Managing Director, Policy

About the National Audubon Society 

The National Audubon Society (“Audubon”) is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. Audubon uses the levers of science, policy, education, and on-the-ground conservation to work throughout Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever‐growing force for conservation.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of the environment, and they are telling us that birds—and the planet—are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, the organization is working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations, and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. It does this by implementing on‐the‐ground conservation, influencing public and corporate policy, convening diverse coalitions of partners, and building a community.

Since launching in 1905, the organization has played a critical role in some of the most significant victories for the environment and birds, including the establishment of the first National Wildlife Refuges, the banning of DDT in 1972, the establishment of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and landmark legislation like the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts as well as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

With an annual budget of more than $190 million, Audubon has 800+ staff working across 10 countries including in 16 state and regional offices in the United States, 32 conservation action centers and 23 wildlife sanctuaries, 160+ college campus chapters, 450+ local chapters, and 1.8 million members.

What’s Next: Flight Plan

Audubon is responding to the greatest challenges facing birds, including those that threaten people and the planet too. The organization remains focused on birds because we know their collective health reflects the health of our planet – what is good for birds is good for the Earth.

For more than a century, Audubon has adapted and evolved to meet the conservation opportunities of new eras. Recently, the organization launched its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, “Flight Plan”, which represents another new era; building on Audubon’s strengths and lessons from the past, and again responding to the question: “How can Audubon best meet this urgent moment for birds and the planet?” The plan identifies Audubon’s “Guiding Star” as a future where birds thrive across the Americas.

In this next chapter, Audubon is elevating three strategic drivers—forces that impact the organization’s strategy—throughout all aspects of Flight Plan.

• A HEMISPHERIC APPROACH TO BIRD CONSERVATION directs Audubon’s work to the places where birds need us the most. It recognizes that the majority of bird species in the Americas migrate annually between Canada, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Audubon’s programs will be like the birds—unencumbered by political boundaries and seamlessly integrated across the Western Hemisphere.
• CLIMATE CHANGE poses fundamental challenges to traditional conservation approaches. The impacts of climate change directly threaten two-thirds of bird species and exacerbate other key threats. Audubon will consider how climate change will continue to impact everything they do—business as usual will not suffice.
• EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING (EDIB) is fundamental to Audubon’s organizational culture and how they partner. Audubon will build a more equitable future, where engaging across differences is embraced and celebrated. Audubon can be a leader in this space, forging a community that looks like the Americas—with the collective strength to change things for the better.

With the above drivers in mind, Flight Plan focuses on five key pillars, each with an associated milestone, to work towards its “Guiding Star,” including:

• Habitat Conservation: By focusing on climate-resilient habitat conservation, Audubon will ensure the protection and restoration of the places birds and people need. Audubon’s work associated with habitat conservation includes protecting 300 million acres of lands and waters ranging from Canada to Chile by leverages its nonpartisan position to influence laws, policies, and investments.
• Climate Action: Audubon’s Survival by Degrees report tells us birds face unprecedented threats from climate change – two-thirds of North American bird species may face unlivable conditions across their current ranges by 2080. Audubon’s focus on advocating for a shift to clean energy is critical for birds’ long-term survival, and our own. Audubon’s work in habitat conservation in forests, wetlands, and grasslands also helps tackle climate change through the storage of greenhouse gases.
• Policy: Public policy and funding have a catalytic effect on protecting bird habitat and addressing climate change. Known as a nonpartisan organization, Audubon can plan a unique role as a connector and convener across the political spectrum, influencing the highest impact laws and policies at all levels, from the local to the global.
• Community Building: Transformative change requires widespread public support and action. To make the change in the world that we need to protect birds, Audubon will expand the constituency of people who care and take action for birds, and grow the organization’s audience and members to create substantive conservation impact.
• Workplace Excellence: Audubon is one of the best places to work, where talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. Audubon is committed to operational excellence, where resources flow to the highest priorities, leading to impactful conservation outcomes thanks to generous and engaged donors paired with sound financial management.

