Assistant Sanctuary Manager
: Job Details :

Overview:

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds and our planet are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community. Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary:

Audubon's Seabird Institute manages seven island research stations off the coast of Maine that are part of Audubons Maine Coastal Islands Sanctuaries. These include restoration sites for 23 species of seabirds and waterbirds, including Atlantic Puffins, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, Arctic, Common, Least, and Roseate Terns, Laughing Gulls, Common Eiders, Leachs Storm-Petrels, Manx Shearwaters, and wading birds. The sites are all Maine Important Bird Areas. Each island research station is staffed seasonally with an Island Supervisor and up to five Research Assistants, interns, and volunteers, based on island size, seabird colony composition and workload. Work conducted on the islands includes, but is not limited to: monitoring seabird productivity and growth, conducting seabird diet studies, banding and resighting birds, conducting censuses, removing invasive vegetation, and conducting predator management.

The Assistant Sanctuary Manager will aid the Sanctuary Management Team with facilitation of the field program at seven island research stations. Duties include, but are not limited to, preparation of field sites and equipment prior to the start of the field season; setting up seasonal camps; supporting logistics throughout the field season by purchasing and transporting supplies and equipment; training field crews; participating in seabird censuses and monitoring; conducting predator management; removing marine debris from field sites; conducting vegetation control and habitat management; maintaining island facilities; supporting annual closing of the field camps; and cleaning and maintaining boats and other field equipment. Extended visits to remote field camps will be a routine part of the position.

Primitive camping (sleeping in tents) and working on offshore islands are required, although work will include both mainland duties and island duties. The work week may stretch across seven days, as weather dictates. Weekend work may be required and days can be long. Research camp facilities include composting toilets, limited solar electricity and no running water. When not at a field station, for the convenience of the Program, shared mainland housing is provided. Food is provided. Position runs from approximately April 1 through September 30, 2024, exact dates negotiable.

Compensation:

$20.00 / hour

Essential Functions:

• Assist Sanctuary Management Team with implementation of multiple concurrent seabird studies at seven island field stations, which may include, but are not limited to: bird trapping, banding and resighting; observations from blinds; conducting seabird diet studies; conducting nest censuses; monitoring productivity and growth; mist-netting; computer data entry; blood or specimen collection; vegetation management; predator monitoring and control;
• Understand the goals and objectives of each island research and management program, and research databases, in order to provide guidance to Island Supervisors and Research Assistants on site or via cell phone or radio communication.
• Take part in the setup (including pre-season visits to specific islands) and breakdown of field camps and maintenance of field equipment;
• Procure groceries and supplies, pack supplies for islands, and transport people and supplies to islands;
• Assist with the orientation program for new staff and provide essential training to supervisors, research assistants and volunteers;
• Train Island Supervisors and Research Assistants in essential field and data management skills.
• Participate in bird banding and trapping;
• When at research sites, review procedures and data collection to ensure proper implementation of work plans.
• Protect the seabird colonies from human disturbance;
• Conduct predator management or control as necessary;
• Operate power and row boats to transport personnel and supplies to offshore islands. Use of personal flotation devices is mandatory. Move boats from site to site on boat trailers.
• Responsible for proper care of NAS-issued equipment, including but not limited to: spotting scopes, cameras, GPS, cell phones, radios, and other research equipment;
• Assist with preparation for the annual Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group meeting;
• Assist with checking in island equipment at the end of the season and ensuring everything is stored properly for winter.
• Coordinate and cooperate with personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and other project cooperators.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in biology, conservation biology, wildlife management, or a related field with several years of experience in similar field research programs;
• Ability to work closely with program staff, cooperators, and volunteers; strong communication skills;
• Experience supervising field crews; preference for experience managing a seabird field program
• Experience with rowing and safely operating motorboats 12-23 ft. in length, and driving a vehicle with boat trailer in tow
• Valid state drivers license;
• Field experience with seabirds and seabird management in remote environments;
• Bird banding and trapping experience;
• Wilderness or primitive camping experience;
• Dedication to wildlife conservation, a sense of humor, and a passion for seabirds and isolated islands;
• Experience with predator control (including avian and mammalian control programs); hunting experience desirable;
• Experience with: spotting scopes, bird banding and trapping equipment (mist nets, etc.), outboard engine care/basic maintenance, inflatable boat repair, boat safety equipment, camping equipment (e.g. tents, composting toilets, etc), solar power systems, basic hand tools (e.g. hammer, drill driver, etc), PC operation (MS Word, Excel and Access programs), communication equipment (cell phones, VHF radios);
• Ability to sit in observation blinds in the seabird colonies for 3-hour periods
• Ability to land on offshore islands on irregular terrain; lift and carry loads up to 50 lbs., hauling water jugs and field equipment; comfortable hiking on irregular terrain and over slippery rocks.

EEO Statement:

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

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