Public Information and Education Coordinator
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Immediate Supervisor: Director of Development and Communications
Division/Department: Alaska Education

Purpose of the position

Develop and implement strategically-selected communications, outreach, and education activities to increase public awareness about the natural world, grow and strengthen our conservation constituency, build a stronger public profile and trust for the organization, and support and complement Audubon policy and science programs in Alaska. Adult residents are the primary target for Audubon’s communications, outreach, and education activities in Alaska.

Essential Functions:

• Work with the Staff and Board to develop, coordinate, and present information about Audubon Alaska and its concerns and program to the public;
• Interpret birds and other wildlife and spread Audubon’s “messages” about conservation of Important Bird Areas, WatchList species, and priority landscapes (e.g., Tongass National Forest and the Arctic) through presentations, the news media, website, newsletter and other printed materials, participation in birding festivals, and on-site interpretation;
• Promote and support participation in Alaska eBird and other citizen-science initiatives, such as Christmas Bird Counts and Great Backyard Bird Counts, and maintain and update content on the Alaska eBird website;   
• In cooperation with the Director of Development and Communications, maintain and update Audubon’s website and edit and produce printed communications, including the Audubon Alaska News (semiannual), annual reports, and periodic action alerts; and
• Work with the Director of Development and Communications, Executive Director, and Board to obtain funds to implement and sustain the Public Information and Education program.

Additional Functions:

• Recruit, train, and supervise interns, volunteers, and other personnel, as needed, in cooperation with other Staff Members;
• Sustain Audubon's role as a partner in developing and publishing the annual Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar;
• Assess the education and communication needs of Audubon chapters in Alaska and help respond to their needs and shared goals, as appropriate and resources allow;
• Explore development of a conservation internship program, perhaps in cooperation with partner organizations, focusing on college and possibly high school students;
• Build partnerships that extend Audubon's reach and increase our effectiveness in education and conservation throughout Alaska (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; and
• Represent Audubon as needed among environmental and natural resource education professionals and organizations in Alaska.
• Other tasks as required.

Relationships:

Report to Director of Development and Communications and keep him/her 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 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.

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 villages or wilderness areas, where accommodations and working conditions may be "rustic" or entirely lacking.
• Must possess a valid driver's license

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years experience in outreach and/or communications. An advanced degree is a strong plus. 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.

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