Salt Marsh Steward Crew Leader

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 using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

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 will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary

In partnership with the Town of Stratford, the Salt Marsh Steward Crew Leaders will be responsible for the direct supervision, training, and execution of Audubon Connecticut’s youth employment program(s).

These positions will initially focus on restoration efforts taking place in the Great Meadows Marsh in Stratford, CT. As one of 10 units of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, this approximately 700-acre Globally Important Bird Area is one of the largest mostly un-ditched salt marsh in CT. Since fall 2021, there has been a massive restoration effort underway, which aims to control invasive plant species, improve tidal flow, and create habitat that is beneficial to a host of plants and animals. Crew Leaders will supervise a team of eight local high school students acting as Salt Marsh Stewards. These Stewards will participate in habitat restoration, visitor engagement, and project site monitoring.

These are seasonal, part-time positions (20 hrs/wk) starting March 27th and going through June 24th. Audubon staff will provide one to two weeks of paid training to crew leaders at the beginning of the Salt Marsh Steward Program. At the conclusion of the Stratford program, Audubon will give Crew Leaders who have performed their duties well, the option of transitioning over to supervising the WildLife Guards program in either Bridgeport or West Haven, CT. That program will run from June 26th through August 18th.

Compensation:

$18.00 / hour

Essential Functions

The Salt Marsh Steward Crew Leaders, through training and supervision of Audubon’s youth program(s), will assist conservation scientists with the monitoring and stewardship of critical shoreline habitat. Crew Leader duties include:

• Mentoring, motivating, and inspiring the students working as part of the employment program(s).
• Facilitating team building and helping students work through challenging situations.
• Developing and implementing public outreach programs (e.g., nature walks, seine netting, touch tank,
  scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, tabling).
• Creating a schedule of activities (e.g., outreach programs, bird monitoring, and habitat restoration work) to
  be performed weekly by students.
• Developing lessons and pre/post test for students.
• Tracking program metrics (e.g., number of people engaged, materials distributed, pledges to protect birds
  signed and hours spent monitoring site.)
• Working with students to update and provide content for applicable Audubon CT social media.
• Collecting and entering data into online databases.
• Writing weekly reports detailing management activities at each site.
• Coordinating monitoring efforts with other Audubon CT staff and partners.
• Organizing and leading volunteer events.
• Additional duties may be assigned to support other aspects of the youth employment program(s).

Qualifications and Experience

• Desirable candidates will be available for both youth employment programs.
• Crew Leaders must be responsible, mature, and able to serve as mentors to the students.
• Coursework in active pursuit of a degree in biology, wildlife management, or related field preferred.
• Experience supervising high school aged students preferred.
• Experience and ability to communicate clearly via written, spoken and graphical means along with
  responding to communications in a prompt and timely manner. Crew Leaders should be comfortable
  interacting with students, their families, the public, and project partners.
• Good planning skills and a flexible approach to work desired. In the event of poor weather, Crew Leaders will
  need to keep their teams informed and plan to work with them on a pre-determined rain date or via Zoom
  when fieldwork is not possible.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite software required.
• Weekend work will be required.
• Knowledge of waterbirds & native/invasive plant species found in CT is desirable.
• Knowledge of salt marsh systems is desirable.
• Fluency in Spanish a plus.
• Must be physically fit, able to walk in a variety of coastal terrain and able to lift/carry at least 30lbs.
• Active Basic First Aid/CPR certification preferred. If not, Crew Leaders are required to successfully complete
  an Audubon provided Basic First Aid/CPR certification course during the first week of training.
• Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society.

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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COVID Policy

All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.