Project Officer, BirdsPlus Index

Supervisor: BirdsPlus Index Director

Location: Remote (with travel as needed. All travel will be reimbursed.)

Salary: Estimated at $40,000; Based on experience Term of position: This is a contractor position and is supported through outside funding commitments.

Application deadline: Open until filled

Position Summary: American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is a fast-growing, results-focused nonprofit seeking employees with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. Inspired by the wonder of birds, ABC achieves lasting results for the bird species most in need while also benefiting human communities, biodiversity, and the planet's fragile climate. ABC is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Project Officer to help grow the BirdsPlus Index, an ambitious effort to transform how biodiversity is measured on working lands around the world. ABC's BirdsPlus Index, a tool to evaluate and monitor conservation value of sites (particularly restoration, agroforestry, ranches, and other working lands) using birds (detected via acoustics) as indicators. It will provide an essential tool to measure conservation benefits of conservation practices and impact investments on working lands for birds. Since 2023, ABC has been developing the BirdsPlus Index and piloted a pipeline of projects that aim to measure the impact of different types of land management in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and the United States and seek to expand these efforts to other locations and countries in the Americas. The Project Officer will work closely with the BirdsPlus Index Director to coordinate biodiversity monitoring projects from planning through final reporting. The position will receive mentoring in the scientific concepts, workflows, and technologies that support the BirdsPlus Index and will progressively assume responsibility for independently managing projects, serving as the primary point of contact for partners, coordinating logistics, training collaborators, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality project outcomes that advance bird conservation.

Primary Duties: Coordinate multiple biodiversity monitoring projects simultaneously, ensuring project timelines, budgets, deliverables, and contractual obligations are completed efficiently and on schedule. Manage project logistics from initiation through completion, including coordinating field deployments of automated recording units (ARUs), equipment preparation, shipping, permitting, travel, and contractor activities. Conduct international travel (approximately 3-5 trips annually) to support project implementation, partner engagement, training, and field activities. Assist with the deployment, maintenance, and retrieval of autonomous recording units (ARUs) and other biodiversity monitoring equipment. Partner Engagement and Capacity Building Serve as the primary point of contact for partner organizations throughout project implementation, maintaining regular communication and fostering productive, long-term relationships. Coordinate meetings and technical discussions with non-governmental organizations, research institutions, land managers, and internal ABC staff. Provide training and technical support to project partners on field protocols, biodiversity monitoring methodologies, data collection standards, and the use of BirdsPlus Index tools and technologies. Represent ABC professionally during meetings, workshops, field activities, and partner engagements. Data Management and Quality Assurance Coordinate the collection, organization, management, and quality assurance of biodiversity monitoring data generated through BirdsPlus Index projects. Coordinate with software developers, data scientists, and technical staff to resolve data quality issues and facilitate efficient processing through analytical workflows. Reporting and Technical Communication Prepare technical reports, project summaries, presentations, and other project deliverables in collaboration with the BirdsPlus Index team. Translate complex scientific analyses into clear, concise, and professional reports and communications for partners, donors, and other stakeholders. Develop figures, maps, data summaries, and supporting materials that effectively communicate project outcomes and lessons learned. Other Responsibilities Perform other related duties as assigned. Benefits Contract positions are ineligible for benefits At American Bird Conservancy, we believe that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills makes us more effective. We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive work environment for all of our employees. As an equal opportunity employer, ABC is committed to ensuring that employees and applicants for employment have equal opportunities regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other factor unrelated to the requirements of the position.

Position Requirements: Bachelor's or advanced degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a closely related field. Minimum of three (3) years of experience coordinating biodiversity monitoring projects from planning through completion, including project logistics, budgets, contracts, schedules, and project deliverables Familiarity with passive acoustic monitoring, ecological monitoring, or related scientific methodologies. Professional proficiency in both English and Spanish, with the ability to communicate effectively with partners throughout the Americas. Demonstrated success managing multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines, managing competing priorities, and delivering high-quality results. Proven ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with partner organizations, research institutions, government agencies, local communities, landowners, or other stakeholders. Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills, with exceptional attention to detail. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing professional reports, presentations, and other project deliverables. Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams. Willingness and ability to across the Americas (approximately 3-5 trips per year) to support project implementation, partner engagement, and training activities. Commitment to American Bird Conservancy's mission of conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with GIS, ecological datasets, environmental monitoring systems, or scientific databases. Experience providing technical training, facilitating workshops, or building capacity among partner organizations. Experience using cloud-based collaboration platforms, project management software, data management systems, or scientific software applications. Salary Description Estimated at $40,000; Based on experience