these decisions on bird populations.  
3. Work to increase volunteers and constituencies for conservation by enlisting and training local Audubon chapter leaders, grassroots and online activists, and community leaders in the Northeast region. 
4. Use habitat recommendations to influence agency decisions with the goal of:
   • Designating specific conservation lands in local land use plans,
   • Setting watershed cleanup and water resource protection targets, and
   • Supporting specific habitat protection, restoration and management projects.
5. Build relationships with Northeast regional elected and agency decision-makers and communicate to those decision-makers Audubon’s policy priorities: wildlife conservation, land acquisition and management, water quality and quantity, growth and transportation management, and climate change.
6. Build and maintain relationships with conservation allies in the region and participate in meetings, workshops and conferences with those allies.
7. Help produce Northeast regional communications documents including fact sheets, position statements, articles, newsletters and press releases.
8. Take specific measurable responsibility for working with the Audubon development team to cultivate donors for Northeast Florida programs.

Additional Functions

As directed by the Executive Director and Policy Director

Relationships

Internal: AOF and NAS staff

External: Policy and decision makers and their staffs, chapter leaders, donors and the press

Computer, telephone, automobile, spotting scope/binoculars

Qualifications: (e.g., education, training, experience, licenses and skills)

College degree and minimum of three years professional experience in fields of advocacy, wildlife conservation, or public service.  An advanced degree in science or legal fields may substitute for experience.  Strong planning, external communications skills, and government relations experience. Passion for wildlife and wildlife conservation mandatory; bird identification skills a plus. Ability to obtain a Florida Driver’s License.

Physical Requirements: (e.g., lifting, reaching, climb, push/pull, etc.)

Able to travel and attend external functions occurring on weekends and evenings.

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.