Vice President, Washington

Position Summary:

The National Audubon Society seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and strategic candidate to lead and grow our Audubon Washington program. The successful person will lead a talented team to advance overall conservation objectives, strengthen and mobilize our bipartisan network, and deliver durable policy solutions across Washington. The Vice President, Washington leads Audubon’s work and team across the state and ensures impact toward the organization’s strategic plan. They will advance habitat, climate, policy, and community building strategies in the state that directly contributes to Audubon goals and strategic initiatives, while also building and enhancing relationships with independent, partner organizations in neighboring states to support increased conservation impact in the region.

Reporting to the Vice President, Conservation Action, Western Flyways, the Vice President, Washington will be a strong team leader who designs and drives execution on plans to successfully scale and implement Conservation Milestone strategies. They will be expected to collaborate closely with leaders across the Americas to explore coordinated strategic opportunities as well as leaders of Habitat Conservation, Climate Action, Policy, and Community Building, and provide input on related strategies and developing plans. They will work collaboratively with colleagues across conservation to ensure their program’s work contributes to an ambitious and hemispheric approach to conservation.

The Vice President will be responsible for effectively managing their budget, serving as an important fundraising partner with Development, driving public funding opportunities and collaborating on projects and proposals that secure public funds to advance Audubon’s conservation priorities. 

This position will work from the Seward Park Audubon Center in Seattle, WA, with the possibility of being remote if outside of Seattle.

Compensation:

$173,563 - $195,259 / year (Seattle)

Essential Functions

• Develop plans and drive implementation for Audubon’s habitat conservation, climate action, policy, and community priorities, strategies, and tactics in Washington, delivering impact at scale toward Audubon’s Conservation Milestones’ goals.

• Work closely in partnership with peers on the conservation team to provide input into strategies designed to achieve Audubon’s strategic plan goals for conservation and ensure integrated and aligned plans that are scaled to accomplish hemispheric impact (e.g. by seeking opportunities to work with Audubon’s programs and partners in Canada and the Americas)

• Manage team spread across the state, through establishment of work objectives and priorities, reviewing and revising these objectives on an ongoing basis, which focus on delivering on Audubon’s conservation priorities and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the program.

• Deliver strategic and operational excellence through the leadership, management, and mentoring of staff, ensuring the team is focused and supported in the delivery of Audubon’s conservation priorities.

• Provide leadership and oversight to the Seward Park Center and ensure alignment with Audubon’s community building priorities and strategies and contributing to growing a broader and more diverse community of bird lovers.

• Manage the program’s budget, collaborate on establishing annual financial goals for the program, and provide leadership to ensure resources are focused on the most critical, high-leverage, and impactful strategies and projects. Ensure that all Audubon financial standards, operating policies, programmatic commitment, and legal/statutory requirements are met.

• Engage the Washington Advisory Board to inspire their advocacy for programmatic priorities, elevating Audubon’s profile in the state, and providing fundraising support and a culture of philanthropy.

• Provide leadership to support community and campus chapters that contribute meaningful impact toward Audubon’s strategic initiatives.

• Maintains and fosters culture of safety.

• Build and maintain enduring relationships with key leaders in government and non-governmental organizations, communities, and partners within the state. Elevate Audubon’s leadership and profile with external leaders, coalitions, and partners as well as philanthropic, private sector organizations to elevate Audubon’s profile in the state.

• Serve as a natural partner to Audubon’s Development team on fundraising toward Flight Plan goals and support culture of philanthropy across the team and organization. Partner on developing proposals and projects that increase Audubon’s institutional, foundation, and public funding.

• Ensure Audubon Washington’s conservation work is tracked, measured, and reported in accordance with organizational processes.

• Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.

• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 15+ years' progressive, professional experience in organizational leadership, preferably connected to conservation or civic engagement, including experience as an enterprise manager with accountability over programs and budgets. Five plus years in a leadership position. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

• Experience in conservation, environmental policy and advocacy, and/or similar fields; knowledge of how conservation work is advanced in Washington and the Pacific Northwest and knowledge of key conservation leaders, priorities, and partners is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience leading the execution of complex projects through to success, including meeting financial goals, project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners, in organizations of similar or greater size.

• Ability to work well with colleagues within a complex, matrixed organization; oversee an array of projects simultaneously, and lead through influence as much as through formal authority. Skills in collaboration, team building, delegation, and transparent, consultative management.

• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

• Excellent advocacy skills and demonstrated ability and commitment to work across the political spectrum. Track record of building and participating in effective cross-sector partnerships.

• Public presence. Strong communication and story-telling skills and the experience and inclination to be an effective, outgoing spokesperson for Audubon in its communities of interest.

• Fundraising skills. Demonstrated experience raising funds from a variety of sources strongly preferred.  An enthusiasm for fundraising and a ready willingness to be very actively involved in development.

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

• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

• A deep commitment to building a culture of workplace excellence is a must with experience leading through organizational change desired.

• Willingness to occasionally work evenings and weekends as required.

• Ability to travel routinely across the state and nationally, as required.

National Audubon Society Competencies: This role will also be accountable to apply and develop the following competencies.

Building Trust: Take actions that give others confidence in your intentions and see you as a truthful and reliable person who follows through on promises and commitments. 

Coaching: Guide and develop individuals within the organization, nurturing their professional growth and enhancing performance for the future.

Decision Making: Make decisions based on comparative data and input from various sources, incorporating diverse viewpoints and insights for a holistic understanding.

Leading and Facilitating Change: Be effective in guiding, managing, and supporting organizational or systemic transformations, including considering diverse needs and perspectives. 

Strategic Leadership: Demonstrate creative problem-solving skills and articulate strategic vision to help team members and the organization achieve long-term goals. 

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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