Ultimately, Flight Plan positions Audubon to inspire, influence, innovate, and achieve results at unprecedented scale, representing an extraordinary opportunity to maximize the organization’s impact at this critical moment for birds and the planet.

Learn more about Audubon by visiting www.audubon.org.

The Opportunity

As Audubon embarks on its ambitious strategic plan, the organization recognizes that public policy and funding have a catalytic effect on protecting bird habitats and addressing climate change. As a nonpartisan organization, Audubon plays a unique role in connecting and convening across the political spectrum. Audubon’s goal is to influence policy at all levels of government across the hemisphere to advance and fund conservation and climate initiatives with solutions equal to the scale of the challenges facing the planet.

To support this key pillar of work, Audubon has developed a new role: Managing Director, Policy (“MD”). The MD will focus on driving integration of the hemisphere-wide Healthy Birds, Healthy Planet policy agenda to align all of Audubon’s policy efforts and build a cohesive strategy that maximizes the organization’s impact toward Flight Plan. This leader will elevate Audubon’s status within policy and government affairs to be seen as a leading climate organization and influencer within these spaces, on a global scale.

Reporting to the Chief Conservation Officer, Marshall Johnson, the Managing Director, Policy will lead a team that currently includes 8 staff members and is poised to grow in the future. Direct reports include: Audubon Action Fund Executive Director; VP, US Government Affairs; VP, Policy Innovation; Senior Director, Global Government Affairs; and Senior Director, Advocacy. Under the leadership of the Managing Director, the Policy team will develop a consistent strategy, approach, and tools for organization-wide diplomacy and advocacy work. Critically, the MD will extensively engage and partner cross-functionally throughout the organization.

Key responsibilities of the Managing Director, Policy include but are not limited to:

• Strategic Policy Leadership: Lead the development and implementation of Audubon's policy agenda, aligning with the goals of Flight Plan to influence climate and biodiversity outcomes.
• Hemispheric Policy Integration: Drive a cohesive strategy across Audubon’s policy efforts, connecting U.S. government affairs with hemispheric policy work, including participation in international conventions on climate and biodiversity (COPs).
• Action Fund Leadership: Play a leadership role with the National Audubon Society Action Fund, Audubon’s 501c4 affiliate, including guiding its strategy, managing its fiduciary board, and aligning its efforts to the overarching shared mission to protect birds and the places they need.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to develop consistent strategies and tools for diplomacy, advocacy, and policy innovation.
• Global Advocacy: Represent Audubon at major international environmental forums, including the climate and biodiversity COPs, building Audubon’s profile as a climate leader and driving policy change in collaboration with other NGOs, governments, and the private sector.
• Partnership Development: Build coalitions with public and private sector partners, advancing Audubon’s policy goals and ensuring sustainable impact at scale.

Candidate Profile

While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following offers a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:

A Credible Policy and Government Affairs Leader with a Global Perspective

This leader will:

• Bring extensive experience working in government affairs, diplomacy, or political advocacy, with the ability to assess and navigate complex political landscapes and position Audubon as a leader in the space.
• Have strong strategic influence capabilities; able to move fluidly in high-level policy discussions and rooms with decision-makers.
• Possess political acumen and diplomacy skills, with an ability to productively engage with stakeholders across all levels of government and the entire political spectrum.
• Bring the skillset necessary to navigate an increasingly polarized political environment and maintain the non-partisan approach of Audubon.
• Bring a global perspective and ability to play a key role in developing a clear and cohesive plan to place Audubon’s policy work in a global context.

A Strategic Thinker with a “Builder” Mentality

This leader will:

• Be energized by the opportunity to step into a newly created role at a time of significant organizational change, with an opportunity for tremendous impact.
• Will embrace ambiguity and be resilient and open to the dynamic opportunities and challenges of the ever-evolving climate and conservation space.
• Be a strategic and systems thinker with the ability to build on a strong foundation and knit together a cohesive and actionable blueprint for Audubon’s policy work.
• Have the ability to think outside the box and challenge conventional approaches, with an expansive vision for Audubon’s leadership role in environmental policy.
• Be a "builder" who thrives in a ‘start-up’ phase; willing to get their hands dirty while also providing high-level leadership and vision.
• Ideally have a track record of leading new initiatives or departments, particularly in policy or advocacy contexts.
• Bring an innovative mindset with a willingness to embrace new ideas.

