Director, Conservation Funding Opportunities

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Director, Conservation Funding Opportunities serves as implementation lead for Audubon’s efforts to expand sources of conservation funding and increase the opportunity size of grant awards in order to support transformative efforts to support the habitat conservation, climate action and community building necessary to allow birds to thrive across the entire hemisphere.  

The Director will work with Conservation leaders to identify opportunities for conservation funding that align with Audubon’s strategic priorities. Audubon aspires to more than double public funding revenue for Audubon-delivered conservation projects over the next five years as part of its strategic plan, the Director will be a critical role in coordinating efforts to identify, prioritize and communicate relevant opportunities through creation and dissemination of authoritative research, management of an organization-wide community grant writing practice and oversight for national, regional and other large opportunity size grants.

The Director should have strong familiarity with the funding opportunities that comprise the current unprecedented level of available federal funding, with specific focus on those grant programs included in the Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Omnibus).

The Director should be a skilled project manager accustomed to collaborating across different organizational functions, countries, and partners – both internal to Audubon and externally, and have the financial savvy to work with colleagues and partners to build detailed budgets and incorporate match funding requirements.

The position will report to the Senior Director of Conservation Funding and Partnerships, and will be expected to collaborate closely with Regional, State and Program Conservation Leaders as well as members of the Institutional Giving, Development Research, and Finance teams.

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $112,000-$126,000/year = National

• $126,000-$142,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY

• $140,000-$157,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

• Develop and drive a comprehensive strategy with annual goals for opportunity identification that is aligned with Audubon’s strategy for public funding and partnerships and is a key component of funding implementation of Flight Plan, the organization’s strategic plan.

• Identify, and research significant public funding opportunities and how they could potentially meet Audubon’s unmet needs and communicate this research to internal stakeholders, including conservation leaders.

• Serve as project manager for significant grant pursuits, incorporating resources in alignment with a new model for conservation grant pursuit teams.

• Oversee the creation and management of a Grant Writing Community of Practice which will serve to build unity across the organization based on common objectives and shared knowledge.

• Serve as a resource as systemic changes are made to ensure that the organizations grant management infrastructure can effectively scale to support ambitious goals for increased grant funding.

• Track new, innovative and emerging public funding opportunities at the federal and state level.

• Leverage participation in grant management professional organizations in order to continue to gain skills while building relationships with potential partner organizations.

• Coordinate the development of project budgets for significant opportunity proposals.

• Assists with other departmental projects and related work.

• Partner with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Ten plus years of progressive experience supporting entities in efforts to identify, acquire and manage public funding. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

• Strong written communication skills with proven ability to develop high-level, compelling proposals; ability to quickly synthesize complex ideas and align them with funder priorities.

• Experience leading teams for the creation and submission of applications for public funding, with preference for experience within the conservation or resilience space.

• Entrepreneurial self-starter with strong project management and organizational skills.

• Keen strategist who can effectively identify opportunities to engage with new and existing funders and develop long term relationships with funder staff.

• Team player with natural affinity for building close, effective working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders.

• Understanding of federal agency funding priorities including resilience, equity and regionalism.

• Must have a good understanding of budgets and financials related to grant identification and pursuit.

• Willingness to travel as needed to meet with Audubon conservation leaders, and funders and participate in/present at conferences and events that will raise the profile of Audubon with funders and potential partners, up to 20 percent.

• Experience and knowledge of the environmental landscape is a plus, and must have an interest in conservation and Audubon.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including ability to create impactful tables, charts and graphics necessary to support high-quality grant applications.

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Possession of a valid drivers license.

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.

Accessibility Statement

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