Director, Conservation Need Identification

About Audubon
The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet's health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Position Summary
The Director of Conservation Need Identification will oversee need identification and fund mapping for conservation programs and facilities in support of Audubon's efforts to expand capacity to identify, secure, and manage public funding. The position will be responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive need identification program intended to result in actionable listings of operationalized needs and will oversee an ongoing, enterprise-wide fund mapping process that will match identified needs with available opportunities and prioritizes results based on their potential to contribute to progress toward Flight Plan milestones. The Director will work collaboratively with the growing Public Funding team in order to build a robust and sustainable infrastructure supporting the entire grant management lifecycle.

This is a hybrid position based in Audubon's New York City or Washington, DC offices. We will also consider remote candidates within the United States.

Compensation
Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $115,000 - $129,000 / year = National
• $129,000 - $145,000 / year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY
• $144,000 - $162,000 / year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle

Additional Job Description
Essential Functions

• Lead and manage cross-departmental conservation need identification processes in partnership with Conservation leaders across regions and programs, identifying existing and anticipated project needs and matching them to the most relevant and strategic funding sources to ensure alignment between Audubon's strategic priorities and available public funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with other public funding leaders to develop and maintain long-term regional and national public funding roadmaps that connect conservation priorities and strategic initiatives with current and emerging grant opportunities across the Americas.
• Collaborate with the Director of Conservation Funding Opportunities to ensure that identified project needs are clearly articulated, prioritized, and communicated to inform competitive proposal development and strategic engagement with funders and partners.
• Convene and lead cross-functional working groups to align conservation project scoping with funding readiness, fostering collaboration between conservation staff, grant managers, finance, and development.
• Support the development and implementation of internal systems and tools for tracking project pipeline data, need identification, and alignment with funding calendars and cycles.
• Coordinate with the Director of Conservation Funding Opportunities to ensure internal public funding strategic and capacity alignment.
• Provide guidance and technical support to conservation teams in articulating needs that are scalable, fundable, and aligned with public funding agency priorities, particularly in the context of programs within the Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and related legislation.
• Serve as a key resource in strengthening internal capacity for public funding readiness, including through training, technical assistance, and process improvement in need identification and funding alignment.
• Monitor trends in public funding programs, policy shifts, and conservation science to proactively identify gaps and new opportunities for project development and funding alignment.
• Contribute to strategic decision-making by providing senior leadership with up-to-date analyses on funding readiness, priority conservation gaps, and public funding alignment across the organization.
• Participate in or represent Audubon at key conferences, interagency meetings, and funding coordination initiatives to communicate identified needs and support public funding advocacy efforts.
• Actively participate in relevant professional organizations to build connections and foster development of partnerships across a variety of groups, industries and audiences.
• Assist with other departmental initiatives and projects that strengthen Audubon's public funding strategies and grant coordination practices.
• Support a culture of philanthropy.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Americas including through joint planning and execution of shared priorities.
• Maintain and fosters culture of safety.
• 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. Ability to show some experience with strategic planning, capital improvement planning, and/or capital budgeting are preferred.
• Strong written communication skills with proven ability to develop high-level, compelling deliverables; ability to quickly synthesize complex ideas and align them with project and 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 demonstrate an understanding of principles of strategic planning as it relates to developing long-term funding plans.
• 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 both project management and 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.
• Willingness to obtain continuing education and/or certifications determined to be relevant to the position.
• 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.
• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

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
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Accessibility Statement
The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.