Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubonission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action. By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive. And as part of BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in over 100 in-country organizations all working to protect a network of Important Bird Areas around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level. What defines Audubonnique value is a powerful grassroots network of nearly 500 local chapters, 23 state offices, 41 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 50 states, and 700 staff across the country. Audubon is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

Position Summary

The Vice President, Conservation Strategy and Operations plays a key role in the implementation of the National Audubon Societyonservation strategiesmate, coasts, water and working lands will serve on Audubonenior conservation leadership team. Reporting to the Chief Conservation Officer/Senior Advisor to the CEO, s/he will support state offices and flyway teams by providing direct strategy and operational services, and engaging conservation leadership across the organization to ensure strategies are fully integrated across the network. The VP is an effective collaborator who works across the organization to ensure that short and long-term conservation objectives are well defined at all levels of the organization and milestones are met.

Essential Functions

• Conservation strategy. Build state and flyway conservation plans and budgets, in coordination with state office and flyway leaders, the finance department and the conservation senior leadership team, to advance the conservation priorities of the organization. This includes direct engagement in annual planning and budgeting processes and ongoing support of state and flyway offices.
• Conservation operations. Build relationships across state and flyway offices, with conservation leadership teams and with other divisions of Audubon to ensure the effective and efficient execution of conservation strategies in states and flyways. Also, support the CCO in identifying talent to support strategy implementation.
• State and flyway conservation implementation. Provide direct support to state offices and flyway leadership in executing conservation plans by connecting and involving various Audubon divisions (i.e., science, policy, network, development), connecting state and flyway offices to Audubon resources and to identify other external resources that help accomplish their conservation goals.
• Conservation coordination. Along with the Conservation Strategies Project Manager, organize and lead state and flyway leadership team meetings to share progress and best practices, to connect offices to conservation leadership and other divisions and to ensure collaboration and active communications across flyways.
• External relations and fundraising. Represent Audubon and help raise its profile and visibility to funders, partners, policymakers, and the public; partner with the National Development ream and play an active role in helping to promote fundraising for conservation strategies and priority projects using the One Audubon approach to members and donors.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bacheloregree and 7-10 years of work experience focused on execution and implementation of strategic conservation plans, preferably within the not-for-profit sector, including 3-5 years of senior level responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully shape and support the delivery of complex conservation business plans that detail strategic needs, goals, budget estimates, deadlines, resource requirements and ROI.
• Strong leadership skills, with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong business and management skills; demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate staff, potential partners and others a must.
• Demonstrated success in collaborating across an organization and with a variety of stakeholders; must possess exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Capability of moving multiple tasks toward successful completion and diplomatically handling competing interests.
• Critical communication skills to convey scope, schedule, budget, and any changes to key stakeholders and affected parties.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools and donor management systems; experience with Salesforce desired.
• Ability to demonstrate an interest in and appreciation of the programs, mission, and ethos of the National Audubon Society.
• Experience working in a large, complex organization, or with multiple stakeholders a plus, as well as a background in the environmental/conservation industry.