Program Manager – Hawkwatch, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory

To apply for this position, please use this link:  https://jobapply.page.link/Kdrrr

Organization Description: 

Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service (NPS), collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Land’s End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.    

The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors and educators, all working to connect people to parks in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. Join us.   

Department Description: 

The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) is a program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service and is made up of approximately 200 community volunteers plus a small staff. The GGRO’s mission is to inspire the preservation of California birds of prey, collectively referred to as raptors. Our primary focus is to study and monitor the Pacific Raptor Flyway, particularly at the Marin Headlands, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We are dedicated to the conservation of raptors through both careful data collection and by engaging the public in our research.  

The GGRO is housed under the Parks Conservancy’s Conservation and Community Science (CCS) department. CCS supports the climate adaptive work of the Parks Conservancy, NPS, and agency partners by engaging local communities and regional conservation practitioners to address the information needs of park scientists. We develop and carry out conservation science studies designed to fill critical data gaps, to spark curiosity, and to engage a diverse cross-section of Bay Area residents to understand how to improve the climate resilience of our parks as temperatures and seas rise. We work to demystify the scientific process by building bridges between community members, land managers, and practicing scientists. We work to rectify historic injustices built into the practice of science by expanding our collective understanding of what it means to ‘do science’ and by re-connecting with the natural world. 

Position Overview:  

The GGRO Hawkwatch Program Manager will manage the GGRO’s autumn volunteer raptor counting program in the Marin Headlands plus related research and outreach functions. This includes coordination and management of an 80-person volunteer counting team, plus training and oversight of interns and volunteers conducting outreach at the count site, Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands. The Hawkwatch Manager will coordinate outreach and educational activities for GGRO and create material for the GGRO newsletters and website.  

The Hawkwatch Manager will work in a small-team setting with other staff and volunteer managers. GGRO staff also work closely with an extensive NPS and Parks Conservancy staff. Some evening and weekend work will be required, especially in summer and fall. This is a position that will support more than 120 GGRO highly-trained National Park Service volunteers producing 10,000+ community science hours.  

Reports To: GGRO Director 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

• Manages research on migratory raptors: counting (hawkwatching) and related studies 
• Oversees all Hawkwatch Program equipment, vehicle, field sites, and maintenance 
• Co-Manages GGRO's Museum/Teaching Collection with the GGRO Senior Program Manager, including hundreds of bird skins & artifacts 
• Training and evaluation of volunteers, volunteer leaders, and interns 
• Organization of Hawkwatch data entry, management, analysis, and reporting 
• Manages GGRO outreach including coordinating docents, social media, tabling at bird fairs, enlisting speakers, classroom visits, volunteer recruitment  
• Prepares and presents reports, articles, blogs, and lectures, as well as social media and website material for volunteer and public education forums 
• Coordinates with NPS and Conservancy biologists, rangers and professional colleagues, to accomplish GGRO and broader Park goals 
• With GGRO research team, analyzes data and prepares results for scientific presentations and publications 
• Supervises 80 volunteer hawkwatchers and seasonal interns 

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills; speaks clearly and effectively, is thoughtful, persuasive; writes clearly and informatively; varies writing style to meet needs. 
• Teamwork: Contributes to achieving group goals; supports everyone's efforts to succeed; balances team and individual responsibilities. 
• Judgement: Exhibits sound and accurate judgement; can clearly explain reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process. Ability to be self-critical. 
• Personability: Shows skill and enthusiasm for working with all types of people and personalities. 
• Strategic thinking: develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths and weaknesses; adapts strategy to changing conditions 
• Quality: demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy and thoroughness 

People Skills 

• Ability to work with, and supervise, a wide range of people and personalities with enthusiasm and skill 
• Demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy, thoroughness 
• Effectively manage time with multiple assignments and deadlines to ensure timely completion of projects 
• Understands programs’ strengths and weaknesses 
• Understands volunteers’ strengths and weaknesses, and how to support them in their path to improvement 
• Maintains awareness of changing field conditions, adapts to maintain safety 
• Exhibits sound and accurate judgement 
• Excellent problem-solving skills 
• Understands the power of teamwork, balances team and individual responsibilities 
• Excellent inter-personal communication skills and the ability to work in a team toward common goals  

Technology

• Basic knowledge of MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, & SharePoint) 
• Basic knowledge of Zoom and other virtual online meeting tools 
• Basic knowledge and ability to use social media platforms 

Driving 

• Valid Driver’s license and clean driving record 
• Must drive 4WD vehicles over rough dirt roads 
• Reliable transportation to and from the Marin Headlands, CA 

Raptors/Birds 

• Knowledge of bird biology; competent in research design and methods; familiarity with scientific literature related to birds, migration, and raptors. 
• Experience and passion for ornithological fieldwork. Commitment to conservation biology. Raptor field biology experience preferred. 
• Strong background in, and passion for, birding. North American raptor experience valued. 

Supervisory:  Experience coordinating volunteers and supervising interns. 

Desired Education and/or Experience:  

• BS in Ecology, Wildlife Biology, or related field required; MS or comparable research experience preferred 
• Work experience required: 5+ years, including supervisory experience 
• Experience working with volunteers and/or field crews  
• Knowledge of binoculars and spotting scopes 
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office, especially including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint 
• Database management and statistical package experience. Stats analysis and GIS preferred. 
• Conservation biology experience; familiarity with raptor biology & research field preferred 

Physical Requirements and Work Environments:  

• Work is performed both in both office and outdoor settings 
• Work is primarily performed standing or walking 
• Fieldwork often requires standing on an open hillside for 6 hours under a range of weather conditions 
• Fieldwork may include sitting on a stool for up to 8 hours 
• Work requires squatting and kneeling 
• Work frequently requires walking and lifting in varied terrain under a range of weather conditions 
• Frequently lifts, carries and positions objects weighing up to 50 pounds 
• Adequate vision to spot and ID birds of prey, as well to read small fonts – may include corrective lenses 
• Must drive 4WD vehicles over rough dirt roads; driver’s license required  
• Ability to condense safety guidelines into field trainings and situations 
• Some work is performed sitting at a desk and in front of a computer 
• Work location is Ft. Cronkhite, Marin County, California, and throughout the Marin Headlands 
• Work week will include working weekend days, some holidays, and some evenings 

Salary/Pay Grade:  $72,500 annual salary (Grade 14).
Benefits include: 

• Medical, dental, and vision plans 
• Paid vacation and personal days, paid holidays, and sick days 
• 403(b) retirement plan 
• Employer-match Commuter Program 
• Employee Assistance Program, employee discounts and more 
• Work in a beautiful location in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. 

Health and Safety: 

It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules. 

Based on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks Conservancy requires all employees to be vaccinated and to provide proof of such vaccination as a condition of employment. 

Application Deadline Date: For priority consideration, please apply by April 18, 2024; after that date, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  To apply, please use this link:  https://jobapply.page.link/Kdrrr

Anticipated Start Date: June 17, 2024, but can be earlier if the selected candidate is available.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. 

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances.  We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.