Associate, Grounds and Maintenance

About Audubon

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet.

Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more ubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

The Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary is a 26,000-acre refuge owned by the National Audubon Society in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Established in 1924, it’s Audubon’s oldest and largest sanctuary. The property includes not only marshland and ponds, but beach and bay-shore. The Rainey Sanctuary provides habitat for over 200 species of birds including endangered Piping Plovers and more recently, Whooping Cranes.

Deer, alligators, coyotes, bobcats, otters, muskrat, and nutria also call Rainey home. There are no roads to the refuge. The sanctuary is accessed by boat and is not open to the public. The part‑time Associate, Grounds and Maintenance will support Sanctuary leadership with the daily operations at Rainey Sanctuary. This includes land and habitat management and improvements, maintenance of structures and equipment, monitoring of boat traffic and waterways, and more.

This is a part‑time, 25 hour per week, hourly position, and will require transportation of seven miles by boat to the Sanctuary where work will be performed.

$23.77 - $25.00 / hour

Essential Functions and Qualifications are listed below.

• Perform daily operations in a remote location which includes maintaining grounds, buildings, equipment, boats, airboat and vehicles under the guidance of the Sanctuary Manager.
• Operate riding mowers, blade and string trimmers, and load equipment onto boats for remote work.
• Maintain proper operation of water control structures, keeping them clear of debris and vegetative growth.
• Clear vegetation from bird islands using fire and hand tools and maintain other structures in good working order.
• Remove feral hogs, coyote and nuisance animals in accordance with Sanctuary policy.
• Utilize creative thinking and adaptability to troubleshoot and resolve maintenance challenges in a remote location.
• Communicate effectively with other team members regarding the status of tasks at the Sanctuary.
• Prepare for storm/hurricane impacts to protect Sanctuary assets and conduct cleanup/repairs after the safe passage.
• Maintain and foster a culture of safety including in a high-risk landscape.
• Other job-related duties, including manual labor tasks, as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• 1+ years’ experience with grounds and facilities maintenance; experience with land/marsh management strongly preferred.
• Ability to safely tow, launch, operate and secure a boat with confidence.
• Passage of Louisiana Boater Safety Course and ability to safely operate a variety of small to midsize boats in shallow waterways.
• CPR and basic first aid training a plus.
• Ability to maintain outboard motors, operate and maintain hand and gasoline operated tools.
• Experience with basic trades including plumbing, carpentry and electrical.
• Ability to effectively coordinate with other staff and interact positively with visitors to the Sanctuary and others in the community.
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as alone in a remote, isolated location.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, working conditions and terrains with or without accommodation.
• Ability to safely traverse marsh, wet or…