Manager, Conservation Ranching Program

Job Description:

Position Summary:

The Conservation Ranching Program Manager works with ranchers, agencies, and conservation partners to coordinate the expansion and implementation of Audubon’s Conservation Ranching (ACR) program. They will be responsible for engaging, cultivating, and enrolling ranchers into the ACR program, developing Habitat Management Plans (HMPs), and assisting them with implementing bird-friendly land management practices. The Program Manager will coordinate ecological monitoring on ranches, connect participating ranchers to technical assistance workshops and programs, facilitate ranch certification, and assist in connecting certified ranches to consumer markets that use the Audubon Certified Bird Friendly seal or seek to source from producers that meet the attributes represented in the ACR certification.

The ACR program is a market-oriented approach to grassland bird conservation that works with ranchers in 15 states to incentive bird-friendly management through a certification program aimed at consumer markets. Bird-friendly management on millions of acres of grassland and rangeland is expected to mitigate precipitous declines in grassland bird populations, with significant co-benefits related to carbon sequestration and climate resilience.

This position will report to the Senior Manager, Audubon Conservation Ranching Partnerships.

Compensation:

$54,000 - $67,000 / year

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

• Build partnerships with NRCS, USFWS, state agencies, conservation professionals, organizations, and land managers to grow awareness and interest in ACR.

• Recruit ranches into ACR by identifying potential participants, building relationships, and assisting interested ranchers with program entry.

• Establish Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) that outline management objectives and planned actions to benefit priority grassland bird species on all enrolled program ranches.

• Work with partners to provide technical assistance workshops and consultation services to participating ranchers on regenerative grazing, holistic management, and conservation grazing approaches.

• Provide timely access to financial assistance programs for enrolled ranches through Audubon, local, state, and federal financial assistance opportunities to implement habitat enhancement plans and projects on certified ranches.

• Manage project budgets, reporting requirements, and third-party contracts, following Audubon’s internal grant tracking, contracting, and reporting procedures.

• Work with the ACR Partnerships Senior Manager to maintain accurate and updated program protocols.

• Conduct or coordinate bird monitoring, soil health monitoring, and other ecological monitoring efforts on ACR ranches.

• Work with ACR communications and marketing staff to convey notable stories on ACR ranches, including management practices, project implementation, bird monitoring results, bird species biology, ecological outcomes, soil health improvements, market connections, and other items of interest for ACR newsletters, reports, and media/social media.

• Build and strengthen relationships with …