Sanctuary Director (Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary)

About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.

About This Position
Mass Audubon is looking for an experienced and motivated leader to direct Mass Audubon's programs, properties, and activities at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, Massachusetts. As Mass Audubon's flagship sanctuary, Drumlin Farm is a 300-acre nature sanctuary with four miles of trails, a nature center, and a working farm with livestock, captive wildlife, and sustainable crops. The sanctuary is a rich part of the lives of nearby communities, and it is a regional and state-wide destination. 80,000 people visit the sanctuary annually, and Drumlin Farm offers summer camps, hosts a nature preschool, and runs a robust schedule of children and adult programming reaching an additional 20,000+ participants each year.

The Sanctuary Director provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and programmatic vision for the sanctuary, leading a multi-disciplinary team focused on visitor services, administration, property and facility maintenance, wildlife care, livestock, and crops management. In addition, the Sanctuary Director works cross-functionally with Marketing, Education, and Conservation departments to develop an approach to delivering and promoting on-site programming and events that expand the experience of all who visit the Drumlin Farm and serve as a model for ecological management.

The Sanctuary Director is part of the Mass Audubon leadership team and is responsible for ensuring that the Sanctuary is advancing the organization's goals and objectives and contributing to the overall vision of the organization. While this position requires strong leadership and management skills, an ideal leader will also be highly collaborative and will explore and engage all parts of the organization to advance the goals of the sanctuary and Mass Audubon as a whole.

The Drumlin Farm Sanctuary Director is a manager who inspires staff, donors, and volunteers in the community to work together to achieve our ambitious goals to engage new audiences, address the effects of climate change, and protect and steward natural habitats. The Sanctuary Director leads, manages, and elevates Drumlin Farm's potential as a living laboratory for inspiring and fostering a love of nature in people of all ages and backgrounds; works closely with the Conservation department to implement innovative habitat restoration projects; mobilizes members of the community to advocate for environmental policies; and ensures that Mass Audubon is inclusive and welcoming so that more people have access and can connect with the joys of nature.

Application Instructions
Please submit a resume and cover letter with your ADP application.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Provide energetic leadership to advance the sanctuary's mission and strategic goals, including increasing and diversifying visitation and membership recruitment, managing day-to-day and long-term planning for the farming operation, implementing capital projects, stewarding biodiversity and restoring natural habitat, and expanding community partnerships
• Develop and implement both short and long-term plans for sustainability, growth, and community engagement
• Foster a culture of inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and excellence among staff, volunteers, and visitors
• Promote and engage new and existing partners in the programs and activities offered at Drumlin Farm and in nearby communities
• Champion cross-departmental collaboration to support and advance the goals of Mass Audubon, including the objectives set at Drumlin Farm

Operational Oversight

• Oversee daily operations, ensuring a safe, welcoming, and educational environment for all visitors and program participants
• Supervise and mobilize a team of staff to continually elevate Drumlin Farm's delivery of excellent visitor experiences; work with staff to prioritize and develop workplans to best meet the organizational goals and mission

Program Development and Management

• Work with the crops, livestock, and wildlife care staff to develop and oversee a portfolio of programs that are aligned with Mass Audubon's mission of conservation, provide engaging and educational experiences for visitors and program participants, and are financially sustainable
• Work with the Education team to develop robust engagement, programming, and events that continually pull in new members and visitors from the local community; collaborate with the Education team and sanctuary staff to execute high quality program experiences
• Work with the Conservation Science and sanctuary team to identify, prioritize, fund and implement ecological management and habitat restoration effort

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the annual budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with organizational priorities
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities, including working closely with the Development team to cultivate donors, manage grants, and conduct fundraising activities

Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Serve as the public face of Drumlin Farm, building strong relationships with community stakeholders, donors, and partners
• Listen, engage and collaborate with community partners and represent Mass Audubon in local communities, expanding Mass Audubon's presence to increase local impact and support
• Work with the Marketing team to promote the sanctuary through outreach activities, media relations, and public presentations
• Foster a sense of community with volunteers to connect them to the Mass Audubon mission and cultivate opportunities to steward volunteers to higher philanthropic levels

Staff Development

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing, passionate team
• Foster professional growth and create a positive, collaborative work environment

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• Dynamic, creative and flexible leader with experience in a multi-faceted organization with a successful track record in one or more areas: running facilities that engage the public and attract visitors, education, and fundraising
• Minimum of eight years' work experience, at least six of which are in a supervisory capacity; strong background in non-profit management, hospitality management, fundraising, budget and staff management, and community engagement
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in non-profit management, business management, hospitality management, natural resources management or related field
• Ability to work effectively within and across complex organizational lines, including ability to integrate and make tradeoffs around operational, financial, programmatic, marketing, technology, and people management perspectives to the benefit of the sanctuary's and Mass Audubon's priorities
• Energy, enthusiasm and a passion for Mass Audubon's mission
• Creative problem solving and experience with events planning and management
• Strong communication skills and excitement to work well with staff, volunteers, visitors, partners, and community leaders
• Ability to relate to people with different backgrounds and life experiences and exercise cultural humility and inclusion
• Ability to establish effective Mass Audubon presence in surrounding communities related to conservation, sustainable agriculture, nature-based education, and biodiversity
• Hold current First Aid and CPR certification or willingness to obtain.

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position's pay range is $99,500-$120,000 per year; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements.

Benefits eligible staff at Mass Audubon may elect to enroll in medical, dental, and vision plans. Mass Audubon also offers disability and life insurance plans, a retirement plan, and Flexible Spending Account options. Mass Audubon employment also includes access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through and the Reciprocity Agreement through the Consortium of Non-Profit Arts/Cultural/Environmental Organizations of New England. Mass Audubon employees enjoy 13 paid holidays (holidays may shift annually due to where days fall within calendar).

Work Schedule
Full time schedule of 40 hours, Monday through Friday with occasional weekend and evening responsibilities.

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon's mission is to "protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife" by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.