Senior Program Manager, Community Science
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, Lands 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 Conservation and Community Science Department (CCS) supports the ecological and climate-adaptive work of the Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and our One Tam partners. Together, we strategically fill gaps in our ecosystem knowledge and coordinate conservation actions at a landscape scale, while creating opportunities to connect people, parks, and partners.
The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) is one of our suite of community science programs and is operated by the Parks Conservancy and the NPS. Staff and 100+ volunteers work together to study the birds of prey migrating through the Marin Headlands each fall. GGRO has two core program areas—raptor banding and Hawkwatch—contributing over 10,000 hours of volunteer service hours to the GGNRA each year.
Position Overview:
This is an exempt position of 40 hours/week.
The Senior Program Manager provides leadership and ensures operational excellence for the GGRO programs and related activities. The major focus of this role is day-to-day leadership of field operations, staff and volunteer safety, and regulatory compliance. This role maintains required banding station permits, oversees data stewardship from collection to accession, oversees training and certification of apprentices, and works with the CCS team to share GGRO’s data and stories with diverse audiences. The Senior Program Manager works with other staff to coordinate and train 100+ volunteers contributing to the community science work of the Parks Conservancy. The position requires fieldwork in the Marin Headlands and some evening and weekend commitments, especially during the autumn migration season.
The Senior Program Manager works under the strategic guidance of the Associate Director, supervises the Program Manager, and collaborates closely with National Park Service and Parks Conservancy staff.
This position primarily reports to facilities in the Marin Headlands. Work is performed in an office and outdoors. This position is eligible for hybrid telework (i.e., a mix of in-person and telework). However, to meet the essential requirements of this position—particularly during the fall raptor migration season—this position will need to be on-site multiple days per week
Reports To: Associate Director, Community Science
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
1. Program Operations and Permit Compliance
- Leads the annual cycle of GGRO’s raptor banding and Hawkwatch programs, ensuring smooth seasonal planning, execution, and wrap-up.
- Oversees and supervises field operations, including banding sites & equipment, captive bird facility, and vehicles, ensuring safety, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
- Secures all required relevant banding station permits (i.e., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Lab and California Department of Fish & Wildlife Scientific Collecting Permit) and other research permits associated with GGRO programs.
- Monitors all field activities and takes appropriate action in response to any wildlife injuries or mortalities associated with permitted work.
- Coordinates and implements GGRO activities in collaboration with National Park Service and Parks Conservancy staff to ensure consistency with organizational policies.
2. Data Stewardship and Science Communication
- Oversees data collection, management, quality control, and analysis throughout the annual research cycle for all GGRO programs.
- Collaborates with CCS team to prepare annual data summaries and reports for all GGRO programs and submit them to the relevant permitting agencies in a timely manner.
- Collaborates with CCS team to develop and share science communication products for volunteers, partners, and the public through a variety of modalities (e.g., digital content, lectures, tabling).
- Co-manages the GGRO teaching collection and library, including hundreds of bird skins & artifacts.
3. Volunteer Management
- Co-leads recruitment, coordination, and supervision of 100+ GGRO volunteers through the NPS Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) program.
- Oversees and works with staff to develop and deliver annual volunteer training and safety programs.
- Provides ongoing communication, guidance, and feedback to ensure high-quality data collection and a positive volunteer experience consistent with NPS and Parks Conservancy policies.
- Works with other community science staff to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment to engage local communities in non-institutional ways that demystify science, expand what it means to do science, and spark curiosity.
4. Supervision
- Supervises Program Manager
- Provide daily operational leadership to staff, interns, and volunteers, ensuring effective program delivery throughout the annual cycle.
- In collaboration with the Associate Director, hires, trains, and supervises staff and interns, providing mentorship and performance feedback to support professional development and safe, effective GGRO operations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Ornithology:
- Demonstrated experience in ornithological field methods including bird banding, species and subspecies identification, and safe handling of raptors.
- Proficiency with field equipment such as bow nets, mist nets, and dho-gazza nets.
- Experience collecting biological samples (feathers, swabs, blood) and applying transmitters is a plus.
- Familiarity with scientific literature in related fields, such as raptor biology and ecology, citizen & community science, and field and analytical methods.
