Facility

Portland Audubon

Closing Date

Description

About Portland Audubon

Portland Audubon has been a leading voice in conservation for over a century. Through conservation advocacy, environmental education, and wildlife rehabilitation, we promote the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife and their habitats. We are located in a 150-acre wildlife sanctuary in Forest Park, just minutes from downtown Portland.

Portland Audubon is committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment, reflecting the diversity of our community in its board, staff, volunteers, and members; ensuring its internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance its diversity goals; and empowering people to make positive changes in their community and environment. Portland Audubon’s Ambassador Animal Coordinator is expected to serve diverse audiences and help advance Portland Audubon’s diversity strategies. More background on our diversity efforts can be found at audubonportland.org/about.

Position Summary
Portland Audubon’s Ambassador Animal Coordinator coordinates a dedicated volunteer pool and works with staff from multiple departments to deliver the highest possible quality of care and training for Audubon’s resident animals as well as impactful and mission-aligned programs. This role requires excellent team building, organizational, and communication skills, as well as an enthusiasm for cultivating expertise in our volunteer pool.
The Ambassador Animal Coordinator schedules and delivers on and off-site ambassador animal programs and community events, requiring strong public speaking skills. A passion for wildlife conservation, as well as a sincere engagement and understanding of marginalized communities are essential elements of this job.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Coordinates a team of approximately 20-30 Ambassador Animal Volunteers, including training, scheduling, and supervision
Supervise volunteers to provide daily care and enrichment to 5-9 animals (current collection includes four birds and one turtle)
Develops & implements training plans based in operant conditioning for resident animals for use in educational presentations
Maintains equity lens and applies to programmatic work and day-to-day interactions with staff, volunteers, and the public
Develops & documents standardized protocols & procedures for the ambassador animal program
Coordinates the schedule and delivery of ambassador animal programs & community events
Coordinates the development of ambassador animal programs & outreach materials with multiple departments, as well as administering the “Adopt a Wild Thing” Sponsorship Program
Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions
Must have a current driver’s license and access to a vehicle
Flexible schedule is a must, with weekend events and occasional work after-hours. Travel is primarily local, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.
Engage in regular communication in-person as well as through electronic means.
Routinely use computers, laptops, phones, and A/V equipment like projectors.
Frequently traverse multiple office sites on main campus.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Ability to work in a multi-functional setting with a variety of open and closed office spaces.

Education and Pre-requisites

Preferred Skills and Experience:

Minimum 3 years of animal training experience
Minimum of 1 year of experience training & caring for birds (ideally raptors)
Knowledge of operant conditioning techniques & experience designing and implementing individual training plans
Basic animal husbandry skills including handling, diet preparation, enclosure set-up & cleaning, making & maintaining equipment (jesses), beak/talon coping
Experience designing and delivering formal & informal conservation-focused programs, with and without live animals
Demonstrated commitment to DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) and substantial cultural competency skills
Experience & enthusiasm for training and supervising volunteers
Computer skills, including ability to learn/utilize an animal record database system
IAATE/CBPT Avian training certification (or obtained within 12 months of hire)

Compensation and benefits

Salary range: $18-20/hour, commensurate with experience

Benefits Include:
– Medical insurance: 100% payment of premiums for medical and dental insurance, for employees only
– Competitive leave benefits including vacation, sick, and family leave
– 401(k) 3% match plus annual fixed amount contribution
– Ability to attend free or subsidized courses at Portland Audubon
– Substantial discount at our Nature Store, including optics
– Opportunity to work in one of the most beautiful forests in Oregon

Application instructions

Application

Portland Audubon does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, national origin, political affiliation or mental or physical handicap. Candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Portland Audubon is committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment, reflecting the diversity of our community in its board, staff, volunteers, and members; ensuring its internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance its diversity goals; and empowering people to make positive changes in their community and environment. All Portland Audubon employees are expected to serve diverse audiences and help advance our diversity strategies. More background on our diversity efforts can be found at http://audubonportland.org/about.

More information can be found at http://audubonportland.org.

How to Apply

Please email your cover letter, resume, and completed employment application* to jobs@audubonportland.org with subject: “Ambassador Animal Coordinator”.
*Employment application available at www.audubonportland.org/about/jobs

EMAIL SUBMISSIONS PREFERRED.

To submit via US Postal Service:
Keia Booker, Senior HR and Equity Manager
Attn: Ambassador Animal Coordinator
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97210

Application Deadline: on or before Sunday November 10th at midnight.

Diversity Statement:
Portland Audubon believes that inspiring all people to love and protect nature is best achieved when we embrace diversity as a value and practice. In the same way an ecosystem needs many types of plants and wildlife, an organization thrives when it includes a diversity of people and perspectives. We recognize that inequities are widespread and create gaps between our present reality and our aspirations. Audubon is committed to:

Reflecting the diversity of the community in our board, staff, volunteers, and members.
Ensuring our internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance our diversity goals.
Empowering people to make positive changes in their community and environment.

Portland Audubon has completed two years of a five-year strategic plan. A core priority moving forward is to infuse equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) into all of the goals and work of the organization. This position will play an important role in achieving the organization’s EID goals through engagement with staff, board members, donors, volunteers and the public. We recognize that in order to serve diverse communities we must also have diversity represented in our staff. Applicants of color, immigrants, and other underserved persons are encouraged to apply.

Portland Audubon is committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment, reflecting the diversity of our community in its board, staff, volunteers, and members; ensuring its internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance its diversity goals; and empowering staff to make positive changes in their environment and in Portland Audubon’s culture.

Portland Audubon does not discriminate on the basis of race; creed; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; age; religion; marital status; national origin or ancestry; political affiliation; citizenship; lawful immigration status; or mental, physical or medical disability; Veteran status; or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.