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Coastal Bird Program Manager
Operations
Florida, USA
Posted on Oct 6, 2026
Coastal Bird Program Manager
Department: Coastal Wildlife
Reports to: Coastal Wildlife Director
Location: Sanibel, Florida
Status: Full-time, year-round
Salary: $50,000 - $60,000 Depending on Experience
Position Summary
SCCF is seeking an experienced avian biologist to lead our shorebird and wading bird conservation, monitoring, research, and management programs on Sanibel, Captiva, and surrounding conservation lands.
This position provides scientific and operational leadership for SCCF’s shorebird team, including seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers. The Manager will oversee shorebird and wading bird monitoring, nest protection, data entry and analysis, GIS, grant development, agency coordination, and research partnerships.
The ideal candidate is an experienced coastal bird biologist who combines strong field skills with demonstrated leadership, analytical, and project-management abilities and is excited to translate long-term monitoring data into meaningful conservation action.
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead SCCF’s coastal bird monitoring and conservation programs:
- Coordinate staff and volunteers to conduct daily shorebird nest monitoring during shorebird breeding season.
- Conduct standardized, year-round monthly shorebird and seabird surveys.
- During the March–August breeding season, surveys are conducted within standardized monthly count windows and observations are entered into the Florida Shorebird Database.
- Provide guidance for drone-based surveys to monitor wading birds and coastal habitats, including flight planning, image and data collection, and analysis of aerial imagery to support population monitoring and habitat assessment.
- Supervise, train, and mentor staff, seasonal technicians, interns, and volunteers.
- Coordinate nest protection, symbolic fencing, signage, disturbance management, and other conservation actions. Order supplies as necessary.
- Coordinate shorebird surveys and monitoring associated with coastal construction, beach nourishment, restoration, and other shoreline projects.
- Manage and analyze long-term datasets and use GIS to evaluate and communicate spatial patterns in nesting, habitat use, threats, and management actions.
- Translate monitoring results into practical conservation recommendations and adaptive management strategies.
- Work with the Coastal Wildlife Director on grant development, including project design, budgets, scopes of work, and reporting.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with FWC, USFWS, universities, local governments, researchers, and conservation organizations.
- Represent SCCF at professional meetings, workshops, conferences, and working groups.
- Communicate shorebird science and conservation needs effectively to volunteers, community members, partners, and the public.
- Collaborate with SCCF’s other wildlife and conservation programs on interdisciplinary projects.
- Participate in SCCF events, outreach activities, and donor engagement opportunities, helping communicate the importance and impact of SCCF’s avian conservation work to supporters, community members, and the public.
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in shorebird biology, wildlife ecology, conservation, research, or a closely related field.
- Master’s degree in a relevant field is highly preferred. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and substantial directly related professional experience will also be considered.
- Experience leading wildlife or shorebird monitoring and conservation programs.
- Demonstrated experience supervising or coordinating staff, technicians, interns, and/or volunteers.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze biological/ecological data and apply results to conservation and management.
- Demonstrated proficiency with GIS and spatial data analysis.
- Experience leading competitive grant development and securing conservation funding.
- Strong knowledge of shorebird ecology, identification, and conservation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work independently and make sound field-based decisions.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to work outdoors in challenging coastal conditions, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays during peak nesting seasons.
- Experience operating small boats in coastal and nearshore waters.
- Experience working in subtropical or tropical field environments and demonstrated ability to work safely and effectively in conditions including high heat and humidity, prolonged sun exposure, biting insects, uneven terrain, and other challenging field conditions.
- Employment offer is contingent on submitting a passing a background check and drug screening.
Preferred Experience
- Florida shorebird, seabird, wading bird and coastal ecosystem experience.
- Experience with R or other statistical/data-analysis software.
- Familiarity with FWC and USFWS conservation programs and permitting.
- Experience designing and evaluating applied conservation interventions.
- Experience managing volunteer-based monitoring programs and developing research partnerships.
- Experience with avian banding and marking techniques, including safe bird handling, band application, permit requirements, data collection, and reporting; experience obtaining and maintaining appropriate banding permits is preferred.
About the Position
This is a hands-on leadership position. The Coastal Bird Manager will be equally comfortable leading a field team, monitoring nests, analyzing long-term productivity data, developing GIS products, meeting with agency partners, and leading a competitive grant proposal. The successful candidate will help shape the future of SCCF’s shorebird program and use SCCF’s decades of conservation experience and long-term datasets to advance avian conservation on Sanibel and throughout Southwest Florida.