2. USGS Bird Banding Lab Permit:
The GGRO banding program functions under a USGS Bird Banding Lab (BBL) master banding station permit and other federal and state permits. The banding program typically works with ~15 raptor species using a variety of trapping techniques, marking methods, and procedures. We are looking for an individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that either:
- Has been the Responsible Individual on a BBL master banding station permit and is authorized to work with raptors OR
- Has held a BBL personal master bander permit and is authorized to work with raptors OR
- Has sufficient skills and handling hours working with raptors to become a BBL permit Responsible Individual and with additional organizational support can supervise GGRO’s master banding station permit.
Not sure if you qualify? Please submit a banding resume OR download the worksheet using one of the links below, fill it out, and include it with your application (You may need to open the links under a new tab. You can also email mhackett@parksconservancy.org if you have any issues with any of the links in this posting).
Subject matter experts will assess the applicant’s raptor banding credentials
3. Scientific Research:
- Demonstrated familiarity with research design and methods particularly with regards to raptor biology & ecology, long-term longitudinal datasets, or community science.
- Demonstrated experience with data life cycles including field data collection, data management, quality control, analysis, reporting, and accession.
- Willingness to work with volunteers and partners towards collection of actionable science data as part of a community science team on public lands.
- Proficiency with database management and basic GIS and interested in computational statistics tools such as R.
4. Avian Husbandry:
- Demonstrated experience with bird husbandry and best practices in captive animal welfare.
- Familiarity with regulatory compliance and protocols regarding animal welfare. For example, USDA Animal Welfare Act and Inter-agency Research Animal Committee.
5. Science Communication & Outreach:
- Interest in translating scientific concepts and research findings into clear, compelling messages for stakeholders, partners, and the public.
- Commitment to engaging local communities in non-institutional ways that demystify science, expand what it means to do science, and spark curiosity.
- Willing interest in the theory and practice of community science and being part of a team fostering that practice on public lands.
6. Leadership & People Management:
- Proven ability to guide and support staff and volunteers toward shared goals.
- Strong judgment and empathy, including ability to address conflict and setbacks, and find solutions
- Ability to work with others to turn organizational vision and strategic direction into coordinated day-to-day action.
- Demonstrated commitment and understanding of the best practices to promote welcoming and inclusive team dynamics, particularly as it pertains to conducting scientific fieldwork, working in the outdoors, or community science.
- Demonstrated ability to train and certify banding apprentices.
7. Operational Management:
- Successful track record managing complex programs with many participants and stakeholders and multiple moving parts and deadlines.
- Strong planning and organizational skills, with attention to detail and follow-through.
- Ability to identify challenges, develop solutions, and iteratively improve processes as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Experience ensuring safe, consistent, and high-quality program delivery in dynamic environments.
8. Communication & Collaboration:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, adaptable to different audiences.
- Ability to build trust and collaboration among staff, volunteers, partners, and community members.
- Skilled at facilitating meetings, trainings, and partnerships that strengthen collective impact towards shared goals.
9. Strategic Thinking & Adaptability:
- Demonstrated ability to work independently while advancing team priorities.
- Flexible and responsive to evolving needs, opportunities, and community feedback.
- Commitment to curiosity, learning, reflection, and adaptability in service of organizational mission and impact.
Education and/or Experience:
- Demonstrated experience in ornithological field methods, including bird banding, species identification, and safe handling of raptors.
- Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field such as environmental science, ecology, biology, natural resources, conservation, environmental education, or a related discipline. Master’s degree or comparable research experience preferred
- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in program or project management.
- Demonstrated experience working with volunteers or staff in field-based programs, with a track record of leadership, mentorship, and team coordination.
Certifications, Licenses, or Requirements:
- Valid Driver’s License
- USGS Bird Banding Lab permitee
- Already holds or has held a USGS BBL Master Bander permit and is authorized to work with raptors OR
- Has sufficient skills and handling hours to apply to become a Master Bander authorized to work with raptors, with organizational support.
- Not sure if you qualify? Please submit a banding resume OR download the worksheet using one of the links below, fill it out, and include it with your application.
- Banding certification through formal training or structured apprenticeship program is a plus
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.
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/Benefits:The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $90,000 per year (Grade 20), depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision plans, up to 3 weeks of paid vacation plus holidays, personal, and sick days; a 403(b) retirement plan (3% non-elective employer contribution); Employee Assistance Program; employer-matched Commuter Program; employee discounts, and more.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.
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.