An Influential Internal and External Relationship Builder

This leader will:

• Excel at driving cohesion across all teams and entities working on policy in order to drive impact at scale.
• Be a natural coalition-builder – able to develop meaningful partnerships across sectors (NGO, public, and private) to drive policy change.
• Be diplomatic, with exceptional communication skills and a strong ability to synthesize diverse perspectives and build trust with internal teams and external partners.
• Have the ability to manage up and down within a matrixed organization, ensuring alignment across global, national, and local teams on policy efforts.

An Effective and Empowering People Leader

This leader will:

• Have a high degree of emotional intelligence, with the ability to lead through influence, guide teams in a collaborative manner, and foster strong relationships at all levels.
• Be an inspiring, empathetic, approachable, empowering, and inclusive leader with an adept ability to lead through periods of change and to keep teams focused on the shared goal, in pursuit of maximum impact.
• Be an active listener, encouraging input and diverse perspectives, yet be willing and able to make big and courageous decisions, with the ability to clearly and thoroughly articulate the “why.”
• Foster a culture of collaboration, trust, and co-creation within a mission-driven organization.
• Have a diverse set of leadership skills with the humility and willingness to leverage the expertise of others.  

A Mission-Driven Leader with a Passion for Conservation

This leader will:

• Have a passion for conservation and the mission of Audubon, with a desire to drive policy impact at scale.
• Bring a demonstrated commitment to EDIB through professional experience and personal values.
• Have a commitment to leverage the science and understand that biodiversity and climate are at a crisis point.
• Bring a deep belief in and sense of urgency to the work of Audubon.
• Be energized by the opportunity to join an organization of passionate and committed colleagues; will actively contribute to a joyful, collaborative, and entrepreneurial culture as Audubon moves into its next chapter of significant impact.
• Be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values — someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Location & Travel

The Managing Director, Policy is a remote role and the successful candidate may be based anywhere in the United States or Colombia.

The successful candidate will be willing and able to do a moderate amount of domestic and international travel, with frequent travel to Washington, DC.

Compensation & Benefits

The exact salary that will be offered will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and geography and aligned with National Audubon Society’s compensation policies. The ranges, based on geography are as follows:

• National: $220,000 - $260,000
• Alaska; California (not San Francisco); Connecticut; D.C.; Chicago; Oyster Bay, NY: $245,000 - $285,000
• New York City (not Oyster Bay); San Francisco; Seattle: $270,000 - $310,000

Staff members reporting out of Audubon’s Washington, DC or NY office who are considered hybrid employees rather than fully remote, will be expected to report to their local office for 3 consecutive days per month. These ‘Return to Office’ days apply to all hybrid team members and are typically shared 6-12 months in advance.

Additionally, the National Audubon Society offers a comprehensive benefits package. Learn more about the offerings via the following link: https://www.audubon.org/about/careers.

Interview Process

Our goal is to lead thorough processes, during which both our clients and candidates gain a robust understanding of one another and the potential fit. To that end, the interview process is expected to include:   

• Introductory phone call with Koya Partners to learn more about you and your background and a deeper discussion about Audubon and the role.
• Zoom interview with Koya to confirm interest and alignment. Following this meeting, specific candidate materials may be requested.
• From there, the Audubon team will select a group of candidates to interview – the process is expected to include the following:
  1. 45-60 minute first round interview via Zoom.
  2. 60-minute second round panel interview via Zoom.
  3. Finalist candidates will be invited to meet with the Marshall Johnson (Chief Conservation Officer) and Justin Stokes (Deputy Chief Conservation Officer)  in person.
  4. The finalist will be invited to meet with the CEO via Zoom for a ~30-minute conversation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where its 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 brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to its work throughout the hemisphere.